How to Install Nextcloud on Raspberry Pi: Complete Guide

Want to turn your Raspberry Pi into your own private cloud?

Nextcloud lets you store, synchronize, and access files from your computers and mobile devices without relying entirely on services such as Google Drive or Dropbox. You can also use it for calendars, contacts, photo management, file sharing, collaboration, and other self-hosted services.

A Raspberry Pi is a surprisingly capable platform for a small personal Nextcloud server. In fact, Nextcloud’s own documentation specifically notes that Nextcloud can run on a simple two-user Raspberry Pi installation, although larger deployments require considerably more resources.

In this guide, we’ll install Nextcloud on a 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS/Debian-based system, use an SSD for storage, configure the database and Redis, and finish with security, HTTPS, backups, and performance recommendations.

Important: There are several ways to install Nextcloud. For Raspberry Pi users, you can use the community NextcloudPi project or a Docker-based deployment. Nextcloud’s documentation also describes a traditional Linux installation. NextcloudPi is particularly convenient for Raspberry Pi, while Docker is a good choice if you’re already using CasaOS.

What Is Nextcloud?

Nextcloud is an open-source platform for self-hosting your files and collaboration services.

You can use it for:

Cloud file storage
File synchronization
Photo storage
Calendar synchronization
Contacts
File sharing
Document collaboration
Notes
Tasks
Video calls
Mobile backups
Extensions and apps

A typical Raspberry Pi installation looks like this:

                    Internet
                       │
                       │ HTTPS
                       ▼
                 ┌───────────┐
                 │ Nextcloud │
                 │ Raspberry │
                 │    Pi     │
                 └─────┬─────┘
                       │
             ┌─────────┼─────────┐
             │         │         │
           SSD       Redis    Database
             │
        Your Files
             │
       ┌─────┼─────┐
       │     │     │
      PC   Phone  Tablet

Why Run Nextcloud on a Raspberry Pi?

A Raspberry Pi makes an excellent low-power personal cloud server for a small number of users.

Advantages

Low power consumption
Small physical footprint
Affordable
Quiet
Excellent Linux support
Gigabit Ethernet
USB 3 storage
Large community
Can run additional services

It’s particularly attractive if you already have a Raspberry Pi running other home-server applications.

For example:

Raspberry Pi 5
      │
    Docker
      │
 ┌────┼──────────────┐
 │    │              │
Nextcloud Jellyfin  Pi-hole
 │
 └── External SSD

However, don’t underestimate storage and backup requirements. Your files are much more valuable than the Raspberry Pi itself.

Raspberry Pi Requirements

For a new installation, I’d recommend:

Component	Recommendation
Raspberry Pi	Raspberry Pi 5
RAM	4GB minimum
Storage	SSD
Network	Gigabit Ethernet
OS	64-bit Raspberry Pi OS
Database	MariaDB or PostgreSQL
Cache	Redis
Power	Reliable PSU
Backup	External drive/NAS/cloud

Nextcloud’s current documentation strongly recommends a 64-bit CPU, operating system, and PHP runtime. It also states that memory requirements vary according to users, apps, files, and server activity.

Why You Should Use an SSD

Although Nextcloud can technically run from a microSD card, I strongly recommend using an SSD.

Nextcloud constantly performs:

Database operations
File operations
Thumbnail generation
Metadata updates
Synchronization
Background jobs

An SSD provides considerably better performance and is a more appropriate storage medium for a server.

A good setup is:

Raspberry Pi 5
     │
     ├── SSD → Operating System
     │
     ├── SSD/HDD → Nextcloud Data
     │
     └── Backup Drive → Backups

You can use one large SSD for everything, but keeping an independent backup is much more important than adding more storage.

Before You Start

Make sure you have:

Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit
SSD
Ethernet connection
SSH access
Router access
A stable local IP address
A domain name if you want remote HTTPS access

For a first installation, I recommend getting Nextcloud working inside your local network first.

