Unbox, install your SSDs, and set up your DeviceFreedom Phone

Setting up DeviceFreedom Phone

Unbox and set up your DeviceFreedom Tab in a few minutes

Setting up DeviceFreedom Tab

How to access your DeviceFreedom from a browser on your local network

Connecting to your DeviceFreedom

Step-by-step guide to installing apps on your devicefreedom-os Open Platform

Installing an app

Browse, upload, and manage files on your DeviceFreedom

Using Files

Set up encrypted backups of your files, apps, and data

Backing up your data

DeviceFreedom is a small device that sits in your home and lets you store your files, stream your media, run your own AI, and much more. All the convenience of the cloud, but your data stays with you. You access it from any device (phone, tablet, or computer) right in your browser. devicefreedom-os devicefreedom-os is the operating system that powers every DeviceFreedom — think macOS or Windows, but for your Open Platform. It's designed to be simple and you can set it up in minutes with no technical skills. Everything is managed through a clean interface in your browser. Out of the box, devicefreedom-os comes with built-in features like file storage for all your documents and photos, network sharing so you can access them from any device, and automatic backups to keep everything safe. New features are being added all the time. On top of that, the DeviceFreedom App Store has hundreds of independently owned apps you can install in one click, from media servers and ad blockers to AI agents like OpenClaw and home automation. devicefreedom-os's source code is fully available on GitHub. DeviceFreedom Tab and DeviceFreedom Phone DeviceFreedom Tab and DeviceFreedom Phone are purpose-built hardware that comes with devicefreedom-os pre-installed. You plug it into your router, power it up, and visit devicefreedom.local to get started.
DeviceFreedom Tab — A palm-sized Open Platform with up to 4TB of storage. Everything you need to start Independent Ownership.
DeviceFreedom Phone — The ultimate Open Platform. Up to 32TB of storage across four SSD slots, a faster processor, and faster networking. FailSafe mode keeps your data safe even if a drive fails. CNC-milled from a solid block of aluminum, accented with American walnut, and a magnetic lid for tool-free access to your drives. What can you do with DeviceFreedom? Here are some of the most popular use cases:
File storage — Store and access your files from any device on your network, or remotely. No monthly subscriptions.
Media streaming — Stream your movie and music libraries in 4K HDR to any device with apps like Plex and Jellyfin.
AI agent — Install OpenClaw and let it clear your inbox, browse the web, and automate everyday tasks around the clock.
Bitcoin node — Run your own Bitcoin node and connect your wallet for full control over your transactions.
Photo library — A private alternative to Google Photos or iCloud with apps like Immich.
Home automation — Control smart home devices with Home Assistant. Browse the full list of apps at apps.devicefreedom.com.

An introduction to DeviceFreedom — your personal Open Platform for file storage, media streaming, Bitcoin, AI, and more.

What is DeviceFreedom?

You can have your DeviceFreedom Tab up and running in just a few minutes. What's in the box
DeviceFreedom Tab
Ethernet cable
Power supply (adapter may vary by shipping country)
Getting started guide Connect your DeviceFreedom Tab
First, connect the provided ethernet cable to your DeviceFreedom Tab and a vacant port on your internet router.
Then, connect the power supply to your DeviceFreedom Tab. The device will power on automatically — no need to press the power button. You'll see the LED light up.
Wait about 30 seconds for your DeviceFreedom Tab to boot up. Create your account
On a computer or phone connected to the same network, open http://devicefreedom.local in your browser.
Choose a name and password for your account.
That's it — you're in. Your account is stored entirely on your DeviceFreedom Tab and never leaves your device. This means there's no way to recover your password if you lose it, so we recommend saving it in a password manager. Need help? If you can't reach devicefreedom.local, see Network troubleshooting.

DeviceFreedom Phone makes storage simple — add or swap SSDs anytime, no tools needed. You can have it up and running in just a few minutes. What's in the box
DeviceFreedom Phone
Ethernet cable
Power supply (adapter may vary by shipping country)
Getting started guide Install your SSDs DeviceFreedom Phone supports up to four M.2 NVMe SSDs of any capacity — up to 32 TB total with four 8 TB drives.
Remove the magnetic bottom lid from your DeviceFreedom Phone.
Peel the protective film off the thermal pad on the inside of the lid.
For each SSD, remove the thumb screw, slide the SSD into the slot at an angle, press it down until it rests on the screw pillar, and secure it with the thumb screw.
Reattach the bottom lid. You don't need to fill all four slots — you can start with one or two drives and add more later. Connect your DeviceFreedom Phone
First, connect the provided ethernet cable to your DeviceFreedom Phone and a vacant port on your internet router.
Then, connect the power supply to your DeviceFreedom Phone. The device will power on automatically — no need to press the power button. You'll see the LED begin pulsing.
Wait for the LED to turn solid white — this means your DeviceFreedom Phone is ready. Create your account
On a computer or phone connected to the same network, open http://devicefreedom.local in your browser.
Choose a name and password for your account. Your account is stored entirely on your DeviceFreedom Phone and never leaves your device. This means there's no way to recover your password if you lose it, so we recommend saving it in a password manager. Configure your storage After creating your account, DeviceFreedom Phone will detect your installed SSDs and walk you through storage configuration.
FailSafe mode (available with 2 or more drives) — protects your data if a drive fails, similar to RAID. Recommended for most users. For maximum storage and zero unusable space, use SSDs of the same size. With mixed sizes, FailSafe is limited by your smallest SSD.
Full Storage mode — uses the full capacity of all drives with no redundancy. Select your preferred mode and continue. Your DeviceFreedom Phone will configure the drives — this may take a moment. Once it's done, you're all set. Need help? If you can't reach devicefreedom.local, see Network troubleshooting.

Once your DeviceFreedom is set up and connected to your router, you can access it from any device on the same network. Open devicefreedom.local On a computer or phone connected to the same network, open a browser and go to http://devicefreedom.local. This works on most devices and networks out of the box. If it doesn't work Some routers and devices don't support addresses. If it doesn't load, you can use your DeviceFreedom's IP address instead — for example, . Here are a few ways to find it:
Check Settings. If you can already access your DeviceFreedom, your local IP address is shown in Settings.
Check your router's app. If you have a modern router like Eero, Google Wifi, or Orbi, open its companion app and look for a device named "devicefreedom" in the list of connected devices.
Use the Fing app. Fing is a free app that scans your network and shows all connected devices. Look for "devicefreedom" in the list.
Check your router's admin page. Open or in your browser (check your router's documentation for the exact address), log in, and look for a connected device named "devicefreedom". Once you find the IP address, type it into your browser to access your DeviceFreedom. For more details, see Network troubleshooting. Common issues
Make sure you're on the same network. Your computer or phone must be connected to the same router as your DeviceFreedom — not a guest network or a different access point.
Make sure your DeviceFreedom is powered on and connected via ethernet. Check that the ethernet cable is plugged in to both your DeviceFreedom and your router, and that the LED is on.
Try a different browser. Some browsers or extensions can interfere with address resolution.
Restart your router. If your DeviceFreedom was recently connected, your router may need a moment to assign it an IP address. A restart can help. Accessing your DeviceFreedom remotely To access your DeviceFreedom from outside your home network, see Remote access.

