How to Install Navidrome (Self-Hosted Music Streaming/Spotify Alternative)

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Navidrome is a lightweight, self-hosted music streaming server — giving you a Spotify-like interface for your own personal music library, accessible from any device via a web browser or compatible mobile app.

Prerequisites

Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 VPS: 1-2 vCPU, 1-2 GB RAM (very lightweight)
Your music library, either on the server or accessible via network storage

Step 1 — Run Navidrome with Docker

docker run -d \
  --name navidrome \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  -p 4533:4533 \
  -v navidrome-data:/data \
  -v /path/to/your/music:/music:ro \
  -e ND_SCANSCHEDULE=1h \
  deluan/navidrome:latest

:ro mounts your music library read-only, ensuring Navidrome can't accidentally modify your original files.

Step 2 — Access the Web Interface

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:4533

Step 3 — Create Your Account

The first account created becomes the administrator.

Step 4 — Wait for the Initial Library Scan

Navidrome scans your music directory and builds its library, including reading embedded metadata (artist, album, genre) from your audio files.

Step 5 — Add HTTPS

See How to Install Nginx Proxy Manager with Docker to route a domain to port 4533 with SSL.

Organizing Your Music Library for Best Results

Navidrome works best with well-tagged files (proper ID3 tags for artist, album, track number) — consider a music tagging tool to clean up metadata if your library has inconsistent tagging before importing.

Using the Subsonic-Compatible API

Navidrome implements the widely-supported Subsonic API, meaning many existing third-party mobile and desktop music player apps (built for Subsonic-compatible servers) work directly with Navidrome without needing a Navidrome-specific app.

Creating Playlists

Build and save playlists directly through the web interface, or via any connected Subsonic-compatible client app.

Adding Additional Users

Under Settings → User Management, create accounts for family members, each with their own independent playback history and playlists.

Backing Up Navidrome

docker run --rm -v navidrome_navidrome-data:/data -v $(pwd):/backup alpine tar czf /backup/navidrome-backup.tar.gz /data

Your actual music files should be backed up separately as part of your normal file backup strategy — this backs up only Navidrome's database (playlists, play history, user accounts).

Common Errors

Library scan finds no music — verify the volume mount path correctly points to your actual music directory, and that file permissions allow the container to read the files.

Missing album art — verify your music files have embedded artwork, or place a cover.jpg file in each album's folder as a fallback.

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