Don’t expose it to the Internet until the installation and security configuration are complete.

Step 1: Install Raspberry Pi OS

Install the latest 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS using Raspberry Pi Imager.

For a dedicated server, Raspberry Pi OS Lite 64-bit is a good choice.

During installation configure:

Hostname
Username
Password
SSH
Ethernet/Wi-Fi

After booting, connect to the Raspberry Pi.

Step 2: Find the Raspberry Pi IP Address

Run:

hostname -I

You might see:

192.168.1.50

You can then connect using SSH:

ssh [email protected]

Step 3: Update the Operating System

Before installing anything:

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade -y

Reboot:

sudo reboot

Reconnect after the Raspberry Pi starts.

Step 4: Configure a Stable IP Address

Your Nextcloud server should have a stable IP address.

I recommend creating a DHCP reservation on your router.

For example:

Raspberry Pi
192.168.1.50

Your router will then always assign:

192.168.1.50

to the Raspberry Pi.

This is particularly important because you’ll use the IP address to access Nextcloud locally and potentially configure DNS and reverse-proxy rules later.

Step 5: Choose Your Installation Method

There are three approaches worth considering.

Option 1: NextcloudPi

Best for:

Raspberry Pi beginners

NextcloudPi is a community project specifically designed to make Nextcloud easier to deploy on Raspberry Pi and other supported boards. It includes Nextcloud, Apache, PHP, MariaDB, Redis, and configuration tools.

Option 2: Docker

Best for:

CasaOS and home-lab users

Docker makes it easier to manage Nextcloud alongside other applications.

Option 3: Traditional Linux Installation

Best for:

Administrators who want maximum control

Nextcloud’s official documentation provides a traditional installation using a Linux web server, PHP, and a database.

For this guide, we’ll focus on a traditional Raspberry Pi installation, because it teaches you how the components actually work.

Step 6: Install Apache

Nextcloud supports Apache with mod_php or PHP-FPM, as well as nginx with PHP-FPM.

Install Apache:

sudo apt install apache2 -y

Check the service:

sudo systemctl status apache2

If everything is working, visit:

http://192.168.1.50

You should see the Apache default page.

Step 7: Install MariaDB

Nextcloud requires a supported database for a normal production installation. Nextcloud currently supports MariaDB and PostgreSQL among its recommended database choices. SQLite is intended primarily for testing and very small/minimal instances.

Install MariaDB:

sudo apt install mariadb-server mariadb-client -y

Enable it:

sudo systemctl enable mariadb
sudo systemctl start mariadb

Check:

sudo systemctl status mariadb

Step 8: Secure MariaDB

Run:

sudo mariadb-secure-installation

Follow the prompts.

Remove unnecessary anonymous access and test databases, and configure appropriate database security.

Step 9: Create the Nextcloud Database

Open MariaDB:

sudo mariadb

Create the database:

CREATE DATABASE nextcloud CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_general_ci;

Create a dedicated database user:

CREATE USER 'nextclouduser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'YOUR_STRONG_PASSWORD';

Grant permissions:

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON nextcloud.* TO 'nextclouduser'@'localhost';

Apply changes:

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Exit:

EXIT;

Use a strong, unique password.

Step 10: Install PHP

Nextcloud requires a supported PHP version.

The current Nextcloud 34 documentation lists PHP 8.3 and 8.4 as supported versions, with PHP 8.5 recommended in its current requirements.

On Raspberry Pi OS, the exact PHP version available through the distribution repositories can vary.

Check your version:

php -v

Install PHP and the required modules:

sudo apt install php php-mysql php-gd php-curl php-zip php-xml php-mbstring php-intl php-bcmath php-gmp php-imagick php-apcu php-redis libapache2-mod-php -y

Then restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 11: Install Redis

Redis is highly recommended for caching and transactional file locking.