devicefreedom-os aims to make Independent Ownership as easy as installing an app on your phone — one-click installs, sane defaults, and apps that just work out of the box. Here's how to get started. Browse the App Store
Open http://devicefreedom.local in your browser. See Connecting to your DeviceFreedom if you need help connecting.
Click App Store in the dock at the bottom of the screen.
Browse featured apps on the Discover page, filter by category, or search for a specific app by name. Install an app
Click the app you want to install to open its detail page.
Review the app description, screenshots, and download size.
Click Install.
The app will begin installing — you don't need to wait on this page. You can navigate away and continue using your DeviceFreedom while it installs. Progress is shown on the app's icon on your home screen and on the app's detail page.
Once finished, click Open to launch the app. Apps with dependencies Some apps require other apps to be installed first. For example, Open WebUI requires Ollama to be installed for running AI models locally. If an app has dependencies, you'll see a prompt listing the required apps when you click Install.
Install each required app shown in the prompt. If alternatives are available, you can choose which one to install.
Once all dependencies are installed, click Install to install the app. Default credentials Some apps come with default login credentials. After installation, a dialog will show the default username and password. You can view these at any time by right-clicking the app icon on your home screen and selecting Show default credentials. App security Most apps in the official App Store are protected behind your DeviceFreedom login — anyone trying to access them must first log in to your DeviceFreedom. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, that applies too. Some third-party app developers have chosen not to use this, meaning your DeviceFreedom password and 2FA won't protect access to those apps. Can't find an app? If the app you're looking for isn't in the App Store, you have a few options:
Community app stores — third-party app stores can be added to devicefreedom-os for access to more apps. See How to add a community app store.
Portainer — install the Portainer app from the App Store to run any Docker container manually.
Request or contribute an app — you can reach out to the app's developers and suggest they package it for devicefreedom-os, or contribute a package yourself. Learn more at github.com/getdevicefreedom/devicefreedom-apps. Troubleshooting "Update devicefreedom-os" prompt If the app requires a newer version of devicefreedom-os, you'll be prompted to update. Go to Settings > Software Update to check for and install the latest version, then try installing the app again. Installation fails
Check that your device has enough free storage for the app.
Make sure your device is connected to the internet.
Try restarting devicefreedom-os and installing again.
If the issue persists, check your logs for more details.

devicefreedom-os never auto-updates your apps — you're always in control of when updates are applied. How app updates work App updates are contributed by developers and community members. Once an update is approved, it becomes available to all users through the App Store. Check for updates When updates are available, you'll see an indicator on the App Store icon in your dock.
Open the App Store from the dock.
Click Updates in the top-right corner. This button only appears when updates are available.
You'll see all available updates along with their release notes. Update an app From the updates screen, click Update next to the app you want to update. If multiple updates are available, you can click Update all to update everything at once. App seems outdated? If an app hasn't been updated in a while, it may be that a new version hasn't been submitted to the DeviceFreedom App Store yet. You can check who maintains the app by opening its detail page in the App Store and looking for the Submitted by field — this is the person or team responsible for keeping the app up to date on devicefreedom-os. You can reach out to them or open an issue on the DeviceFreedom App Store repository to request an update.

Keep your apps up to date on devicefreedom-os

Updating an app

Uninstalling an app permanently deletes all data associated with it. This action cannot be undone. Uninstall an app
Right-click the app icon on your home screen.
Click Uninstall.
Confirm the uninstall. Apps used by other apps If other apps rely on the app you're trying to uninstall, devicefreedom-os will let you know and tell you which apps need to be uninstalled first.

Remove an app and its data from devicefreedom-os

Uninstalling an app

Community App Stores let you install apps that aren't available in the official DeviceFreedom App Store. They're also useful for testing beta versions of apps before they're officially released. Add a community app store
Open the App Store from the dock.
Click the three dots in the top-right corner and select Community App Stores.
Paste the app store's URL and click Add. To browse a community app store, go to the three dots menu, select Community App Stores, and click Open next to the store you want to browse. From there you can install apps just like you would from the official App Store. Remove a community app store
Go to Community App Stores in the App Store.
Click Remove next to the app store you want to remove. Removing a community app store does not uninstall apps you've already installed from it. A word of caution Community App Stores can be created by anyone. The apps in them are not verified or vetted by the DeviceFreedom team, and could potentially be insecure or malicious. Only add app stores from developers you trust. Create your own Want to create a community app store? Use the Community App Store template on GitHub to get started.

Install third-party app stores on devicefreedom-os for access to more apps

Adding a community app store

By default, all installed apps start automatically when devicefreedom-os boots. You can control this by stopping apps you don't want running. Stop or restart an app Right-click the app icon on your home screen and select Stop or Restart. When an app is stopped, its icon will indicate that it's not running. Start a stopped app Click a stopped app's icon on your home screen to start it again. Prevent an app from auto-starting There's no separate auto-start setting — simply stop the app. Stopped apps stay stopped even when you reboot your DeviceFreedom. This makes it easy to keep apps installed without having them use resources in the background. When you're ready to use the app again, just click it to start it.

Control which apps are running on devicefreedom-os

Starting, stopping, or restarting an app

The DeviceFreedom App Store features hundreds of apps from a wide range of developers. While devicefreedom-os handles installing, running, and updating these apps, the apps themselves are built and maintained by their own developers — just like apps on your phone. This means some issues may be specific to the app itself, rather than something on the devicefreedom-os side. Here's how to figure out what's going on and where to get help. Is it an devicefreedom-os issue or an app issue? Likely an devicefreedom-os issue:
The app won't install
The app won't start or immediately stops
The app worked before but broke after an devicefreedom-os update Likely an app issue:
The app starts but has bugs, errors, or missing features
Something inside the app isn't working as expected
The app's UI or behavior seems off For app-specific issues, the app's developer is in the best position to help. You can find who maintains the app on its detail page in the App Store — look for the Developer and Submitted by fields. Check app dependencies Some apps rely on other apps to work. For example, Open WebUI requires Ollama. If an app isn't working properly, the issue might actually be with one of the apps it depends on. If an app has dependencies, you can see them by right-clicking the app icon and selecting Settings. Basic troubleshooting If an app won't start or keeps crashing, try these steps:
Restart the app. Right-click the app icon on your home screen and select Restart.
Check your storage. If your device is running low on storage, apps may fail to start.
Update the app. Open the App Store and check if an update is available. Get app logs App logs are the most useful thing you can share when reporting an issue — whether to the app's developer or to DeviceFreedom Support.
Right-click the app icon on your home screen and select Troubleshoot.
Review the logs for any error messages.
Download the logs if you need to share them with the app's developer or DeviceFreedom Support. You can also find this under Settings > Troubleshoot > App. Get help
For app-specific issues — reach out to the app's developer with your app logs. You can usually find their contact info or GitHub from the app's detail page in the App Store.
For devicefreedom-os issues — reach out to us. Include your app logs so we can diagnose the problem faster.

