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The dependable way to run Audiobookshelf on a VPS is Docker Compose with three kinds of persistent storage: /config for the SQLite database, /metadata for application data, and separate mounts for every audiobook and podcast directory. Keep /config on local storage attached to the Audiobookshelf host, then place the HTTP service behind a TLS reverse proxy or a VPN. Back up the media files independently because Audiobookshelf’s database backups do not contain them.
What the deployment needs
Audiobookshelf is a self-hosted server for audiobook and podcast libraries. On a VPS, the application runs in a container while your data remains on host directories mounted into that container. The official project identifies Docker as the recommended installation method. A basic deployment has one Audiobookshelf container, local persistent storage, and an access layer that adds encryption or private-network access.
Required components
- A VPS with enough local disk for the application, metadata, and your media library.
- Docker Engine with the Docker Compose plugin.
- Local storage for
/config; this directory contains the SQLite database and migration scripts. - A separate
/metadatadirectory for metadata, cover and author images, logs, and application backups. - One host directory for each audiobook or podcast collection.
- A reverse proxy with TLS certificates, or a VPN, if the server will be reached remotely.
The documentation does not prescribe a particular VPS company, plan, CPU, RAM amount, or price. Choose capacity from the size and growth rate of your library, and confirm that the provider permits the workload. Local SSD storage is preferable for the database and metadata because it avoids network-filesystem latency and locking problems.
Plan the VPS storage layout
Keep application state and media logically separate. A layout such as the following makes permissions, backups, and migrations easier:
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/srv/audiobookshelf/config— SQLite database and migration files./srv/audiobookshelf/metadata— metadata, images, logs, and Audiobookshelf-generated backups./srv/media/audiobooks— audiobook files./srv/media/podcasts— podcast files.
These are example host paths; create equivalent directories wherever your VPS stores data. The container mount points must remain separate rather than nested. Do not put the SQLite database on a NAS, NFS share, or other network filesystem. Audiobookshelf warns that /config must be directly accessible on the same machine as the server; network access can eventually corrupt SQLite.
Estimate capacity without guessing
There is no universal disk size for an Audiobookshelf VPS. Measure your existing audiobook and podcast folders, add room for future purchases and downloads, then reserve additional space for metadata, temporary files, snapshots, and at least one local staging copy of a backup. If the provider offers separate attached volumes, place /config and /metadata on storage local to the VPS and put large media on a volume that still appears as local block storage to the operating system.
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Install Docker and create directories
Install Docker Engine and its Compose plugin using the instructions for your Linux distribution. Verify both commands before deploying:
docker --version
docker compose versionCreate the directories used by the Compose file and make sure the account that runs Docker can read the media and write application data:
sudo mkdir -p /srv/audiobookshelf/config
sudo mkdir -p /srv/audiobookshelf/metadata
sudo mkdir -p /srv/media/audiobooks
sudo mkdir -p /srv/media/podcasts
cd /srv/audiobookshelfUse ownership and permissions appropriate to your VPS. Audiobookshelf must be able to write to /config and /metadata; it generally only needs read access to media unless you deliberately enable a workflow that modifies files. Avoid making the entire media tree world-writable.
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Create the Docker Compose deployment
Save this as compose.yml (or docker-compose.yml) and replace the example host paths with your real directories. The container listens on port 80; the example publishes it as host port 13378.
services:
audiobookshelf:
image: ghcr.io/advplyr/audiobookshelf:latest
ports:
- '13378:80'
volumes:
- /srv/audiobookshelf/config:/config
- /srv/audiobookshelf/metadata:/metadata
- /srv/media/audiobooks:/audiobooks
- /srv/media/podcasts:/podcasts
environment:
- TZ=UTC
restart: unless-stoppedWhat each setting does
| Compose setting | Purpose | Operational note |
|---|---|---|
image |
Uses the Audiobookshelf image hosted in the GitHub Container Registry. | latest follows the moving latest release; a pinned release tag is easier to review and roll back. |
13378:80 |
Maps VPS port 13378 to the application’s HTTP port 80. | Use a loopback-only binding when a reverse proxy on the same host is the only public entry point. |
/config |
Persists the SQLite database and migration scripts. | Keep it on local storage attached to this VPS. |
/metadata |
Persists metadata, images, logs, and application backups. | Backups here still do not contain your media files. |
/audiobooks and /podcasts |
Expose media directories inside the container. | Add another separate mount for each additional media collection. |
TZ |
Sets the container time zone. | UTC is a predictable choice; use the time zone you want displayed in logs and schedules. |
restart: unless-stopped |
Restarts the service after a crash or host reboot. | A manual stop remains stopped until you start it again. |
If the reverse proxy is on the same VPS, change the port mapping to 127.0.0.1:13378:80. That prevents direct connections to the application from the public network while still allowing the proxy to reach it. If the proxy runs elsewhere, restrict port 13378 with the VPS firewall and permit only the proxy’s address.