Install it:

sudo apt install redis-server php-redis -y

Enable it:

sudo systemctl enable redis-server
sudo systemctl start redis-server

Check:

sudo systemctl status redis-server

Step 12: Download Nextcloud

Go to a temporary directory:

cd /tmp

Download the latest stable Nextcloud archive from the official download server.

For example:

wget https://download.nextcloud.com/server/releases/latest.tar.bz2

Extract it:

tar -xjf latest.tar.bz2

Move it to Apache’s web directory:

sudo mv nextcloud /var/www/

Step 13: Configure File Ownership

Set the correct ownership:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/nextcloud

This allows Apache/PHP to access the Nextcloud installation.

Step 14: Create the Data Directory

I recommend keeping your Nextcloud data outside the web root.

For example:

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/nextcloud-data

Set permissions:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /mnt/nextcloud-data

If your SSD is mounted somewhere else, use that path instead.

Step 15: Configure Apache

Create a virtual host:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/nextcloud.conf

Add:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName cloud.example.com

    DocumentRoot /var/www/nextcloud

    <Directory /var/www/nextcloud/>
        Require all granted
        AllowOverride All
        Options FollowSymLinks MultiViews
    </Directory>

    TransferLog /var/log/apache2/nextcloud_access.log
    ErrorLog /var/log/apache2/nextcloud_error.log
</VirtualHost>

Replace:

cloud.example.com

with your domain.

If you’re only testing locally, you can use the Raspberry Pi’s IP address or local hostname instead.

Step 16: Enable Apache Modules

Enable the required modules:

sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo a2enmod headers
sudo a2enmod env
sudo a2enmod dir
sudo a2enmod mime

Then enable the site:

sudo a2ensite nextcloud.conf

Disable the default site if desired:

sudo a2dissite 000-default.conf

Restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 17: Open the Nextcloud Installer

From a computer on your network, visit:

http://192.168.1.50

or:

http://cloud.example.com

You should see the Nextcloud installation screen.

You’ll need to enter:

Administrator account

Create:

Username
Password

Database

Select:

MySQL/MariaDB

Enter:

Database user:
nextclouduser

Database password:
YOUR_STRONG_PASSWORD

Database name:
nextcloud

Database host:
localhost

For the data directory:

/mnt/nextcloud-data

Then click:

Install

Step 18: Complete the Installation

Nextcloud will create its configuration and database tables.

Depending on your Raspberry Pi and storage, this can take several minutes.

After installation you’ll arrive at the Nextcloud dashboard.

Congratulations—you now have your own private cloud.

Step 19: Configure Redis

Open:

sudo nano /var/www/nextcloud/config/config.php

Add:

'memcache.local' => '\\OC\\Memcache\\APCu',
'memcache.locking' => '\\OC\\Memcache\\Redis',
'redis' => [
    'host' => '/var/run/redis/redis-server.sock',
    'port' => 0,
],

The exact Redis socket path can vary depending on your distribution.

Check it with:

sudo find /var/run/redis -type s

If your Redis installation uses a TCP socket instead, configure the appropriate address.

Step 20: Configure Background Jobs

Nextcloud needs background jobs for tasks such as:

Cleanup
Notifications
File scanning
Maintenance
App tasks

For a serious installation, use Cron rather than relying on AJAX-triggered background jobs.

Edit the web server user’s crontab:

sudo crontab -u www-data -e

Add:

*/5 * * * * php -f /var/www/nextcloud/cron.php

This runs the Nextcloud background jobs every five minutes.

Step 21: Configure HTTPS

If your Nextcloud server will be accessible from the Internet, HTTPS is essential.

You can use Let’s Encrypt with Certbot.

Install Certbot:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache -y

Then:

sudo certbot --apache

Follow the prompts.

Certbot can configure Apache and obtain a certificate for your domain.

Your Nextcloud URL should eventually look like:

https://cloud.example.com

Do not expose a Nextcloud installation publicly over plain HTTP.