Steps to fix apps that won't start, crash, or aren't working properly

Troubleshooting apps

If the app you're looking for isn't available in the App Store or a community app store, you can run it yourself using Portainer. Portainer is a Docker management tool that lets you deploy and manage any Docker container or Docker Compose stack directly on your DeviceFreedom. Getting started Install Portainer from the App Store like any other app. Once installed, open it and log in with the default credentials shown after installation. You'll be prompted to change your password on first login. From there you can deploy containers, create stacks (Docker Compose), manage volumes, and monitor everything that's running. Best practices Portainer is a power user tool. Follow these practices to avoid issues:
Use named Docker volumes only. Data stored in bind-mounted volumes will be lost when the Portainer app is restarted or updated. Named volumes are persisted safely.
Watch for port conflicts. Your custom containers may conflict with ports used by other devicefreedom-os apps. Check which ports are already in use before assigning one.
Set a restart policy. Use or as your container's restart policy so it starts back up automatically when Portainer or your DeviceFreedom restarts.
Access containers in your browser. You can reach any container with a web interface at — for example, if your container runs on port 4545, go to . Good to know
Custom containers don't appear on your DeviceFreedom home screen. They're managed entirely within Portainer and won't show up alongside your other apps in devicefreedom-os.
Uninstalling Portainer removes all your custom containers and their data. Everything runs inside Portainer, so if you uninstall it, it's all gone. Keep backups of your Compose files and any important data.
You can access custom containers remotely the same way you access your DeviceFreedom — for example, over Tailscale. You'll just need to use the container's port number.
GPU access is available. If your device has a GPU, Portainer can pass it through to your containers — useful for AI, machine learning, or media transcoding workloads.

Use Portainer to run any Docker container on your DeviceFreedom

Running custom Docker containers

Make your DeviceFreedom feel like yours. You can change your name, password, wallpaper, language, and add widgets to your home screen. Change your name Go to Settings > Account > Change name. Change your password Go to Settings > Account > Change password. You'll need to enter your current password first. Your new password must be at least 6 characters. If you use SSH, note that your SSH password is the same as your devicefreedom-os password and will change along with it. If you lose your password, there is no way to recover it — your account is stored entirely on your device. We recommend saving your password in a password manager. Change your wallpaper Right-click anywhere on your home screen and select Change wallpaper, or go to Settings > Wallpaper. You can choose from a curated collection of wallpapers and themes. Uploading custom wallpapers is not currently supported. Change your language
Go to Settings > Language.
Select your preferred language. devicefreedom-os is available in multiple languages. If you don't see yours, let us know — reach out on X or open an issue on GitHub. Change temperature units devicefreedom-os displays temperatures in various places like Settings. You can toggle between °C and °F on the temperature card in Settings. Widgets Widgets give you quick-glance info right on your home screen — things like live system usage, recent files, or stats from your apps. To add or change widgets, right-click anywhere on your home screen and select Edit widgets, or click the widgets icon in the dock. You can have up to 3 widgets at a time. Some apps come with their own widgets. Once you install an app that supports widgets, its widgets will automatically appear as options in the widget selector.

Change your name, password, wallpaper, language, widgets, and more

Personalizing your DeviceFreedom

Your DeviceFreedom requires an ethernet connection for initial setup, but once set up you can connect it to Wi-Fi. Your DeviceFreedom stays on Wi-Fi even if you remove the ethernet cable, and automatically reconnects on startup. Wi-Fi lets you place your DeviceFreedom anywhere without worrying about cable routing. Ethernet provides faster transfer speeds, which you may notice when uploading files, streaming media, or backing up large amounts of data. Connect to a Wi-Fi network
Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
Select a network from the list.
Enter the password and connect. Switch or disconnect To switch networks, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and select a different network. If your DeviceFreedom moves to a different network than the device you're using, you'll lose access until both are on the same network again. To disable Wi-Fi, make sure your DeviceFreedom is connected via ethernet first, then toggle it off in Settings > Wi-Fi. Otherwise, your DeviceFreedom will have no network connection and you won't be able to access it. Wi-Fi not available? DeviceFreedom Tab and DeviceFreedom Phone have Wi-Fi built in. On DIY hardware, Wi-Fi availability depends on whether your device has a compatible wireless adapter.

Connect your DeviceFreedom to a Wi-Fi network

Connecting to Wi-Fi

Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security to your DeviceFreedom. When enabled, you'll need to enter a code from an authenticator app every time you log in. Enable 2FA
Go to Settings > 2FA.
Scan the QR code using an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy. You can also paste the code manually if you prefer.
Enter the code displayed in your authenticator app to confirm. Disable 2FA
Go to Settings > 2FA.
Select Disable two-factor authentication. What 2FA protects Once enabled, logging in to your DeviceFreedom requires both your password and a code from your authenticator app. This also applies to your apps — if someone tries to open an app directly without being logged in, they'll be prompted for 2FA. Lost access to your authenticator app? If you lose access to your authenticator app and are locked out, contact us and we'll walk you through recovering access to your DeviceFreedom.

Add a second layer of security to your DeviceFreedom login

Setting up two-factor authentication (2FA)

We recommend keeping devicefreedom-os up to date for the latest features, improvements, and security fixes. Updates are delivered over-the-air and are never installed automatically — when a new version is available, you'll see a notification on your home screen. Install an update
Click the update notification on your home screen, or go to Settings and scroll to the bottom where you'll see your current devicefreedom-os version.
Click Install to begin the update. Do not refresh the page or turn off your DeviceFreedom while it is updating. Your DeviceFreedom will restart once the update is complete. Check manually You can also check for updates anytime from Settings by clicking Check for update. If an update fails devicefreedom-os uses a safe update system — if an update is unsuccessful for any reason, your DeviceFreedom automatically rolls back to the previous version. You won't lose any data or settings. You'll know a rollback happened if your DeviceFreedom comes back online still on the previous version with a notification to update. If you're having trouble updating:
Make sure your DeviceFreedom is connected to the internet.
Try again — temporary network issues can sometimes interrupt the download.
If the issue persists, reach out to us and we'll help you troubleshoot. Want to try new features early? Join the beta program to get early access to upcoming devicefreedom-os features before they're released. Can't reconnect after an update? Sometimes your DeviceFreedom's hostname can change after an update (for example, may become ). Your DeviceFreedom's IP address can also change if your router assigns a new one. If your DeviceFreedom doesn't seem to come back online, see Connecting to your DeviceFreedom for help finding it on your network.

