Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)¶

General Questions¶

What is HomelabARR CE?¶

HomelabARR CE is a comprehensive Docker-based media server stack that provides automated deployment and management of 162+ self-hosted applications including Plex, Radarr, Sonarr, and many others.

What happened to HomelabARR CE?¶

HomelabARR CE has been rebranded to HomelabARR CE as part of a major restructuring effort. All functionality remains the same, but with improved documentation, better organization, and modernized tooling.

Is this free to use?¶

Yes! HomelabARR CE is completely free and open-source under the MIT license. There are no premium features or paid tiers.

What's the difference between Full Mode and Local Mode?¶

Full Mode: Production-ready deployment with Traefik reverse proxy, Authelia authentication, and Cloudflare integration for external access
Local Mode: Simplified deployment for home labs with direct IP:PORT access, no domain required

Which mode should I choose?¶

Choose Local Mode if you're new to Docker, want quick setup, or only need local network access
Choose Full Mode if you want external access, need authentication, or are deploying for multiple users

Installation Questions¶

What are the system requirements?¶

Minimum Requirements: - CPU: 2 cores or 2 vCores (x86/x64 only, no ARM) - RAM: 4GB - Storage: 20GB available space - OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (recommended) or Debian - Docker: Latest version with Compose V2

Do I need a domain name?¶

Full Mode: Yes, you need a domain and Cloudflare account
Local Mode: No domain required, works with localhost

Can I run this on Windows or macOS?¶

Currently, HomelabARR CE is designed for Linux systems only. Windows and macOS support may be added in the future.

Can I run this on a Raspberry Pi?¶

No, ARM processors are not currently supported. The stack requires x86/x64 architecture.

How long does installation take?¶

Local Mode: 5-10 minutes
Full Mode: 15-30 minutes (depending on DNS propagation)

Local Mode Questions¶

How do I access applications in Local Mode?¶

Applications are accessible via direct IP and port: - Plex: http://localhost:32400 - Radarr: http://localhost:7878 - qBittorrent: http://localhost:8082

Can I access Local Mode from other devices?¶

Yes, replace localhost with your server's IP address: - Example: http://192.168.1.100:32400

How do I add external access to Local Mode?¶

You would need to: 1. Configure port forwarding on your router 2. Set up dynamic DNS (optional) 3. Consider security implications (no authentication by default)

For proper external access, consider upgrading to Full Mode.

How does HomelabARR handle storage volumes?¶

HomelabARR uses Docker's native bind mount volumes to store container data in specific host directories (/opt/appdata) rather than Docker's managed volume location. No plugins required — it works with standard Docker out of the box.

Full Mode Questions¶

What Cloudflare features do I need?¶

The free Cloudflare tier is sufficient. You need: - DNS management for your domain - API key for certificate management - Basic DDoS protection (included)

Why can't I access my applications after Full Mode installation?¶

Common issues: 1. DNS not propagated: Wait 15-30 minutes for DNS changes 2. Cloudflare SSL setting: Must be set to "Full" (not "Full Strict") 3. Authelia not configured: Check authentication setup 4. Firewall blocking: Ensure ports 80 and 443 are open

How do I reset Authelia password?¶

# Access Authelia container
docker exec -it authelia bash

# Reset user password
authelia crypto hash generate pbkdf2 --password "newpassword"

# Update configuration with new hash

Can I use a subdomain instead of main domain?¶

Yes, you can use any subdomain. Update your DNS and configuration accordingly.

Application Questions¶

How many applications are available?¶

Local Mode: 179+ applications (includes bulk-converted apps)
Full Mode: 162+ applications (fully tested and documented)

How do I request a new application?¶

Check if it already exists in the apps directory
Create a GitHub issue using the "Application Request" template
Join Discord and ask in #app-requests channel

Why won't my application start?¶

Common issues: 1. Port conflicts: Check if port is already in use 2. Image not found: Verify image name and tag 3. Permission issues: Check file/folder permissions 4. Missing dependencies: Some apps require native Docker bind mounts

How do I update applications?¶

# Update single application
docker compose -f apps/category/app.yml pull
docker compose -f apps/category/app.yml up -d

# Update all containers
docker images | grep -v REPOSITORY | awk '{print $1":"$2}' | xargs -L1 docker pull

Where is my application data stored?¶

Local Mode: /opt/appdata/<application-name>
Full Mode: Same location, managed by Docker bind mount volumes