Step 22: Configure Your Domain

You’ll need DNS pointing to your home connection if you’re hosting Nextcloud publicly.

For example:

cloud.example.com
        │
        ▼
Your public IP
        │
        ▼
Router
        │
        ▼
Raspberry Pi
        │
        ▼
Nextcloud

You’ll typically create an A record for your hostname.

If your ISP changes your public IP, you may also need a dynamic DNS solution.

Step 23: Configure Router Port Forwarding

If you’re hosting Nextcloud from home and want remote access, your router will generally need to forward:

TCP 80
TCP 443

to the Raspberry Pi or reverse proxy.

However, opening ports to the Internet increases your attack surface.

For many home users, a VPN or secure tunnel can be a better solution.

Step 24: Configure Trusted Domains

Nextcloud only allows access through configured trusted domains.

Edit:

sudo nano /var/www/nextcloud/config/config.php

You’ll find:

'trusted_domains' =>
array (
    0 => 'localhost',
),

Add your IP and domain:

'trusted_domains' =>
array (
    0 => 'localhost',
    1 => '192.168.1.50',
    2 => 'cloud.example.com',
),

Don’t add arbitrary domains.

Step 25: Configure File Storage

If you have a large media collection, use an external SSD or HDD.

For example:

/mnt/nextcloud-data

You can create folders such as:

Documents
Photos
Videos
Backups
Shared

Nextcloud manages the actual storage structure inside the data directory, so users should normally access files through Nextcloud rather than manually modifying its internal data directories.

Step 26: Install the Nextcloud Desktop Client

Nextcloud provides desktop clients for:

Windows
macOS
Linux

The official clients can synchronize files between your computer and your Nextcloud server.

After installation, enter:

https://cloud.example.com

Then sign in.

Select which folders you want synchronized.

Step 27: Install the Mobile App

Nextcloud also provides mobile applications.

You can use them to:

Access files
Upload photos
Download documents
Synchronize content
Access shared files

This makes your Raspberry Pi-based Nextcloud server function much more like a commercial cloud-storage platform.

Automatic Photo Backup

One of the most useful Raspberry Pi + Nextcloud projects is automatic phone photo backup.

Your phone can upload photos to your own Nextcloud server:

Phone
  │
  │ Wi-Fi / Internet
  ▼
Nextcloud
  │
  ▼
SSD
  │
  ▼
Your photo library

This can be an excellent alternative to relying exclusively on Google Photos or iCloud.

Nextcloud Performance Optimization

A Raspberry Pi can run Nextcloud well, but optimization matters.

Use an SSD

This is probably the most important hardware recommendation.

Use Ethernet

Gigabit Ethernet is preferable to Wi-Fi.

Use Redis

Redis improves caching and file locking.

Enable PHP OPcache

OPcache improves PHP performance by caching compiled PHP scripts.

Check that OPcache is enabled:

php -m | grep OPcache

Use Cron

Cron is preferable for regular background jobs.

Avoid unnecessary apps

Every additional Nextcloud app consumes resources.

Only install what you actually need.

How Much RAM Does Nextcloud Need?

Nextcloud’s current documentation says the minimum memory requirement is 128 MB RAM per process, while it recommends 512 MB per process. Actual memory requirements depend on users, apps, files, and activity.

For a Raspberry Pi:

2GB

Suitable for a very small installation with modest expectations.

4GB

A good choice for a personal cloud.

8GB

Useful if you’re running Nextcloud alongside multiple services.

For a new Raspberry Pi home server, I’d choose 4GB or 8GB.

Can You Run Nextcloud on Raspberry Pi 5?

Yes.

Nextcloud’s documentation explicitly states that it can run on a simple Raspberry Pi deployment, and the community NextcloudPi project has released Raspberry Pi 5 support.

The Raspberry Pi 5 is a particularly good choice because of its improved CPU performance, faster I/O, and USB 3 connectivity.