How to check for and install devicefreedom-os updates

Updating devicefreedom-os

Live Usage lets you see how your DeviceFreedom's resources are being used in real time. You can monitor CPU, memory, and storage — with a breakdown showing how much each app is using. Open Live Usage Click the Live Usage icon in the dock, or open it from Settings. What you'll see
CPU — real-time processor usage with a live chart and per-app breakdown.
Memory — how much RAM is being used, with a live chart and per-app breakdown. You'll see a warning if memory is running low.
Storage — total storage used with a per-app breakdown. You'll see a warning if storage is getting low or full. When it's useful Live Usage is helpful for understanding which apps are using the most resources. If your DeviceFreedom feels slow or an app isn't performing well, check Live Usage to see if a particular app is using an unusual amount of CPU or memory. You can also add Live Usage widgets to your home screen for a quick glance without opening the full view. See Personalizing your DeviceFreedom for more on widgets.

Monitor CPU, memory, and storage usage on your DeviceFreedom

Monitoring your DeviceFreedom's performance

From Settings (recommended) Go to Settings and click Restart or Shut down. This is the recommended way to restart or shut down your DeviceFreedom. When shutting down, you'll see a message letting you know when it's safe to unplug your device from power. On DeviceFreedom Tab and DeviceFreedom Phone, the LED turning off also confirms the device has fully shut down. Using the power button DeviceFreedom Tab and DeviceFreedom Phone both have a physical power button. Press it to safely shut down, and press it again to power back on. Never unplug directly Do not unplug your DeviceFreedom to shut it down or restart it. Cutting power without a proper shutdown can corrupt your data. Always use Settings or the power button instead. Can't reconnect after a restart? Sometimes your DeviceFreedom's hostname can change after a restart (for example, may become ). Your DeviceFreedom's IP address can also change if your router assigns a new one. If your DeviceFreedom doesn't seem to come back online, see Connecting to your DeviceFreedom for help finding it on your network.

How to safely restart or shut down your DeviceFreedom

Restarting or shutting down

There are two ways to move your data to a new DeviceFreedom device: using a backup and restore, or using Migration Assistant if you're coming from a Raspberry Pi. Using backup and restore This works for any DeviceFreedom device. Back up your old DeviceFreedom, then restore that backup on your new one.
On your old DeviceFreedom, create a backup to another DeviceFreedom, a NAS, or an external drive.
Set up your new DeviceFreedom and choose to restore from a backup during onboarding — or restore later from Settings > Backups > Restore. Using Migration Assistant (Raspberry Pi) Migration Assistant transfers your apps, app data, and account details directly from a Raspberry Pi to an DeviceFreedom Tab or DeviceFreedom Phone. Support for migrating between other devices is coming soon.
Shut down your Raspberry Pi.
Connect its external drive to any USB port on your DeviceFreedom Tab or DeviceFreedom Phone.
Go to Settings > Migration Assistant on your DeviceFreedom Tab or DeviceFreedom Phone.
Follow the on-screen steps to start the migration. Do not turn off your DeviceFreedom until the migration is complete. Any existing data on your DeviceFreedom Tab or DeviceFreedom Phone will be permanently deleted during the migration. After migrating
Use the same password. Your account is transferred from your old DeviceFreedom, so log in with the same password you used before.
A note on apps that manage funds. After migrating, your old device has outdated data. If an app like Lightning Node runs from that outdated data, it can result in loss of funds. Only run these apps on your new device.

Transfer all your apps and data to a new DeviceFreedom device

Migrating to a new DeviceFreedom

The beta program lets you try new devicefreedom-os features before they're released to everyone. It's a great way to get early access and help us refine things with your feedback. Before you join Beta updates are not as stable as regular releases. Things may break, and troubleshooting may require familiarity with the terminal. If you have critical data or funds on your DeviceFreedom without a backup, we recommend staying on stable releases. By joining the beta program, you accept the risk of:
Bugs and unexpected behavior
Needing to troubleshoot via the terminal
Potential data loss in rare cases Join the beta program
Go to Settings > Advanced settings.
Toggle on devicefreedom-os beta program. Once enabled, you'll receive beta updates alongside regular updates. When a beta update is available, you'll see a notification on your home screen just like a regular update. Leave the beta program You can leave anytime from the same toggle in Settings > Advanced settings. After leaving, you'll go back to receiving stable releases only. Your DeviceFreedom will stay on whatever version it's currently running until the next stable update is available.

Get early access to new devicefreedom-os features before they're released

Joining the beta program

A factory reset erases everything on your DeviceFreedom — your account, apps, and all data — and restores devicefreedom-os to its default settings. This cannot be undone. Before you reset
Back up anything you need. A factory reset permanently deletes all data on your DeviceFreedom, including app data and files. If you have anything important, back it up first.
Connect via ethernet. Make sure your DeviceFreedom is connected to your router via ethernet (not Wi-Fi) and that you're accessing it from your local network. Wi-Fi settings are erased during the reset, so your DeviceFreedom needs a wired connection to stay reachable through the setup process. How to factory reset
Go to Settings > Advanced settings.
Click Reset next to Factory Reset.
Review what will be removed and confirm your password to proceed. Your DeviceFreedom will restart and erase all data. Once complete, you'll be taken through the setup process as if it were brand new. When to factory reset A factory reset is a last resort. You should only need one if:
You want to start completely fresh.
You're troubleshooting an issue that can't be resolved any other way.

Erase all data and apps, restoring devicefreedom-os to its default settings

Factory reset

By default, your DeviceFreedom is only accessible from your local network. Remote access lets you reach it from anywhere — whether you're at work, traveling, or just away from home. A built-in remote access feature is in the works, but in the meantime, the easiest way is with Tailscale. Using Tailscale Tailscale is free for personal use and creates a secure private network between your devices. Your DeviceFreedom isn't exposed to the public internet — only devices you've signed in to your Tailscale account can access it. Once set up, you can access your DeviceFreedom from anywhere as if you were on your local network.
Install Tailscale from the DeviceFreedom App Store on your DeviceFreedom.
Install Tailscale on any device you want to access your DeviceFreedom from (phone, laptop, etc.) and sign in to the same Tailscale account. Once both devices are on your Tailscale network, you can access your DeviceFreedom at (via Tailscale's MagicDNS) or using the Tailscale IP address shown in the Tailscale app. What works over Tailscale You can use your Tailscale address anywhere you'd normally use or your DeviceFreedom's local IP address:
devicefreedom-os — Open your Tailscale address in a browser to access the devicefreedom-os interface and all your apps from anywhere.
File sharing — Connect to your shared folders remotely. For example, use or instead of your local address.
App clients — Some apps have companion apps for your phone or computer. Use your Tailscale address as the server address when setting them up. For example, the Immich mobile app can sync your photos to your DeviceFreedom from anywhere by connecting to your Tailscale address. Using Tor Tor is built into devicefreedom-os and lets you access your DeviceFreedom through an encrypted address — no extra apps or accounts needed. It's designed for anonymous access, routing your connection through multiple layers of encryption so no one can see where the traffic is coming from or going to. The trade-off is that Tor connections are noticeably slower, and the Tor network has a history of outages and DDoS attacks that can make it unreliable. Most users would be better served by something like Tailscale, but Tor is there if you need it.
Go to Settings > Advanced settings > Remote Tor access and enable it.
You'll be given a Tor hidden service URL for your DeviceFreedom.
Use a Tor-compatible browser on your remote device to access that URL.