Start the container and complete first-run setup
- From the directory containing the Compose file, pull the image:
docker compose pull. - Start it in the background:
docker compose up --detach. - Check the service state:
docker compose ps. - Inspect startup messages if the state is not running:
docker compose logs --tail=200 audiobookshelf. - From a trusted network, open
http://your-vps-address:13378when the port is intentionally reachable, or use the private proxy/VPN address.
The first-run wizard creates the administrator account and asks you to define libraries. When adding a library, select the path as it exists inside the container—for example, /audiobooks or /podcasts—not the host path /srv/media/audiobooks. The host-to-container mapping is what makes that content visible.
Expose Audiobookshelf safely
Audiobookshelf serves unencrypted HTTP and does not provide built-in remote access. Do not treat port 13378 as a secure internet-facing endpoint. Choose one of two access patterns.
Reverse proxy with HTTPS
A reverse proxy terminates TLS, obtains and renews the certificate for your hostname, and forwards requests to Audiobookshelf over the VPS’s local network. Keep the application bound to loopback or an internal container network, and publish only ports 80 and 443 at the proxy. The proxy must support WebSocket upgrade headers because interactive web sessions can use WebSockets.
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An NGINX-style configuration follows this boundary (certificate paths and the hostname are examples that you must replace):
server {
listen 80;
server_name books.example.net;
return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
}
server {
listen 443 ssl;
server_name books.example.net;
ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/books.example.net/fullchain.pem;
ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/books.example.net/privkey.pem;
location / {
proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:13378;
proxy_http_version 1.1;
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
}
}The official NixOS example uses the same architectural idea: bind Audiobookshelf to 127.0.0.1, force SSL at NGINX, proxy WebSockets, and forward to the local application. Adapt the syntax to your proxy and certificate manager rather than copying certificate paths blindly.
VPN-only access
A VPN keeps Audiobookshelf off the public internet. Clients first join your private network, then connect to the VPS’s VPN address and port. This removes public certificate and DNS exposure from the application, but every phone, tablet, browser, or household user needs a VPN client and valid credentials.
| Access method | Public discoverability | Certificate handling | Client setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverse proxy with HTTPS | Hostname and proxy ports are publicly reachable; Audiobookshelf itself remains behind the proxy. | Proxy obtains, serves, and renews TLS certificates. | Users open a normal HTTPS URL; no VPN client is required. |
| VPN | Application is reachable only from the private network. | Traffic is protected by the VPN tunnel; public HTTPS is not required for the private endpoint. | Each client must join the VPN before opening Audiobookshelf. |
Handle audio scanning and codec compatibility
Audiobookshelf uses FFmpeg and FFprobe to scan and parse audiobook files. The official Docker image includes FFmpeg 8, so the Compose deployment normally has the required tools without a separate package installation.
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- Re-encode the affected files to a broadly supported codec, preserving chapter and tag information where your conversion workflow allows it.
- Build and install custom FFmpeg and FFprobe binaries with the decoder support required by those files, then ensure Audiobookshelf uses those binaries.
Do not assume that a file playing in one desktop player proves that the server’s scanner can parse it. Check the container’s FFmpeg version and the scan log before changing library paths or permissions.
Back up the database, metadata, and media separately
Audiobookshelf’s database backup covers the database and cover images stored in metadata/. It does not include your audiobook files, podcast files, or covers stored alongside individual library items. A restorable system therefore needs more than the in-application backup.
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| Data | Location | Backup requirement |
|---|---|---|
| SQLite database and migration state | /srv/audiobookshelf/config |
Use Audiobookshelf’s database backup and an additional filesystem or snapshot copy. |
| Metadata, logs, author images, and application backups | /srv/audiobookshelf/metadata |
Copy off the VPS; retain versions so an accidental change is reversible. |
| Audiobooks | /srv/media/audiobooks |
Back up independently; database backups do not contain these files. |
| Podcasts | /srv/media/podcasts |
Back up independently, especially if downloads are not reproducible. |
| Covers stored with media items | Inside the relevant audiobook or podcast directories | Include the media directories because these images are outside the metadata backup. |
A practical backup routine
- Schedule Audiobookshelf’s own database backup and verify that backup files appear under the metadata area.
