TL;DR — Quick Summary
Deploy FileBrowser as a self-hosted web file manager. Browse, upload, download, share files via links, manage users with permissions, and access your server storage from any browser.
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/filebrowserDefault 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.