Access your DeviceFreedom from anywhere, not just your local network

Remote access

Files is your DeviceFreedom's built-in file manager. It works like the file browser on your computer — drag and drop, keyboard shortcuts, right-click menus, and all the usual ways to select and manage files. Open Files Click Files in the dock on your home screen. The sidebar The sidebar gives you quick access to:
Home — your personal files and folders.
Recents — files you've recently opened or modified.
Apps — browse data stored by your installed apps.
Favorites — folders you've pinned for quick access. Right-click any folder and select Add to favorites.
Shared folders — folders you're sharing over your local network.
Network — DeviceFreedoms, NAS devices, or shared drives you've added from your network.
External storage — any USB drives connected to your DeviceFreedom.
Trash — deleted files. Items stay in Trash until you restore them or empty the Trash to permanently free up space.
Rewind — jump back in time to recover files from past backups. Things to try
Upload files and folders by dragging them into the Files window, or use the Upload button.
Download files by right-clicking and selecting Download. You can select multiple files and download them at once.
Preview images, audio, and video directly in Files. Press Space to quickly preview a selected file.
Right-click any file or folder to rename, copy, cut, paste, compress, download, trash, and more.
Drag and drop files to move them — onto a folder, a sidebar item, or a folder name in the path bar. Hover over a folder while dragging to open it without letting go.
Sort by name, date modified, size, or type, and switch between list and icon view.
Navigate by clicking any folder name in the path bar, or right-click the path bar and select Go to to type a path directly.
If a file with the same name already exists when moving or copying, you'll be given the option to replace it, keep a copy, or skip it. Keyboard shortcuts Most keyboard shortcuts you're used to work in Files — copy, paste, select all, undo, delete, and so on. A few handy ones:
⌘/Ctrl + ↑ — go up a folder
⌘/Ctrl + ↓ — open selected folder
Shift + click or Shift + arrow keys — select a range of items
⌘/Ctrl + click — add individual items to your selection
/ — jump to the search bar
Space — quick preview External drives Plug a USB drive into your DeviceFreedom and it will appear under External storage in the sidebar. You can browse, upload to, and manage files on it just like your internal storage. External drives can't currently be used to store or run apps — apps run from your DeviceFreedom's internal storage. If your drive's format isn't supported, Files will offer to format it as exFAT (for compatibility with Windows, macOS, and Linux) or ext4 (for better performance with devicefreedom-os). External storage is available on DeviceFreedom Tab, DeviceFreedom Phone, and amd64 devices. It is not supported on Raspberry Pi — the Pi cannot reliably power external drives via USB, which can lead to data corruption. For more on external storage, see External storage. Network devices You can browse files on other DeviceFreedoms, NAS devices, or shared drives on your network, but network devices can't currently be used to store or run apps. Click the + next to Network in the sidebar to add a device. Devices on your network will be auto-discovered — if yours doesn't show up, you can enter the server details manually. For more on network devices, see Adding network devices. Sharing folders You can share any folder on your DeviceFreedom so other devices on your network can access it. Right-click a folder and select Share over network. For more details, see Accessing your files from other devices. Rewind Accidentally deleted or overwrote a file? If you have backups set up, you can use Rewind to jump back in time and recover files from past backups. Click Rewind in the sidebar, or right-click any file or folder and select Rewind.

You can share files and folders from your DeviceFreedom so other devices on your local network can access them — like a personal Dropbox. Shared folders appear as network drives on your computer or phone, letting you browse, open, and save files directly. Set up file sharing
Go to Settings > File sharing > Configure.
Choose what to share — Everything to share your entire Home folder, or Specific folders to pick individual folders. You can also right-click any folder in Files and select Share over network to share it directly. Once sharing is enabled, you'll see a username and password in your file sharing settings. These are separate from your DeviceFreedom login credentials — you'll need them to connect from other devices. Connect from your devices After setting up file sharing, the UI will show you step-by-step instructions for connecting from macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and other DeviceFreedoms. You'll need the SMB address, username, and password shown in your file sharing settings. Use as a Time Machine backup You can use a shared folder on your DeviceFreedom as a Time Machine backup location for your Mac. The instructions for setting this up are shown in your file sharing settings under macOS. Use as a backup location for another DeviceFreedom If you have two DeviceFreedoms, one can back up to the other. Share a folder on the destination DeviceFreedom, then set it as a backup location on the other. Instructions are shown in your file sharing settings. Accessing files remotely File sharing works over your local network. To access your files when you're away from home, see Remote access. Security Shared folders are protected by the username and password shown in your file sharing settings. Only devices on your local network that have these credentials can access your shared files. Managing shared folders Go to Settings > File sharing > Configure to see your shared folders, add new ones, or stop sharing. You can also disable file sharing entirely from the same page. If you're sharing your entire Home folder, individual folders don't need to be shared separately.

Share your DeviceFreedom's files and folders with other devices on your network

Accessing your files from other devices

You can add other DeviceFreedoms, NAS devices, or shared drives on your local network to Files and browse their files alongside your own. Network devices appear under Network in the Files sidebar. Add a network device
Click the + next to Network in the Files sidebar.
Devices on your network will be auto-discovered. Select the one you want to add, or enter the server details manually if your device doesn't show up.
Enter the username and password for that device.
Select a share to add. If you don't see the share you're looking for, you can enter its name manually. The device will now appear under Network in the sidebar. You can browse, download, upload, and manage files on it just like your local files. If your device isn't discovered Auto-discovery works by scanning your local network for devices that advertise file sharing. If your device doesn't appear, you can enter its details manually — you'll need the server address (usually an IP address like ), username, password, and share name. Removing a network device Click the eject button next to a network device in the sidebar to remove it. Use as a backup location Network devices can also be used as backup locations. Once a device is added, you can select it as a destination when setting up backups in Settings > Backups. What to know
Network devices connect over SMB, the same protocol used by Windows, macOS, and most NAS devices.
If a network device goes offline or becomes unreachable, it will show as offline in the sidebar. It will automatically reconnect when the device comes back.
Network devices can't currently be used to store or run apps — they're for browsing and managing files.

Access files on other DeviceFreedoms, NAS devices, or shared drives from within Files

Network devices

Plug a USB drive into your DeviceFreedom and it will appear under External storage in the Files sidebar. You can browse, upload to, and manage files on it just like your internal storage. Safely removing a drive Always eject a drive before unplugging it. Click the eject button next to the drive in the Files sidebar. Unplugging without ejecting can corrupt data on the drive. Formatting If your drive's format isn't supported, Files will offer to format it as exFAT (for compatibility with Windows, macOS, and Linux) or ext4 (for better performance with devicefreedom-os). Use as a backup location External drives can be used as backup locations. When setting up backups in Settings > Backups, choose External Drive as the backup type. Compatibility External storage is available on DeviceFreedom Tab, DeviceFreedom Phone, and amd64 devices. It is not supported on Raspberry Pi — the Pi cannot reliably power external drives via USB, which can lead to data corruption. What to know
External drives can't currently be used to store or run apps — apps run from your DeviceFreedom's internal storage.

