📁 Setup File Browser — Web File Manager
Deploy a lightweight, self-hosted web file manager on Ubuntu. Browse, upload, download, and manage server files from any browser.
📦 Resources & Setup Scripts
Grab the automated bash script from GitHub to follow along.
Quick Install:
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mhmdali94/Docker/main/files/filebrowser/filebrowser-ubuntu.sh
chmod +x filebrowser-ubuntu.sh
sudo bash filebrowser-ubuntu.shTutorial Steps
1 Download & Run the Script
The script installs Docker, pulls the File Browser image, and starts the container with access to your server filesystem.
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mhmdali94/Docker/main/files/filebrowser/filebrowser-ubuntu.sh
chmod +x filebrowser-ubuntu.sh
sudo bash filebrowser-ubuntu.sh2 Access the Web UI
Open your browser and navigate to File Browser:
http://YOUR-SERVER-IP:80803 Login with Default Credentials
Login with the default credentials, then change them immediately in Settings → User Management:
Username: admin
Password: admin4 Configure Storage Access
Go to Settings to configure which server directories are accessible, set up additional users, and customize permissions per user.
Ports Used
| Port | Protocol | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 8080 | TCP | Web UI |
Files Location
/root/docker/filebrowser/docker-compose.ymlOverview
FileBrowser is a lightweight, self-hosted web file manager that lets you access, upload, download, organize, and share files stored on your server directly from a browser. It provides a clean, modern interface similar to Google Drive or Dropbox but running entirely on your own infrastructure with no third-party involvement.
Why Use It
FileBrowser gives you a Google Drive-like experience for files that live on your own server — no cloud account, no subscription, no third-party access. It's the fastest way to let non-technical users (clients, team members, family) upload and download files without needing SSH, FTP, or VPN access. A single Docker container with one mounted volume is all it takes.
When You Need It
Who Should Use It
Real Use Cases
Main Features
How to Use After Installation
Security Best Practices
Ports and Firewall Notes
FileBrowser runs on port 8080 by default. Do not expose this port directly to the internet — it serves files over plain HTTP with no TLS. Put it behind Nginx Proxy Manager on port 443 with an SSL certificate. On your firewall, block port 8080 from external access and only allow connections from the reverse proxy. For local-only use, restrict port 8080 to your LAN IP range.
Backup and Maintenance
Common Mistakes
Troubleshooting
Alternatives
Nextcloud is a full collaboration suite (files, calendar, contacts, office) — use it if you need more than file management, but it's significantly heavier. Seafile focuses on file sync and share with desktop clients and versioning — better for Dropbox-style sync. SFTPGo provides SFTP, FTP, and WebDAV with a web admin UI — better if you need protocol-level access. Filegator is a similar lightweight web file manager. For pure file browsing and sharing with minimal setup, FileBrowser is the simplest option.
When Not to Use It
Don't use FileBrowser if you need file versioning, conflict resolution, or desktop sync clients — use Nextcloud or Seafile instead. If your users need to collaborate on documents simultaneously, FileBrowser has no collaboration features. For high-security environments where file access must be audited and access-controlled at the OS level, manage access through SFTP with key-based authentication instead. If you already have Nextcloud deployed, adding FileBrowser is redundant.
PrismaTechWork Professional Help
PrismaTechWork provides end-to-end infrastructure services — from initial deployment and security hardening to ongoing monitoring, automated backups, and dedicated support. Whether you need a single-server setup or a multi-site network, our team ensures your infrastructure is built right, secured properly, and maintained reliably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FileBrowser free and open source?
Yes. FileBrowser is fully open-source under the Apache 2.0 license. The source code is on GitHub at filebrowser/filebrowser. There are no paid tiers, no premium features, and no account requirements. You can use it for personal or commercial projects without restriction.
Can FileBrowser replace Dropbox or Google Drive?
For basic file storage and sharing, yes. FileBrowser lets you upload, download, organize, and share files via a web UI just like Dropbox. However, it does not have desktop sync clients (no automatic folder sync like Dropbox), no mobile apps, and no file versioning. For full Dropbox replacement with sync, use Nextcloud instead. For simple web-based file access, FileBrowser is sufficient.
How do I share a file with someone who doesn't have an account?
Right-click the file in the FileBrowser interface and select Share. You can generate a public link with an optional password and expiry date. Anyone with the link can download the file without logging in. The share link is accessible from the internet as long as your FileBrowser instance is publicly reachable (behind a reverse proxy with HTTPS recommended).
Can I limit what folders a user can see?
Yes. When creating a user under Settings → User Management, set their Scope to a specific folder path (e.g., /data/john). That user will only see files inside that folder and cannot navigate outside it. This is how you give each user their own private space on a shared server.
Does FileBrowser work on mobile?
Yes. FileBrowser's web UI is fully responsive and works well on mobile browsers. You can browse, upload, download, and share files from a phone or tablet. There is no native mobile app, but you can add it to your home screen as a PWA (Progressive Web App) in most mobile browsers for a near-app experience.
Can multiple users upload files at the same time?
Yes. FileBrowser supports concurrent users — each user logs in with their own account and works in their scoped directory simultaneously. Upload speed is limited by your server's disk write speed and network bandwidth, not by FileBrowser itself. There is no built-in locking mechanism, so avoid having multiple users edit the same file at the same time.
How do I reset the admin password if I forget it?
Stop the FileBrowser container, then delete the filebrowser.db file (the database). When you restart the container, FileBrowser reinitializes with the default admin/admin credentials. Log in immediately and set a new password. Note: this also deletes all other user accounts and share links, so back up filebrowser.db regularly.
Can FileBrowser edit files, not just manage them?
Yes. FileBrowser has a built-in text and code editor. Click any text file (config files, scripts, .env files, markdown) and it opens in an editor with syntax highlighting. You can edit and save directly in the browser. Binary files (images, videos, PDFs) can be previewed but not edited. This makes FileBrowser useful for quick server-side config edits without SSHing in.