Troubleshooting Questions¶

Docker says "permission denied"¶

# Add user to docker group
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker

# Or run with sudo (not recommended)
sudo docker ps

"Port already in use" error¶

# Find what's using the port
sudo netstat -tulpn | grep :8080

# Kill the process
sudo kill -9 <PID>

# Or change the port in docker-compose file

How do I check container logs?¶

# View logs
docker logs <container-name>

# Follow logs in real-time
docker logs -f <container-name>

# View last 50 lines
docker logs --tail 50 <container-name>

Application is running but not accessible¶

Check container status: docker ps
Verify port mapping: Look for port in docker ps output
Test connectivity: curl -I http://localhost:<port>
Check firewall: sudo ufw status
Review logs: docker logs <container-name>

How do I completely uninstall?¶

# Stop all containers
docker stop $(docker ps -aq)

# Remove all containers
docker rm $(docker ps -aq)

# Remove all images (optional)
docker rmi $(docker images -q)

# Remove application data (WARNING: This deletes all data!)
sudo rm -rf /opt/appdata

# Remove HomelabARR directory
rm -rf homelabarr-ce

Backup & Migration Questions¶

How do I backup my setup?¶

# Backup application data
sudo tar -czf homelabarr-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz -C /opt appdata

# Backup configuration
tar -czf config-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz homelabarr-ce/

How do I migrate to a new server?¶

Stop services on old server
Backup data: /opt/appdata and configuration files
Install HomelabARR on new server
Restore data to /opt/appdata
Update configurations (IP addresses, domains)
Start services on new server

Can I move from Local Mode to Full Mode?¶

Yes, but it requires: 1. Backing up application data 2. Setting up domain and Cloudflare 3. Installing Full Mode 4. Restoring data and reconfiguring applications

Performance Questions¶

How much resources does this use?¶

Local Mode (minimal setup): - RAM: 2-4GB - CPU: Low usage during normal operation - Storage: Depends on media collection

Full Mode (with proxy stack): - RAM: 4-6GB - CPU: Slightly higher due to Traefik/Authelia - Storage: Same as Local Mode

Can I limit container resources?¶

Yes, add resource limits to docker-compose files:

services:
  app:
    deploy:
      resources:
        limits:
          memory: 512M
          cpus: '0.5'

How do I optimize performance?¶

Use SSD storage for application data
Ensure adequate RAM for all containers
Monitor resource usage with Netdata/Glances
Optimize container resource limits
Use hardware transcoding for media servers

Security Questions¶

Is Local Mode secure?¶

Local Mode assumes a trusted local network. It provides: - Container isolation via Docker - No external exposure by default - Standard Linux file permissions

For enhanced security, use Full Mode with Authelia.

How secure is Full Mode?¶

Full Mode provides enterprise-grade security: - Multi-factor authentication via Authelia - TLS encryption for all traffic - Cloudflare DDoS protection - Regular security updates

How do I enable 2FA?¶

Access Authelia configuration
Configure TOTP or WebAuthn
Scan QR code with authenticator app
Test login with 2FA code

Should I expose Docker daemon?¶

No, never expose Docker daemon to the internet. HomelabARR CE doesn't require this.

Update Questions¶

How do I update HomelabARR CE?¶

# Update repository
cd homelabarr-ce
git pull origin master

# Update containers
docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

How often should I update?¶

Security updates: Immediately
Application updates: Monthly or as needed
HomelabARR updates: Check releases monthly

Will updates break my setup?¶

We strive for backward compatibility, but: - Always backup before updating - Read release notes for breaking changes - Test updates in development environment first

Community Questions¶

How can I contribute?¶

Report bugs and request features
Improve documentation
Add new application support
Help other users in Discord
Submit code improvements

See our Contributing Guide for details.

Where can I get help?¶

Discord (fastest): https://discord.gg/Pc7mXX786x
GitHub Issues: https://github.com/smashingtags/homelabarr-ce/issues
Documentation: Check relevant guides first
Community Forums: Reddit r/selfhosted, r/homelab

Is there a mobile app?¶

No mobile app currently exists. Access is via web browsers on mobile devices.

Still Have Questions?¶

If your question isn't answered here:

Search the documentation - Use the search function
Check Discord history - Previous discussions may have answers
Ask in Discord - Our community is helpful and active
Create GitHub issue - For bugs or feature requests

Remember to provide system information and error messages when asking for help!

Support Development¶

If this FAQ helped you solve your issue, consider supporting HomelabARR CE development:

☕ Support on Ko-fi - Help us maintain and improve documentation, fix bugs, and add new features!

This FAQ is continuously updated based on community questions. Last updated: August 2025