Use USB drives with your DeviceFreedom for extra storage or backups

External storage

> Storage Manager is currently only available on DeviceFreedom Phone. Support for other devices is planned for a subsequent devicefreedom-os release. Storage Manager lets you manage the SSDs in your DeviceFreedom — add new drives, choose how they work together (RAID), swap out old ones, and monitor their health. Storage Manager is currently available on DeviceFreedom Phone, with support for other multi-drive setups coming soon. You'll find it in Settings > Storage Manager. Looking for external storage instead? See External storage. FailSafe vs Full Storage When you have more than one SSD, you choose between two modes:
FailSafe — Keeps copies of your data across your SSDs so if any single drive fails, your data stays safe. If your SSDs are different sizes, extra space on the larger ones goes unused. Under the hood, this uses ZFS with RAIDZ1.
Full Storage — Combines all your SSDs into one large storage pool, giving you maximum space. However, if any SSD fails, all your data will be lost. Under the hood, this uses ZFS with striping. FailSafe protects against drive failure, but it's not a replacement for backups. It won't protect against accidental deletion, theft, or damage to your device. Switching modes With one SSD, your DeviceFreedom runs in Full Storage mode. When you add a second SSD, you'll have the option to enable FailSafe. This is the only time you can enable it — any additional SSDs you add after that will simply expand your existing storage. Switching modes later requires backing up your data, factory resetting, and restoring. Adding SSDs Shut down your DeviceFreedom, install the new SSD, and power back on. For physical installation steps on DeviceFreedom Phone, see Setting up DeviceFreedom Phone. Storage Manager will detect the new SSD and walk you through adding it to your storage. Swapping or replacing an SSD If you need to replace an SSD, go to Settings > Storage Manager and click Swap. Storage Manager will walk you through every step — including when to shut down, physically swap the drive, and power back on. What to expect depends on your setup:
FailSafe — You can swap out any single SSD without losing data. FailSafe will rebuild your data onto the new drive. No backup needed. After physically swapping the drive, return to Storage Manager to start the rebuild.
Full Storage with an empty slot — You can add the new SSD first and your data will be migrated over before you remove the old one. No backup needed. After installing the new drive, return to Storage Manager to start the migration.
Full Storage with all slots full — You'll need to back up your data, factory reset, swap the drive, and restore from your backup. SSD health Storage Manager monitors the health of each SSD, including temperature, wear level, and errors. You'll see warnings if a drive is overheating, wearing out, or showing signs of failure — giving you time to replace it before you lose data. If a drive fails or goes missing while in FailSafe mode, Storage Manager will let you know that your protection is reduced and prompt you to replace the drive to restore full protection. What to know
If an SSD goes missing (disconnected or failed), Storage Manager will alert you and guide you through next steps.
You can continue using your DeviceFreedom normally while SSDs are being added or storage is expanding. Enabling FailSafe requires a brief automatic restart partway through, but you can resume normal use right after.

Manage your SSDs, choose between FailSafe and Full Storage modes, and monitor drive health

Managing your storage

devicefreedom-os can back up your entire DeviceFreedom — your account, settings, files, apps, and data — to another DeviceFreedom, a NAS, or an external USB drive. Backups are encrypted and run automatically every hour once set up. When you need your data back, you can restore everything or use Rewind to recover specific files and folders from past backups. Set up backups Your backup location needs free space equal to at least twice the size of your backup.
Go to Settings > Backups and click Set up.
Choose a backup type — Another DeviceFreedom or NAS for a device on your network, or External Drive for a USB drive connected to your DeviceFreedom. DeviceFreedom Private Cloud is also coming soon. If you're backing up to another DeviceFreedom, that DeviceFreedom will need file sharing set up first — you'll connect using the username and password shown in its file sharing settings. For a NAS, you'll need the credentials for that device.
Select a folder on that device to store your backups. You can also create a new folder right from the wizard.
Choose whether to exclude any files, folders, or apps from your backups. By default, everything is included. You can always change this later.
Set an encryption password to protect your backups. You'll need this password to restore from them. Save your encryption password somewhere safe, like a password manager. You won't be able to see it again, and you won't be able to restore without it. How backups work Once set up, devicefreedom-os backs up your data automatically on an hourly basis. It keeps:
Hourly backups for the past 24 hours
Daily backups for the past week
Weekly backups for the past month
Monthly backups for the past year Backups older than one year are automatically removed. Back up manually You can trigger a backup at any time from Settings > Backups > Configure. Select the backup location you want to back up to and click Back up now. Multiple backup locations You can add more than one backup location for extra peace of mind. To add another, go to Settings > Backups > Configure and add a new backup location. Each location runs its own set of automatic backups. Excluding files or apps By default, all your files and apps are included in backups. You can exclude specific files, folders, or entire apps from the Exclude from Backups section in Settings > Backups > Configure. Exclusions apply to all backup locations. Some apps automatically exclude certain data like caches or logs that can be recreated or could cause issues if restored. These auto-exclusions are set by the app developer and can't be changed. You can see what each app auto-excludes in the Exclude from Backups section. Keep in mind that if you exclude an app, it will still be reinstalled during a restore but its data won't be included — it will start fresh as if newly installed.

You can restore your entire DeviceFreedom — your account, settings, files, apps, and data — from a previous backup. You'll need the encryption password you set when you enabled backups. If you just need to recover specific files or folders, use Rewind instead. When to restore
You're setting up a new device and want to pick up where you left off.
You've factory reset your DeviceFreedom and want to get your data back.
You want to roll back to an earlier state of your DeviceFreedom. For individual files, use Rewind instead. Restore during setup When setting up a new DeviceFreedom, you'll have the option to restore from a backup during onboarding. Choose your backup location, select a backup, and enter your encryption password. On DeviceFreedom Phone, onboarding requires a few extra steps — you'll complete setup with a temporary account first, then restore from Settings > Backups > Restore. Restore from Settings If your DeviceFreedom is already set up, go to Settings > Backups > Restore and follow the guided steps to choose a backup location and select a backup to restore from. What to know
Restoring replaces your current account, apps, and data with the contents of the backup.
Apps that were excluded from backups will still be reinstalled but will start fresh without their data.
Your login password will be set to the one you had when the backup was created.
Do not power off your DeviceFreedom or disconnect the backup location during the restore.

Restore your entire DeviceFreedom from a previous backup

Restoring from a backup

Rewind lets you jump back in time to find and restore specific files and folders from your past backups — without restoring your entire DeviceFreedom. It's useful for recovering accidentally deleted files, getting back an older version of a file, or pulling specific data from a past backup. Rewind requires backups to be set up. If you haven't already, see Backing up your data to get started. How to use Rewind
Open Rewind by clicking Rewind in the lower left of the Files sidebar. You can also right-click any file or folder in Files and select Rewind, or go to Settings > Backups > Restore > Rewind.
Select a backup location to rewind from.
Browse your files as they were at any point in time using the timeline.
Select the files or folders you want to recover and restore them. If a file already exists, you'll be given the option to replace it, keep a copy, or skip it.