Can You Run Nextcloud on Raspberry Pi 4?

Yes.

The NextcloudPi project provides Raspberry Pi 4 images, and Nextcloud itself supports ARM-based Raspberry Pi installations when the operating system and software requirements are satisfied.

For a personal cloud with a small number of users, a Raspberry Pi 4 can still be useful.

NextcloudPi vs Manual Installation

NextcloudPi deserves special consideration if your goal is simply to get a working Nextcloud server running quickly.

NextcloudPi packages a number of components together, including:

Nextcloud
Apache
PHP
MariaDB
Redis
Configuration tools

The project specifically targets Raspberry Pi and other ARM boards.

Choose NextcloudPi if:

You’re new to Linux
You want a guided setup
You’re using Raspberry Pi
You want integrated configuration tools

Choose manual installation if:

You want maximum control
You’re learning Linux administration
You need a custom Apache/nginx configuration
You want to understand every component

Nextcloud on Docker

If you’ve already followed our Install CasaOS on Raspberry Pi guide, Docker may be your preferred approach.

Nextcloud’s documentation lists a community Docker image as one of the available installation methods, while noting that community options aren’t officially supported by Nextcloud GmbH.

A Docker-based architecture might look like:

Raspberry Pi 5
      │
    Docker
      │
 ┌────┼───────────────┐
 │    │               │
Nextcloud MariaDB   Redis
 │
 └── SSD Storage

This approach works particularly well when you’re running several applications on the same Raspberry Pi.

Nextcloud with CasaOS

If you already use CasaOS, Nextcloud is a natural addition.

For example:

Raspberry Pi 5
       │
     CasaOS
       │
 ┌─────┼────────────┐
 │     │            │
Nextcloud Jellyfin Pi-hole
 │
 └── External SSD

This gives you a small but powerful home server.

You could potentially combine:

Nextcloud → private cloud
Jellyfin → media server
Pi-hole → DNS filtering
Home Assistant → smart home
Vaultwarden → password manager

The limiting factor will ultimately be the Raspberry Pi’s CPU, RAM, storage, and network capacity.

Security Recommendations

A public Nextcloud server should be treated like any other Internet-facing server.

Use HTTPS

Never use plain HTTP for remote access.

Use strong passwords

Especially for administrator accounts.

Enable two-factor authentication

Nextcloud supports multiple authentication and security options.

Keep Nextcloud updated

Updates frequently include security fixes.

Keep Raspberry Pi OS updated

Run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade

regularly.

Don’t expose unnecessary services

Only expose what you actually need.

Protect SSH

Use SSH keys and disable password authentication when appropriate.

Use a firewall

For example, you can use UFW:

sudo apt install ufw -y

Then allow SSH and web traffic as appropriate:

sudo ufw allow 22/tcp
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw allow 443/tcp

Enable it:

sudo ufw enable

Make sure you understand your SSH configuration before enabling a firewall remotely.

Back Up Your Nextcloud Server

This is one of the most important sections of the entire guide.

A Nextcloud backup should include at least:

Database
Nextcloud configuration
User data
Important application data

Your database contains important information about the files and users.

For example:

Nextcloud Backup
│
├── Database
├── config.php
├── User files
└── Application data

Having your files on a second drive isn’t enough if your database is lost.

And having RAID isn’t a substitute for backups.

How Much Storage Do You Need?

It depends entirely on what you’re storing.

Basic documents

256GB–512GB may be enough.

Photos

1TB or more can be useful.

Videos

Several terabytes may be required.

For a growing personal cloud, I’d recommend starting with at least a 1TB SSD if your budget permits.

You can expand storage later.

Common Problems

“Trusted domain” error

Add the hostname or IP address to:

config/config.php

under:

'trusted_domains'

Nextcloud is slow

Check:

SSD performance
RAM
CPU usage
Redis
OPcache
Background jobs
Database performance

File synchronization fails

Check:

Available disk space
Permissions
Network connectivity
Client logs
Nextcloud logs

Photos upload slowly

Check:

Wi-Fi
Internet upload speed
Raspberry Pi storage
CPU usage
Reverse proxy configuration

Database errors

Check MariaDB:

sudo systemctl status mariadb

Check Nextcloud logs through the administration interface or its log files.

Useful Commands

Check Apache:

sudo systemctl status apache2

Check MariaDB:

sudo systemctl status mariadb

Check Redis:

sudo systemctl status redis-server

Check disk usage:

df -h

Check memory:

free -h

Check CPU load:

uptime

Check Raspberry Pi IP:

hostname -I

Check Nextcloud files:

ls -la /var/www/nextcloud

Is Raspberry Pi Good for Nextcloud?

For a personal cloud or small household, yes.

It’s especially attractive if you want:

Private file storage
Automatic phone photo backups
File synchronization
Calendar synchronization
Contact synchronization
A low-power server
A self-hosted alternative to commercial cloud services

It’s less appropriate for:

Large organizations
Hundreds of users
Heavy collaborative workloads
Large-scale video conferencing
High-traffic public services

Nextcloud is highly scalable, but a Raspberry Pi isn’t the right hardware for a large deployment.

Raspberry Pi 5 vs VPS for Nextcloud

You could also run Nextcloud on a VPS.

Raspberry Pi

Advantages:

You own the hardware
Low operating cost
Local storage
Excellent privacy
No monthly server rental

Disadvantages:

Home Internet dependency
Power outages
Upload bandwidth limitations
You manage the hardware
Backup responsibility

VPS

Advantages:

Data center connectivity
Public IP
Better uptime
Easier remote access
Scalable resources

Disadvantages:

Monthly cost
Storage can become expensive
You still manage the server
Provider dependency

For a personal cloud primarily used at home, a Raspberry Pi is a compelling option.

Final Recommendation

If you’re building a Raspberry Pi home server in 2026, Nextcloud is one of the most useful applications you can install.

For the best experience, I’d use:

Raspberry Pi 5
      │
      ├── 4GB or 8GB RAM
      │
      ├── 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS
      │
      ├── SSD
      │
      ├── Gigabit Ethernet
      │
      ├── MariaDB/PostgreSQL
      │
      └── Redis
             │
          Nextcloud

For beginners, NextcloudPi is worth considering because it packages much of the stack and specifically targets Raspberry Pi. For users already running CasaOS, Docker is another convenient option. For administrators who want full control, a traditional Linux installation gives you the most flexibility.

The most important thing isn’t simply getting Nextcloud installed.

It’s making sure the server is:

Fast + Secure + Backed Up + Updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install Nextcloud on a Raspberry Pi?

Yes. Nextcloud can run on Raspberry Pi hardware, and the official documentation explicitly mentions Raspberry Pi deployments.

Is Raspberry Pi 5 good for Nextcloud?

Yes. Raspberry Pi 5 is a strong choice for a small personal Nextcloud server, particularly when paired with an SSD and Ethernet.

Should I use an SSD?

Yes. An SSD is strongly recommended over a microSD card for a continuously running Nextcloud server.

Can I use Nextcloud with CasaOS?

Yes. A Docker-based Nextcloud installation fits well into a CasaOS home-server environment.

Can I access Nextcloud from outside my home?

Yes, but you should configure HTTPS and secure remote access properly.

Does Nextcloud work with Android and iPhone?

Yes. Nextcloud provides mobile applications for supported Android and iOS versions.

Is Nextcloud free?

The Nextcloud server software is open source and can be self-hosted without paying a software subscription.

Is Nextcloud better than Google Drive?

It depends on your priorities. Nextcloud provides significantly more control because you host the server yourself, but you also become responsible for security, maintenance, backups, and availability.