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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select the tutorial-vps VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.
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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
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Pixelfed on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Pixelfed template in Server Compass to deploy the official source-built Pixelfed stack with MySQL, Redis, Horizon workers, scheduler, migrations, and instance bootstrap.
About 12 minutesBrowser verified
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Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
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Step 3Search for Pixelfed
Use the template picker search to find Pixelfed in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Pixelfed template
Choose the Pixelfed template. Server Compass prepares the official source-built app, MySQL, Redis, Horizon worker, scheduler, and bootstrap services.
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Step 5Review the Pixelfed settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named pixelfed-demo and used host port 8080.
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Step 6Deploy Pixelfed
Review the public URL, domain, Laravel app key, database passwords, sender email, and compose services, then click Deploy.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass clones the official Pixelfed source, builds the PHP image, uploads the compose file, starts services, runs migrations, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Pixelfed is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Pixelfed app is marked Running.
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Step 9Verify Pixelfed from the VPS
Verify the Pixelfed app, Horizon worker, scheduler, MySQL, Redis, and setup sidecar are healthy, and /api/v1/instance returns Pixelfed metadata.
After Pixelfed Opens
- Put Pixelfed behind HTTPS and a real domain before production federation.
- Configure real outbound mail delivery before inviting users or requiring email verification.
- Create local users according to your instance policy and disable open registration if the server is private.
- Back up the MySQL, Redis, Pixelfed storage, and bootstrap cache volumes.
Verified Result
Pixelfed, Horizon, scheduler, MySQL, Redis, and the setup sidecar were healthy; the instance API returned Pixelfed metadata for the VPS URL.
Pixelfed deployment questions
What does the Pixelfed template deploy?
It deploys the official source-built Pixelfed application with MySQL 8.4, Redis, Horizon queue workers, a scheduler, migrations, and a setup job for instance actor and Passport keys.
Which port did the tutorial use?
This tutorial used host port 8080. Server Compass can choose another free port if that port is already in use on your VPS.
Why verify /api/v1/instance?
Pixelfed exposes Mastodon-compatible instance metadata there. A 200 response confirms the Laravel app, database, cache, and configuration are working after deployment.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Pixelfed template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
DIY Deployment
Self-Host Pixelfed with Docker
Take the DIY route and deploy Pixelfed on your own server using Docker.
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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-ipFirst time? Need Docker? Install it: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
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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/pixelfed3
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 URLAPP_DOMAINDomainAPP_KEYApp keyDB_PASSWORDDB password4
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 -f5
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:8080Skip 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
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Complete installation wizard
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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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