umbrelOS

Turn a small home computer into your own private cloud server

Intermediate API
Screenshot of umbrelOS, Turn a small home computer into your own private cloud server

What is umbrelOS?

umbrelOS is a remote tool that turns a small home computer into your own private cloud server. umbrelOS is a browser-managed operating system that converts a Raspberry Pi, mini PC, NAS, or VM into a private home cloud.

umbrelOS is an operating system built for home servers. It takes a small computer (a Raspberry Pi, a mini PC, a NAS, or a virtual machine) and turns it into a personal cloud that you control. Installation happens in one click on supported hardware, and after that everything is managed from a browser tab: open umbrel.local from any device on the network and you get a desktop-style interface with a file manager, a photo library, a settings panel, and an app store. The appeal is breadth without terminal work. The Umbrel App Store lists more than 300 apps, each installed with a single tap, spanning files and productivity (Nextcloud), media streaming (Plex, Jellyfin, Sonarr), networking (Tailscale, Pi-hole, Transmission), home automation (Home Assistant, n8n, Portainer), Bitcoin tooling (a full node, mempool, Public Pool), and local AI (Ollama, Hermes Agent, OpenClaw). Version 2.0 adds a rebuilt interface, multi-user accounts with private home folders, the ability to run entire operating systems such as Ubuntu, Windows 11, or Android inside a browser tab, and optional GPU acceleration for local models. The system also does the unglamorous server work: FailSafe mirroring across drives, monthly scrubbing, SSD acceleration, drive replacement, live per-app usage statistics, and backups to an external drive, a NAS, or a second Umbrel. A Rewind feature restores files by scrolling back through time, and cloud imports pull in Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and iCloud content with background indexing for fast search. Companion apps for iPhone, Mac, and Windows add camera-roll backup and mount the server in Finder or File Explorer. umbrelOS suits people who want self-hosted services without maintaining a Linux stack, and it competes with DIY Docker setups, CasaOS, and Synology-style NAS software. Buyers should note that it runs on hardware you supply unless they purchase Umbrel Home or Umbrel Pro, and that the convenience layer sits on top of real server administration, so storage planning and backups remain your responsibility.

How do you use umbrelOS?

  1. 1Download umbrelOS for your hardware
    Visit the downloads page and pick the image that matches your device, whether that is a Raspberry Pi, a mini PC, or a virtual machine.
    umbrelOS — Download umbrelOS for your hardware
  2. 2Install and open the browser interface
    Flash the image, boot the machine, and open umbrel.local from any device on the same network. No monitor or keyboard is needed after setup.
    umbrelOS — Install and open the browser interface
  3. 3Install apps from the App Store
    Browse the Umbrel App Store by category such as Files, Local AI, Media, or Network, and install any app with a single click.
    umbrelOS — Install apps from the App Store
  4. 4Add storage and set up backups
    Attach drives, mirror them with FailSafe, and choose a backup destination such as an external drive, a NAS, or another Umbrel.
  5. 5Connect the companion app
    Install the iPhone, Mac, or Windows app to back up photos automatically and reach the server from outside the home network.
    umbrelOS — Connect the companion app
  6. 6Optional: connect an AI agent
    Create a token for Claude, Codex, or OpenClaw over MCP so an agent can install apps, organize files, and diagnose services on your behalf.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • One-click app installs cover more than 300 self-hosted services, from Nextcloud to Ollama, with no terminal involvedAI
  • Browser-based management means no monitor or keyboard attached to the serverAI
  • Built-in storage handling includes FailSafe mirroring, monthly scrubbing, and drive replacementAI
  • Backups to external drives, NAS, or a second Umbrel, plus a Rewind timeline for restoring older file versionsAI
  • Local AI agents can connect over MCP to install apps and organize files, with revocable per-agent tokensAI

Cons

  • Hardware is not included unless you buy Umbrel Home or Umbrel Pro, so the real cost is higher than the software aloneAI
  • Running 300+ apps is a catalog claim; each app's resource appetite and reliability vary and are not guaranteedAI
  • The Android companion app is still listed as coming soon, so Android users get a lesser experienceAI
  • Self-hosting shifts responsibility for drive failures, updates, and security patching onto the ownerAI
  • Convenience features like multi-user desktops and running full operating systems assume reasonably capable hardwareAI

How much does umbrelOS cost?

Support

umbrel.com/support hosts getting-started guides, including setup walkthroughs for Umbrel Pro and Umbrel Home and instructions for connecting to your Umbrel.

Learn more

Integrations

The site names Nextcloud, Plex, Jellyfin, Sonarr, Tailscale, Pi-hole, Transmission, Home Assistant, n8n, Portainer, Ollama, Hermes Agent, OpenClaw, Bitcoin Node, mempool, Public Pool, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, and MCP connections for Claude and Codex.

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Features

Core features include a browser-based OS, one-click installs from a 300+ app store, Files with drag and drop plus SMB network sharing, a Photos app with automatic iPhone camera-roll backup, multi-user accounts, running full operating systems like Ubuntu or Windows 11 in a tab, FailSafe drive mirroring and scrubbing, backups with a Rewind recovery timeline, cloud imports from Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and iCloud, GPU acceleration, and MCP access for AI agents.

Frequently asked questions about umbrelOS

  • Does umbrelOS have an API?
    Yes, umbrelOS offers an API.
  • How do you use umbrelOS?
    The walkthrough on this page covers 6 steps: 1. Download umbrelOS for your hardware 2. Install and open the browser interface 3. Install apps from the App Store 4. Add storage and set up backups 5. Connect the companion app 6. Optional: connect an AI agent.
  • What platforms does umbrelOS support?
    umbrelOS is available on Web App, iOS, MacOS, Windows and Linux.
  • What does umbrelOS integrate with?
    The site names Nextcloud, Plex, Jellyfin, Sonarr, Tailscale, Pi-hole, Transmission, Home Assistant, n8n, Portainer, Ollama, Hermes Agent, OpenClaw, Bitcoin Node, mempool, Public Pool, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud, and MCP connections for Claude and Codex.
  • What are the limitations of umbrelOS?
    Hardware is not included unless you buy Umbrel Home or Umbrel Pro, so the real cost is higher than the software alone. Running 300+ apps is a catalog claim; each app's resource appetite and reliability vary and are not guaranteed. The Android companion app is still listed as coming soon, so Android users get a lesser experience.

Status

StatusActive
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Added10/22/2026

Platforms

Web AppiOSMacOSWindowsLinux

Pricing

Free