# queue:work in production, listen locally

> queue:work is the long-running worker. queue:listen reloads your code each job and is the local command.

- URL: https://laravel-vuejs.space/laravel-queue-work-vs-listen
- Author: Anass Ez-zouaine (https://laravel-vuejs.space/author/anass-ez-zouaine)
- Published: 2026-10-11
- Topics: Laravel, VueJs, Tooling

People searching “queue:work vs queue:listen” run `queue:listen` under systemd and then wonder why production is slow. `listen` boots the framework for every job. `work` boots once. The [queue guide](https://laravel-vuejs.space/laravel-vue-queued-job) is the job the Vue page polls. This page is the process.

> **TL;DR**
>
> -   queue:work is the long-running worker.
> -   queue:listen reloads your code each job and is the local command.
> -   Do not add it to a Cloud release because a forum post listed it.
> -   Do not call `queue:work` from a controller so a Vue button “starts the worker”.
>
> **Who it's for:** Laravel + Vue developers
>
> **Applies to:** Laravel 13 · Vue 3

## The fix

Local, while you are changing the job class:

```shell
php artisan queue:listen
```

Production:

```shell
php artisan queue:work
```

`queue:work` does not see new code until the process restarts. On a VPS, `php artisan queue:restart` after deploy signals those workers. Laravel Cloud skips `queue:restart`. The [deploy guide](https://laravel-vuejs.space/deploy-laravel-vue) says so. Do not add it to a Cloud release because a forum post listed it.

## What to avoid

> **Gotcha**
>
> Do not call `queue:work` from a controller so a Vue button “starts the worker”. The button dispatches a job. A supervisor, or the platform, runs the worker. Do not run `queue:work` in the request that handled the click.

## FAQ

**Q: Should I use queue:work or queue:listen?**

queue:work is the long-running worker. queue:listen reloads your code each job and is the local command.

**Q: What goes wrong with queue:work vs queue:listen?**

Many developers run `queue:listen` under systemd and then wonder why production is slow. Do not add it to a Cloud release because a forum post listed it.