How to Self-Host Homarr with Docker Compose

What Is Homarr?

Homarr is a self-hosted dashboard for your home server. It gives you a single page to access all your services, monitor their status, and manage integrations. Homarr has a modern drag-and-drop UI, deep integrations with Docker, *arr apps (Sonarr, Radarr, etc.), torrent clients, and media servers. It supports widgets for weather, RSS, calendar, system stats, and more. Think of it as a customizable homepage that’s also a lightweight monitoring panel.

Updated March 2026: Verified with latest Docker images and configurations.

Prerequisites

A Linux server (Ubuntu 22.04+ recommended)
Docker and Docker Compose installed (guide)
256 MB of free RAM
500 MB of free disk space
A domain name (optional, for remote access)

Docker Compose Configuration

Create a docker-compose.yml file:

services:
  homarr:
    image: ghcr.io/homarr-labs/homarr:v1.56.0
    container_name: homarr
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "7575:7575"
    environment:
      TZ: "America/New_York"               # Your timezone
      SECRET_ENCRYPTION_KEY: ""            # CHANGE THIS — must be a 64-char hex string. Generate with: openssl rand -hex 32
    volumes:
      - ./homarr/appdata:/appdata
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock:ro    # Optional: Docker integration
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD", "wget", "-qO-", "http://localhost:7575/api/health"]
      interval: 30s
      timeout: 10s
      retries: 3

volumes:
  homarr_appdata:

Start the stack:

docker compose up -d

Initial Setup

Open http://your-server-ip:7575 in your browser
Create your admin account
Start adding apps to your dashboard:
- Click + to add a new app
- Enter the app name, URL, and select an icon
- Drag to rearrange

Configuration

Adding Apps

For each self-hosted service:

Click the + button
Fill in:
- Name: Display name
- URL (Internal): Docker network URL (e.g., http://jellyfin:8096)
- URL (External): Public-facing URL
- Icon: Search built-in icons or use a URL
Save and drag to position

Docker Integration

Mounting the Docker socket enables:

Automatic container discovery
Container status monitoring (running, stopped, health)
Start/stop/restart containers from the dashboard

Security note: Docker socket access grants root-equivalent access. Only expose it on trusted networks.

Widgets

Homarr includes built-in widgets:

System Info: CPU, RAM, disk usage
Weather: Current conditions and forecast
RSS: Feed reader widget
Calendar: iCal/CalDAV integration
Media Requests: Overseerr/Jellyseerr integration
Torrent: qBittorrent/Transmission status
*Arr: Sonarr/Radarr queue and activity

Integrations

Homarr has deep integrations with:

Media: Jellyfin, Plex, Emby, Overseerr
Downloads: qBittorrent, Transmission, SABnzbd, NZBGet
Management: Sonarr, Radarr, Lidarr, Readarr, Prowlarr
DNS: Pi-hole, AdGuard Home
Monitoring: Uptime Kuma

Configure under Settings → Integrations.

Advanced Configuration (Optional)

Multiple Boards

Create different dashboard layouts for different use cases (e.g., a “Media” board, a “Networking” board).

Authentication

Homarr supports:

Built-in user management (default)
LDAP/Active Directory
OIDC (Keycloak, Authentik, etc.)

Configure under Settings → Authentication.

Custom CSS

Apply custom styling under Settings → Customization → Custom CSS.

Reverse Proxy

Nginx Proxy Manager config:

Scheme: http
Forward Hostname: homarr
Forward Port: 7575
Enable WebSocket Support: Yes

See Reverse Proxy Setup for full configuration.

Backup

docker run --rm -v homarr_appdata:/data -v $(pwd):/backup alpine \
  tar czf /backup/homarr-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz /data

The appdata volume contains your dashboard configuration, user data, and settings.

See Backup Strategy for a complete backup approach.

Troubleshooting

Docker Containers Not Showing

Symptom: Docker integration enabled but no containers appear. Fix: Verify the Docker socket is mounted correctly: /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock:ro. Check that the Homarr container user has permissions to read the socket.

Widgets Showing “Error” or “N/A”

Symptom: Integration widgets show errors instead of data. Fix: Check that the integration URL is correct and reachable from the Homarr container. Use Docker service names (e.g., http://sonarr:8989) for containers on the same Docker network.

Slow Dashboard Loading

Symptom: Dashboard takes several seconds to load. Fix: Reduce the number of integrations that poll frequently. Increase the polling interval in widget settings. Disable unused widgets.

Resource Requirements

RAM: ~100-200 MB
CPU: Very low — static dashboard with periodic API calls
Disk: ~100 MB for the application and configuration

Verdict

Homarr is the best self-hosted dashboard for home server management. The drag-and-drop UI is polished, the integrations with *arr apps and Docker are excellent, and it looks great out of the box. If you want something simpler and more minimal, Homepage is lighter and faster. If you want maximum customizability with YAML configuration, Dashy gives you more control. For most home server users who want a visual dashboard with real integrations, Homarr is the top pick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Homarr free?

Yes. Homarr is fully open-source under the MIT license. All features — including Docker integration, widgets, multiple boards, and OIDC authentication — are available for free. There is no paid tier.

Can Homarr start and stop Docker containers?

Yes. When you mount the Docker socket (/var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock:ro), Homarr can discover running containers automatically and display their status. You can start, stop, and restart containers directly from the dashboard UI. Note that this gives Homarr root-equivalent access to Docker, so only use it on trusted networks.

How does Homarr compare to Homepage?

Homarr has a drag-and-drop UI, deep Docker integration (start/stop containers), and built-in integrations with *arr apps, torrent clients, and media servers. Homepage is lighter (~80 MB vs ~150 MB RAM), faster, and has more service widgets, but requires editing YAML files for all configuration. Homarr is better if you want a visual editor and Docker management. Homepage is better if you prefer speed and are comfortable with YAML.

Does Homarr support mobile?

Yes. Homarr’s web UI is responsive and works well on mobile browsers. The drag-and-drop layout automatically adapts to smaller screens. There is no dedicated mobile app, but the web interface is designed to be touch-friendly.

Can I use Homarr with multiple users?

Yes. Homarr supports built-in user management, LDAP/Active Directory, and OIDC (Keycloak, Authentik, etc.). Different users can have different permission levels. Configure authentication under Settings → Authentication.

What is the SECRET_ENCRYPTION_KEY?

The SECRET_ENCRYPTION_KEY is a 64-character hex string that Homarr uses to encrypt sensitive data like integration API keys and credentials stored in its database. Generate one with openssl rand -hex 32. This key must remain consistent across container restarts — if you change it, Homarr cannot decrypt previously stored credentials.