Is it possible to install nextcloud locally on my home server without using a domain name?

scubamuc · May 22, 2026, 2:29pm

Hey @luccas welcome to the Nextcloud community

simple answer: not recommended!

https://github.com/nextcloud/all-in-one#how-to-run-nextcloud-locally-no-domain-wanted-or-wanting-intranet-access-within-your-lan

github.com/nextcloud/all-in-one

local-instance.md

main

# Local instance
It is possible due to several reasons that you do not want or cannot open Nextcloud to the public internet. Perhaps you were hoping to access AIO directly from an `ip.add.r.ess` (unsupported) or without a valid domain.  However, AIO requires a valid certificate to work correctly. Below is discussed how you can achieve both: Having a valid certificate for Nextcloud and only using it locally.

### Content
- [1. Tailscale](#1-tailscale)
- [2. Pangolin](#2-pangolin)
- [3. The normal way](#3-the-normal-way)
- [4. Use the ACME DNS-challenge](#4-use-the-acme-dns-challenge)
- [5. Use Cloudflare](#5-use-cloudflare)
- [6. Buy a certificate and use that](#6-buy-a-certificate-and-use-that)

## 1. Tailscale
This is the recommended way. For a reverse proxy example guide for Tailscale, see this guide by [@Perseus333](https://github.com/Perseus333): https://github.com/nextcloud/all-in-one/discussions/6817

## 2. Pangolin
[Pangolin](https://pangolin.net/) is an open-source, WireGuard-based remote access platform similar in concept to Tailscale. It uses the **Newt** connector to create outbound-only encrypted tunnels — no inbound ports need to be opened on your firewall. Pangolin handles TLS automatically, providing a valid certificate for your Nextcloud domain.

You can use either [Pangolin Cloud](https://app.pangolin.net/) (free tier available) or [self-host your own Pangolin server](https://docs.pangolin.net/self-host/quick-install) on a VPS. For private/local-only access, self-hosting Pangolin on a machine within your local network means that Nextcloud never needs to be exposed to the public internet.

For the reverse proxy configuration details and a step-by-step setup guide, see the [Pangolin section in the reverse proxy documentation](./reverse-proxy.md#pangolin).

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