Introduction

Welcome to the Nextcloud Server Administration Guide.

This guide explains how to perform administrative tasks in Nextcloud, a highly versatile and scalable open-source platform for file synchronization and content collaboration.

With over 400,000 deployments, Nextcloud can run on a simple two-user Raspberry Pi or scale to support global, distributed installations serving tens of millions of users. It can be deployed on-premises, in private or public clouds, or in hybrid environments. Supported by a large and growing community, Nextcloud is available in more than 60 languages.

The latest editions of the Nextcloud manuals are always available online at docs.nextcloud.com.

Target Audience

This guide is for users who want to:

  • Install Nextcloud Server

  • Administer and manage their instance

  • Optimize server performance

For documentation on Nextcloud web, desktop, or mobile clients, see:

For documentation on development topics,see:

Core Components

Nextcloud includes:

  • Nextcloud Server (backend running on Linux)

  • A responsive, integrated web client

  • Cross-platform desktop clients (Windows, macOS, and Linux) for file synchronization and local access

  • Dedicated mobile clients (Android and iOS)

  • An extensive app ecosystem for expanded functionality

Editions

Nextcloud Server is available in two editions:

  • Community: Community-supported (peer-to-peer help), 100% free.

  • Enterprise: Supported by core developers or authorized partners, with official packaging, extensive enterprise-specific documentation, and support options.

Both editions include all functionality and source code.

Enterprise editions can include deployment guidance, phone and email access to Nextcloud developers, official support for integrations and add-ons, custom branding, and extended support cycles, among other benefits.

This guide primarily focuses on the Community edition, but the information applies to both editions.

Further Resources

Getting Started

To get started, see the Installation section.

Who develops Nextcloud?

The development of the Nextcloud platform is a cooperative endeavor overseen by the core maintainers – primarily employed by Nextcloud GmbH – along with thousands of partners, providers, collaborators, project members, and community participants.

The Nextcloud community includes everyone – from individual users and independent developers to large organizations.

Community members share and discuss their experiences with the platform every day. They suggest improvements, collaborate on design, write code, create documentation, test for bugs, triage bug reports and enhancement ideas, support others, improve translations, and help fund and organize the logistics of a project this size. Most importantly, they use Nextcloud in their daily lives and work.