Tipi Quick Start: Set Up Your Homeserver in 5 Minutes

This tutorial walks you through setting up Tipi (Runtipi) on your own server for the first time. By the end, you will have a fully functional homeserver with a web dashboard, automatic SSL, and the ability to install apps with one click.

Prerequisites

A Linux server (Ubuntu 22.04+ recommended) with root or sudo access
Docker and Docker Compose installed
A domain name pointing to your server's IP (optional, for public access)
At least 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of free disk space

Step 1: Install via the One-Command Script

The easiest way to install Tipi is with the official installation script. SSH into your server and run:

curl -fsSL https://get.runtipi.io | bash

This script will automatically detect your operating system, install Docker if needed, download the latest Tipi release, and start the services. The installation takes about 2-3 minutes.

Step 2: Access the Dashboard

Once the script completes, open your browser and navigate to:

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8080

You will be greeted by the Tipi setup wizard. Create an admin account by choosing a username and a strong password. After logging in, you will see the main dashboard with the app store, system status, and settings.

Step 3: Install Your First App

Click on App Store in the sidebar. Browse the available apps — you will find over 100 options including Nextcloud, Jellyfin, Home Assistant, Vaultwarden, and many more. Click Install on any app, and Tipi will automatically:

Pull the Docker image
Configure the reverse proxy
Generate SSL certificates (if you have a domain configured)
Create a dedicated subdomain for the app

Most apps are ready to use within 30-60 seconds.

Step 4: Configure a Domain (Optional)

To access your apps from anywhere with HTTPS, configure a domain in Tipi:

Go to Settings > Domain
Enter your domain name (e.g., tipi.example.com)
Ensure your domain's DNS A record points to your server's IP
Tipi will automatically request SSL certificates from Let's Encrypt

Once configured, each app you install gets its own subdomain with automatic HTTPS.

Docker Installation (Alternative)

If you prefer to run Tipi manually with Docker:

docker pull ghcr.io/runtipi/runtipi:latest
docker run -d \
  --name tipi \
  -p 8080:8080 \
  -v ./data/tipi:/data \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  ghcr.io/runtipi/runtipi:latest

Then access the dashboard at http://localhost:8080.

Next Steps

Set up automatic backups via Settings > Backup
Configure Cloudflare Tunnel for secure access without opening ports
Explore the CLI with runtipi-cli --help
Join the Runtipi Discord for community support

Troubleshooting

Dashboard not loading? Check that port 8080 is open in your firewall
SSL certificate errors? Ensure your domain DNS is correctly configured
App installation fails? Check Docker is running: docker ps
Need help? Visit the official documentation