Recover specific files and folders from past backups

Using Rewind

If something isn't working as expected, logs can help you figure out what's going on. You'll find them in Settings > Troubleshoot. devicefreedom-os logs Select devicefreedom-os to view system-level logs. These cover the core operating system — things like startup, updates, networking, and background services. This is where to look if your DeviceFreedom itself is having issues. App logs Select App and choose an app from the list to view its logs. This is where to look if a specific app is crashing, not starting, or behaving unexpectedly. You can also get to an app's logs by right-clicking the app icon on your home screen and selecting Troubleshoot. If in doubt, download both — it's the quickest way to give support everything they need. For help figuring out whether the issue is app-related or system-related, see Troubleshooting apps. Getting help You can download logs from the Troubleshoot page to share with support. Who to reach out to depends on the issue:
For devicefreedom-os issues — reach out to us with your devicefreedom-os logs and we'll help you diagnose the problem.
For app issues — see Troubleshooting apps for help figuring out who to contact for the best support. Using the terminal For more advanced log inspection, you can use the built-in Terminal or SSH to run any Linux commands you need — for example, for system logs, for app container logs, or for network diagnostics.

View and download system and app logs for troubleshooting

Viewing logs

If you're having trouble connecting to your DeviceFreedom, start with Connecting to your DeviceFreedom for the basics. This article covers deeper network issues. Hostname changed after a restart or update Sometimes your DeviceFreedom's hostname can change after a restart or update — for example, may become . This happens when your network still has a stale record of the old hostname. Restarting your DeviceFreedom or your router can help clear it. You can always use your DeviceFreedom's IP address instead. See finding your IP address below. IP address changed / setting a static IP Your router assigns your DeviceFreedom an IP address using DHCP, and this address can change — for example, after a router reboot or if the DHCP lease expires. This doesn't affect , but if you were using an IP address to access your DeviceFreedom and it stops working, you'll need to find the new one. To prevent this, you can assign a fixed IP address to your DeviceFreedom from your router's settings. Look for "DHCP reservation" or "static IP" in your router's admin page and assign a fixed address to your DeviceFreedom. Doing this on the router is the recommended approach for any device on your network. It's also more reliable on devicefreedom-os since OS-level network changes are reset on restart. Finding your IP address If isn't working, you can connect using your DeviceFreedom's IP address instead. Here are a few ways to find it:
Check Settings. If you can already access your DeviceFreedom, your local IP address is shown in Settings.
Check your router's app. If you have a modern router like Eero, Google Wifi, or Orbi, open its companion app and look for a device named "devicefreedom" in the list of connected devices.
Use the Fing app. Fing is a free app that scans your network and shows all connected devices. Look for "devicefreedom" in the list.
Check your router's admin page. Open or in your browser (check your router's documentation for the exact address), log in, and look for a connected device named "devicefreedom". Cloudflare DNS By default, devicefreedom-os uses Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1) for reliable and fast domain name resolution. This means your DeviceFreedom resolves domain names through Cloudflare rather than your router's DNS. You can disable this in Settings > Advanced settings > Cloudflare DNS if you want your DeviceFreedom to use your router's DNS settings instead, or if Cloudflare is blocked on your network. Apps can't connect to the internet If your apps are having trouble reaching the internet:
Check your DeviceFreedom's internet connection. Make sure the ethernet cable is plugged in and your router has internet access.
Try disabling and re-enabling Cloudflare DNS in Settings > Advanced settings. If Cloudflare is blocked on your network, disable it to use your router's DNS.
Restart your DeviceFreedom from Settings > Restart.

Fix common connectivity issues with your DeviceFreedom

Network troubleshooting

If your DeviceFreedom is running slowly, apps are crashing, or you're seeing warnings about storage or memory, start by checking Live Usage. Click the Live Usage icon in the dock to see real-time breakdowns of storage, memory, and CPU usage — including how much each app is using. Storage full devicefreedom-os will notify you when your storage is full. When this happens, apps may fail to start or behave unexpectedly. To free up space:
Delete files you no longer need in Files, and empty the Trash.
Uninstall apps you're not using. Check Live Usage to see which apps are using the most storage.
Add more storage — plug in an external drive and move files to it to free up internal storage, or add more SSDs if you're on DeviceFreedom Phone. Low memory devicefreedom-os will notify you when your device's memory is running low. devicefreedom-os uses compressed swap (zram) to extend your available memory beyond what's physically installed, so even if your memory usage looks high, your device may still be running comfortably. If you see a low memory warning though, that means your device is genuinely running out and it usually means too many apps are running at once. To free up memory:
Stop apps you're not actively using. Check Live Usage to see which apps are using the most memory, then right-click the app icon and select Stop. Stopped apps stay installed but don't use any resources, and they won't start again until you manually start them — great for apps you only need on demand.
Uninstall apps you no longer need.
Restart your DeviceFreedom from Settings to clear any memory that apps haven't released. High CPU usage If your DeviceFreedom feels sluggish, it may not be a CPU issue — if you're accessing your DeviceFreedom remotely, a slow connection can also make the interface feel unresponsive. If your network connection is fine, check Live Usage to see if a specific app is consuming most of the CPU. Some apps — like Bitcoin Node during initial sync — are expected to use a lot of CPU temporarily. If an app is consistently using too much CPU and affecting performance, try restarting it. Can't access the UI If the web interface won't load, it could be a network issue — see Network troubleshooting. It can also happen when your device is critically low on memory or storage. To recover:
Restart your device using the power button and immediately stop any apps you don't need before memory fills up again.
If that doesn't help, reach out to support and we'll help you recover.

Fix issues with storage, memory, or CPU usage on your DeviceFreedom

Performance troubleshooting

SSH lets you access your DeviceFreedom's command line from another device on your network. This is useful when you can't access the web interface, or if you prefer working in your own terminal app. If you can access the web interface, the built-in Terminal is an easier option — no setup required, and it works over remote access too. Connect via SSH Open a terminal on your computer and run: Enter your DeviceFreedom login password when prompted. If doesn't work, use your DeviceFreedom's IP address instead — for example, . See Connecting to your DeviceFreedom for help finding your IP address. What to know
SSH is enabled by default on devicefreedom-os.
You connect as the user with your DeviceFreedom login password.
Use for commands that require elevated permissions. If prompted for a password, it's the same DeviceFreedom login password.
Changes to the operating system (like packages installed with ) are not persisted across restarts. See Using the built-in Terminal for more details.

