Why FileBrowser?
You need web access to your server’s files. Not a full cloud suite — just a file manager:
- Web interface — Browse, upload, download from any browser.
- Share links — Password-protected, with expiration.
- Multi-user — Different root directories and permissions.
- Code editor — Edit text files in the browser.
- Command runner — Execute scripts from the UI.
- Single binary — No database, no dependencies.
Prerequisites
- Docker on any Linux/macOS server.
- A directory to serve files from.
Step 1: Deploy with Docker
docker run -d \
--name filebrowser \
--restart=always \
-v /path/to/files:/srv \
-v filebrowser-db:/database \
-p 8080:80 \
filebrowser/filebrowser
Default login: admin / admin (change immediately).
Step 2: User Permissions
| Permission | Description |
|---|
| Admin | Full access to all files and settings |
| View | Browse and preview files |
| Create | Upload files and create folders |
| Rename | Rename files and folders |
| Delete | Remove files and folders |
| Share | Create shareable links |
| Download | Download files and folders |
| Execute | Run configured commands/scripts |
FileBrowser vs Alternatives
| Feature | FileBrowser | Nextcloud | Seafile | MinIO |
|---|
| Purpose | Web file manager | Full cloud suite | Sync + share | Object storage |
| Footprint | ~10 MB binary | ~500 MB+ | ~200 MB | ~100 MB |
| Database | SQLite (embedded) | MySQL/PostgreSQL | MySQL/SQLite | None |
| Sync client | No | Yes | Yes | S3-compatible |
| Share links | Yes | Yes | Yes | Pre-signed URLs |
| Users | Yes | Yes | Yes | IAM policies |
| Best for | Simple file access | Full collab | Team sync | S3 API |
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|
| Permission denied on uploads | Check Docker volume permissions; ensure the container user can write to /srv |
| Can’t access from network | Verify port mapping and firewall rules |
| Share link returns 404 | Ensure the base URL is configured in Settings > Global Settings |
| Large file upload fails | Increase reverse proxy body size limit (e.g., client_max_body_size 10G in Nginx) |
Summary
- Web file manager — no sync client needed, just a browser.
- Multi-user with granular permissions and separate root directories.
- Share links with password protection and expiration.
- Lightweight — single 10 MB binary, no external database.
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