How to Install File Browser on Ubuntu 24.04
File Browser is a powerful and user-friendly web-based file manager that allows you to browse, upload, download, and manage files on your server. It provides a modern interface while running entirely on your own server, giving you complete control over your data.
This guide walks you through installing File Browser using Docker on Ubuntu 24.04, including setting up directories, running the container, and retrieving the auto-generated admin credentials.
Step 1: Update Your System and Install Dependencies
Before installing File Browser, it’s important to update your system and install the required packages. Open a terminal and run:
-
Docker: Runs File Browser in a lightweight, isolated container.
-
Docker Compose: Optional, but useful for managing multiple containers.
-
UFW: Firewall to secure your server.
Enable and start Docker:
Step 2: Create File Browser Directories
File Browser stores its files, configuration, and database in persistent volumes or directories. Create the necessary directories on your server:
-
/opt/filebrowser/data: Root directory for your managed files.
-
/opt/filebrowser/database: Stores the File Browser database.
-
/opt/filebrowser/config: Stores configuration files (
settings.json
).
Step 3: Pull the File Browser Docker Image
Next, download the latest File Browser Docker image:
Step 4: Run the File Browser Container
Run File Browser as a Docker container with the directories you created mapped to the container’s internal paths:
-
-d
: Runs the container in detached mode. -
--restart always
: Ensures File Browser restarts automatically if the server reboots. -
-p 8080:80
: Exposes File Browser on port 8080 of your server.
Step 5: Configure Firewall
To access File Browser from your browser, allow traffic through the firewall:
Step 6: Wait for Initialization
The first time the container runs, it automatically initializes the database and configuration. The default admin user and password are randomly generated. You can check the logs to retrieve them:
Look for a line like this:
Step 7: Access File Browser
Open a web browser and navigate to your server’s IP and port: