File Browser

beginner

Web-based file manager with media preview.

Overview

File Browser is a modern, web-based file management application written in Go that transforms any server directory into a beautiful, feature-rich web interface. Originally created as a lightweight alternative to complex file management systems, it provides an intuitive way to browse, upload, download, and manage files through any web browser, complete with built-in media preview capabilities for images, videos, audio files, and documents. File Browser stands out for its simplicity and zero-dependency approach, requiring no complex setup or additional services to function effectively. This Docker deployment creates a self-contained file management system that exposes your server's file system through a secure web interface on port 8080. File Browser handles all file operations internally, from basic CRUD operations to advanced features like public link sharing and command execution, while maintaining a persistent SQLite database to store user configurations, permissions, and sharing settings. The containerized approach ensures consistent behavior while keeping your host system clean and manageable. This setup is ideal for home lab enthusiasts who need remote file access, small teams requiring collaborative file sharing, content creators managing media libraries, and system administrators who want to provide controlled file access to users without SSH privileges. File Browser's user management system allows you to create multiple accounts with scoped directory access, making it perfect for multi-tenant environments where different users need access to different portions of your file system.

Key Features

Built-in media preview for images, videos, audio files, and PDF documents without external plugins
Multi-user support with granular directory-based permissions and access control
Public link sharing with optional password protection and expiration dates
Drag-and-drop file uploads with progress tracking and batch operations
Command runner functionality to execute custom scripts on selected files
Full-text search across filenames with filtering by file type and modification date
Mobile-responsive interface optimized for smartphones and tablets
Single binary deployment with embedded web assets and SQLite database storage

Common Use Cases

1Personal cloud storage replacement for accessing home files remotely via web browser
2Media server frontend for browsing and streaming video/audio collections with built-in previews
3Team file sharing hub for small businesses without complex enterprise solutions
4Photography workflow management with high-resolution image preview and organization
5Development project file access for remote teams working on shared codebases
6Educational institutions providing students controlled access to course materials and submission folders
7Content creation studios managing large media asset libraries with collaborative access

Prerequisites

Docker and Docker Compose installed with at least 512MB available RAM
Port 8080 available and accessible from your network or internet if remote access needed
Read/write permissions on the host directory you want to expose through File Browser
Basic understanding of file permissions and user management concepts
Web browser with JavaScript enabled for full interface functionality
Consider firewall configuration if allowing external access beyond local network

For development & testing. Review security settings, change default credentials, and test thoroughly before production use. See Terms

docker-compose.yml

1services: 
2  filebrowser: 
3    image: filebrowser/filebrowser:latest
4    container_name: filebrowser
5    restart: unless-stopped
6    ports: 
7      - "8080:80"
8    volumes: 
9      - /path/to/files:/srv
10      - filebrowser_db:/database
11    environment: 
12      FB_DATABASE: /database/filebrowser.db
13      FB_ROOT: /srv
14      FB_LOG: stdout
15      FB_NOAUTH: "false"
16
17volumes: 
18  filebrowser_db:

.env Template

.env

1# Configure your files path

Usage Notes

1Docs: https://filebrowser.org/
2Access at http://localhost:8080 - default login: admin/admin
3Built-in viewers for images, video, audio, and documents
4Create users with scoped access to specific directories
5File upload, download, sharing via public links
6Command runner executes scripts on files (enable in settings)

Quick Start

terminal

1# 1. Create the compose file
2cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
3services:
4  filebrowser:
5    image: filebrowser/filebrowser:latest
6    container_name: filebrowser
7    restart: unless-stopped
8    ports:
9      - "8080:80"
10    volumes:
11      - /path/to/files:/srv
12      - filebrowser_db:/database
13    environment:
14      FB_DATABASE: /database/filebrowser.db
15      FB_ROOT: /srv
16      FB_LOG: stdout
17      FB_NOAUTH: "false"
18
19volumes:
20  filebrowser_db:
21EOF
22
23# 2. Create the .env file
24cat > .env << 'EOF'
25# Configure your files path
26EOF
27
28# 3. Start the services
29docker compose up -d
30
31# 4. View logs
32docker compose logs -f

One-Liner

Run this command to download and set up the recipe in one step:

terminal

1curl -fsSL https://docker.recipes/api/recipes/filebrowser/run | bash

Troubleshooting

Permission denied errors accessing files: Ensure the container has proper read/write permissions on the mounted volume path
Default admin/admin login not working: Check container logs for database initialization errors and verify the database volume is properly mounted
Files not appearing in web interface: Verify the FB_ROOT environment variable points to the correct internal container path (/srv)
Upload failures for large files: Check available disk space on both host system and Docker volume storage location
Command runner not executing scripts: Enable the feature in settings and ensure scripts have proper execute permissions on the host system
Unable to access on port 8080: Verify no other services are using the port and check Docker port mapping configuration

Community Notes

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