- Copy
/config,/metadata, and every media mount to storage outside the VPS account. A second directory on the same disk is not an adequate disaster-recovery copy. - Keep multiple dated versions so a corrupted or accidentally deleted database is not the only version available.
- Periodically restore a copy to a temporary location or test host and confirm that the database opens and media paths can be remapped.
- Before a major upgrade, create a fresh application backup and confirm that the off-host copy completed.
Snapshots can speed recovery, but they are not a substitute for an independent copy. A failed disk, deleted VPS, or compromised account can destroy both the live data and a snapshot stored on the same infrastructure.
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The documented Docker upgrade sequence is:
docker compose pull
docker compose down
docker compose up --detachRun it from the directory containing your Compose file. Watch the logs after the container returns, sign in through the proxy or VPN, and trigger a library scan only after the service is healthy.
Choose an image tag deliberately
The project publishes latest, edge, and numbered release tags. latest is convenient but moves when a new release is published. A numbered tag lets you review a specific version, test it, and return to the previous tag if a migration or compatibility issue appears. The edge tag is intended for users who accept earlier access to changes and the associated upgrade risk.
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- Record the current image tag and application version.
- Back up
/config,/metadata, and media before changing the tag. - Change the
imageline to the target numbered tag, then rundocker compose pull. - Recreate the container with
docker compose downfollowed bydocker compose up --detach. - Check logs, authentication, library visibility, playback, and scans.
- If the release is unsuitable, stop the service, restore the prior image tag, and use the verified backup if a database migration cannot be reversed safely.
Docker versus a native Linux installation
Docker is the project’s recommended route because the Compose file captures mounts, ports, environment, and restart behavior in one reviewable definition. A native installation can fit an administrator who already manages Linux services and packages, but it creates more host-level dependencies and makes migrations less portable.
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| Upgrade portability | Pull a tagged image and recreate the container; host data remains in explicit mounts. | Upgrade the service and host packages using distribution-specific procedures; exact commands are not established here. |
| FFmpeg behavior | Official image includes FFmpeg 8. | FFmpeg and FFprobe versions depend on the host distribution or your own builds. |
| Migration constraints | Move the Compose file and the four data directories, then adjust paths and permissions. | Reproduce service users, package versions, paths, and process supervision on the new host. |
| Configuration clarity | Ports, mounts, time zone, and restart policy are visible in one YAML file. | Settings are distributed across service files, packages, and host configuration. |
Troubleshoot the failures that matter most
The container starts but the library is empty
- Confirm that the library path uses the container path, such as
/audiobooks, not the host path. - Run
docker compose exec audiobookshelf ls -la /audiobooksand verify that files are visible inside the container. - Check host permissions on the mounted directory and read the scan errors in
docker compose logs audiobookshelf. - Ensure the mount is a separate volume and was not accidentally hidden by a nested mount.
The database reports errors or behaves inconsistently
Confirm that /config is on local storage. A NAS or other network filesystem can cause SQLite locking and corruption over time. Stop the container before copying the directory for a filesystem-level backup, restore a known-good backup, and avoid moving the database back to network storage.
Remote access returns a 502 or fails during playback
- Verify that the proxy target matches the binding:
127.0.0.1:13378when the container publishes loopback, or the internal container address when the proxy shares a Docker network. - Check that the proxy forwards the
UpgradeandConnectionheaders required for WebSockets. - Inspect both proxy logs and
docker compose logsto determine whether the failure is TLS, routing, or the application. - If using a VPN, test the private address directly before changing proxy settings.
xHE-AAC files fail during scanning
Check the FFmpeg version in the image or host. FFmpeg 7 and lower may not scan xHE-AAC successfully. Re-encode the files or provide custom FFmpeg and FFprobe binaries with the required decoder support.
The VPS runs out of disk space
Check media growth, metadata, logs, old database backups, Docker image layers, and snapshots separately. Expand or attach local storage, move only the media mounts when appropriate, and keep /config local to the host. Never delete the only copy of a backup to reclaim space.
Quick Recap
Pre-launch checklist
- Docker Compose starts the official Audiobookshelf image with
restart: unless-stopped. /configis local, writable, and not on a network filesystem./metadataand every audiobook or podcast directory are mounted separately.- The first-run libraries point to container paths.
- Port 13378 is firewalled or bound to loopback when a reverse proxy is used.
- Remote traffic uses a TLS reverse proxy or a VPN instead of direct HTTP exposure.
- FFmpeg compatibility has been checked for the formats in your collection.
- Database, metadata, and media backups are copied off the VPS and have been tested.
- The image tag and rollback procedure are documented before upgrades.
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