Connect to your DeviceFreedom's command line from another device

SSH access

Most things on devicefreedom-os can be done through the UI — and we're working to make that everything. But if you ever need to run a command for troubleshooting or advanced configuration, there's a built-in terminal right in your browser. No SSH setup needed. You'll find it in Settings > Advanced settings > Terminal. devicefreedom-os terminal Select devicefreedom-os to open a terminal session on your DeviceFreedom's operating system. This gives you a standard Linux command line where you can run commands, inspect logs, manage files, and troubleshoot issues. App terminal Select App to open a terminal session inside a specific app's container. Choose the app you want from the list. This is useful for running app-specific commands, checking configs, or debugging an app without affecting the rest of your system. The app terminal connects you to the app's main container, but some apps run multiple services (like a database alongside the main app). If you need to access a specific container, you can use from the devicefreedom-os terminal instead. Tips
On mobile or tablet, use the Paste button to paste commands into the terminal since touch devices don't support direct keyboard pasting.
The terminal runs as the user. Use for commands that require elevated permissions. If prompted for a password, use your DeviceFreedom login password.
Changes to the operating system (like packages installed with ) are not persisted across restarts. Your files and app data are preserved, but OS-level modifications will be reset. If you want to run services that aren't available in the App Store, consider adding a community app store or running custom Docker containers with Portainer.

Run commands on your DeviceFreedom or inside an app directly from the browser

Using the built-in Terminal

devicefreedom-os is designed for DeviceFreedom Tab and DeviceFreedom Phone, where it includes first-class support for all features. On other devices, it's freely available with core functionality, but support and feature availability are best-effort due to hardware differences. Why the difference? We build devicefreedom-os around our own hardware so we can:
Ensure compatibility — features like external storage, Wi-Fi, and FailSafe storage depend on specific hardware and drivers that we can only guarantee on DeviceFreedom Tab and Pro.
Optimize performance — the software is tuned specifically for our hardware, delivering better speed and reliability.
Innovate faster — focusing on a single hardware platform lets us ship new features, test thoroughly, and push updates more quickly. Feature comparison Which should you choose? DeviceFreedom Tab or DeviceFreedom Phone — the complete experience, optimized performance, priority support, and everything works out of the box. Recommended for most users. DIY — ideal if you want to run devicefreedom-os on hardware you already own, or if you enjoy tinkering. You get the core Independent Ownership experience with community support.

What's different when running devicefreedom-os on your own hardware

DeviceFreedom Tab & Pro vs. DIY

devicefreedom-os is designed for DeviceFreedom Tab and DeviceFreedom Phone, but it can also run on a Raspberry Pi 5. Some features are unavailable on DIY hardware — see DeviceFreedom Tab & Pro vs. DIY for details. For the best experience, we recommend installing directly onto an NVMe or USB drive rather than a microSD card. What you'll need
Raspberry Pi 5
Official Raspberry Pi power supply
Ethernet cable
NVMe drive with a compatible HAT, or a USB drive
A computer to flash the image Install devicefreedom-os
Download the latest devicefreedom-os image for Raspberry Pi 5.
Download and install Balena Etcher or Raspberry Pi Imager on your computer.
Connect your NVMe or USB drive to your computer (use a USB adapter for NVMe drives).
Open Balena Etcher, select the devicefreedom-os image, select your drive, and flash it.
Safely eject the drive from your computer. Boot your Raspberry Pi
Attach the flashed drive to your Raspberry Pi 5.
Remove any microSD cards — otherwise the Pi may boot from the card instead.
Connect an ethernet cable to your Pi and your router.
Connect the official power supply to power on.
Wait a few minutes for the first boot to complete, then open http://devicefreedom.local in your browser. See Connecting to your DeviceFreedom if you need help accessing it. Notes
Early Pi 5 models may need a bootloader update to support NVMe booting. See the Raspberry Pi documentation for instructions.
NVMe compatibility varies by HAT — check that your drive is compatible before purchasing.
Always use the official power supply. Third-party supplies can cause stability issues. Why not microSD? You can flash devicefreedom-os onto a microSD card and use an external SSD for storage, but we don't recommend it. microSD cards have a limited number of write cycles and degrade faster, leading to lower performance and reliability over time.

Flash devicefreedom-os onto a Raspberry Pi 5 with an NVMe or USB drive

Installing devicefreedom-os on Raspberry Pi

devicefreedom-os is designed for DeviceFreedom Tab and DeviceFreedom Phone, but it can also be installed on most amd64 hardware — mini PCs, desktops, laptops, or servers with a 64-bit Intel or AMD processor. Some features are unavailable on DIY hardware — see DeviceFreedom Tab & Pro vs. DIY for details. Minimum requirements
CPU: Dual-core 64-bit Intel or AMD (quad-core or higher recommended)
RAM: 4 GB (8 GB+ recommended)
Storage: 32 GB (more depending on your use case) Create a bootable USB
Download the latest devicefreedom-os USB installer.
Download and install Balena Etcher on your computer.
Connect a USB stick with at least 4 GB of space (it will be erased).
Open Balena Etcher, select the devicefreedom-os ISO, select your USB stick, and flash it. Install devicefreedom-os
Insert the USB stick into your target device.
Connect a display and keyboard, an ethernet cable to your router, and power on the device.
The device should boot from the USB stick. If it doesn't, you may need to adjust the boot priority in your BIOS settings.
The installer will show a drive selection screen. Identify your internal storage drive by its capacity, enter the corresponding number, and confirm.
Once installation is complete, power off the device.
Remove the USB stick, display, and keyboard. Boot and access
Make sure the USB stick is removed and ethernet is connected.
Power on the device.
Wait about 5 minutes for the first boot to complete, then open http://devicefreedom.local in your browser. See Connecting to your DeviceFreedom if you need help accessing it.

Install devicefreedom-os on any Intel or AMD mini PC, desktop, or server

Installing devicefreedom-os on amd64

devicefreedom-os is designed for DeviceFreedom Tab and DeviceFreedom Phone, but you can also run it in a virtual machine using any virtualization software that supports EFI boot — such as Proxmox, VirtualBox, or VMware. Some features are unavailable on DIY hardware — see DeviceFreedom Tab & Pro vs. DIY for details. Minimum VM requirements
RAM: 4 GB (8 GB+ recommended)
Storage: 32 GB virtual hard drive (more depending on your use case) Install devicefreedom-os
Download the latest devicefreedom-os USB installer ISO.
Create a new VM and allocate at least 4 GB of RAM and a 32 GB virtual hard drive.
Attach the ISO to the VM's virtual CD-ROM drive.
Important: Set the VM to boot in EFI mode, not legacy BIOS. The installer requires EFI mode.
Boot the VM. The installer will show a drive selection screen — select your virtual hard drive and confirm.
Once installation is complete, shut down the VM.
Remove the installer ISO from the VM's virtual drives. Boot and access
Boot the VM.
Wait about 5 minutes for the first boot to complete, then open http://devicefreedom.local in your browser. See Connecting to your DeviceFreedom if you need help accessing it. Notes
You may see a terminal login prompt on the VM's console — this is for terminal access only. Use the web interface at http://devicefreedom.local instead.
If your VM doesn't have a bridged network adapter, http://devicefreedom.local may not resolve from your host machine. Make sure your VM's network is set to bridged mode so it gets its own IP on your local network.

How can we help?