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Pixelfed

Application1024MB+ RAM

Decentralized photo sharing (Instagram alternative)

photosfediverseinstagram-alternativeactivitypub

Deploy Pixelfed in 3 Steps

1

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

2

Select Pixelfed

Choose from our template library

3

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required
DIY Deployment

Self-Host Pixelfed with Docker

Take the DIY route and deploy Pixelfed on your own server using Docker.

1

Log into Your Server

Access your server's command line by opening a terminal and running the SSH command below.

terminal
# SSH into your server
ssh root@your-server-ip

# Using a custom SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa root@your-server-ip

First time? Need Docker? Install it: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

2

Prepare the Install Location

Set up the folder structure for your Docker deployment.

terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/pixelfed
cd ~/apps/pixelfed
3

Create docker-compose.yml

Set up your Docker Compose file with this configuration:

docker-compose.yml
services:
  pixelfed:
    image: pixelfed/pixelfed:latest
    ports:
      - "8080:80"
    environment:
      - APP_URL=<your-app-url>
      - APP_DOMAIN=<your-app-domain>
      - DB_CONNECTION=pgsql
      - DB_HOST=db
      - DB_DATABASE=pixelfed
      - DB_USERNAME=pixelfed
      - DB_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
      - REDIS_HOST=redis
      - APP_KEY=<your-app-key>
    volumes:
      - pixelfed_storage:/var/www/storage
    restart: unless-stopped
    depends_on:
      - db
      - redis

  db:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_USER=pixelfed
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=<your-db-password>
      - POSTGRES_DB=pixelfed
    volumes:
      - postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: unless-stopped

  redis:
    image: redis:7-alpine
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  pixelfed_storage:
  postgres_data:
Configurable Options
PORTHost port(default: 8080)
APP_URLApp URL
APP_DOMAINDomain
APP_KEYApp key
DB_PASSWORDDB password
4

Run the Deployment

Start all services defined in your compose file.

terminal
# Start the containers in detached mode
docker compose up -d

# Check if containers are running
docker compose ps

# View logs
docker compose logs -f
5

Configure Network Access

Open the port so you can access the application externally.

terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
sudo ufw reload

# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8080
Skip the Terminal

Want one-click deploys? Try Server Compass.

Forget SSH and YAML files. Deploy Pixelfed visually with Server Compass in just a few clicks.

  • Visual configuration UI
  • One-click deployment
  • Automatic SSL setup
  • Zero-downtime updates
  • Built-in monitoring
  • One-click rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license

After Deployment

After deploying Pixelfed with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

1

Complete installation wizard

2

Register admin account

3

Configure federation

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

Pixelfed FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting Pixelfed

How do I deploy Pixelfed with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Pixelfed from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.

What are the system requirements for Pixelfed?

Pixelfed requires a minimum of 1024MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 2048MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.

Can I migrate my existing Pixelfed data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Pixelfed backup and restore procedures.

How do I update Pixelfed to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Pixelfed image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is Pixelfed free to self-host?

Pixelfed is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.

Ready to Self-Host Pixelfed?

Download Server Compass and deploy Pixelfed to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.

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