DashCaddy Getting Started Guide
A practical guide to getting started with DashCaddy — the self-hosted app dashboard.
Getting Started
First-Time Setup
Learn how to log in, configure your timezone, and choose a deployment mode.
What you'll learn:
- How to log in with TOTP authentication
- How to select your timezone
- How to choose a deployment mode (Simple, Home Lab, Public, Custom)
- How to complete or skip the initial setup wizard
Read full tutorial →
Theme Customization
Customize the Dashboard
Make DashCaddy your own with custom themes and colors.
What you'll learn:
- How to open the Theme Builder
- How to use preset themes (Dark, Light, Nord, Dracula, etc.)
- How to customize colors for backgrounds, text, accents, and status indicators
- How to save, import, and export themes
Read full tutorial →
Viewing Logs
Monitor Service Logs
Monitor your services with real-time log streaming.
What you'll learn:
- How to access the logs viewer
- How to navigate and filter log entries
- How to use live log streaming
- How to control the number of displayed log lines
Read full tutorial →
Quick Search
Fast Access to Everything
Find services and settings instantly.
What you'll learn:
- How to open Quick Search (Ctrl+K / Cmd+K)
- How to search for services and settings
- How to navigate and select results with keyboard shortcuts
Read full tutorial →
Backup & Restore
Protect Your Configuration
Create full backups of your entire DashCaddy setup.
What you'll learn:
- How to create a manual backup
- What's included in a full backup (services, credentials, themes)
- How to restore from a backup file
- How to set up automated backups
- How to view backup history
Read full tutorial →
Monitoring Resources
Track System Performance
Monitor CPU, memory, network, and disk usage in real-time.
What you'll learn:
- How to access the Resource Monitor
- How to interpret live stats and historical summaries
- How to set up alerts for resource thresholds
- Understanding CPU, memory, network, and disk metrics
Read full tutorial →
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut |
Action |
| Ctrl+K / Cmd+K |
Open Quick Search |
| ↑ / ↓ |
Navigate in Quick Search |
| Enter |
Select in Quick Search |
| ESC |
Close modal / Cancel |
Common Tasks
Adding Your First App
Note: App deployment requires the app catalog to be configured with your DashCaddy instance.
- Navigate to TOOLS → App Selector
- Browse available apps or use Quick Search
- Select an app template
- Configure the app settings (URL, subdomain, credentials)
- Deploy and verify
Checking Service Health
- Navigate to STATUS → Health Status
- View the health overview for all services
- Check individual service status cards
- Review any active incidents
Updating Services
- Navigate to ADMIN → Updates
- View available updates
- Review changelogs and release notes
- Apply updates to individual services or all at once
Troubleshooting
| Issue |
Solution |
| Can't log in with TOTP |
Ensure your device clock is synchronized (TOTP is time-based). Try regenerating the code — they expire every 30 seconds. |
| Dashboard shows no services |
Services need to be added via the App Selector. Check that Docker is running on your server. |
| Logs show "Loading..." |
The service may not have generated any logs yet. Check that the service is actually running. |
| Theme changes not saving |
Click "Save Theme" before closing the Theme Builder. Try a different browser if issues persist. |
Next Steps
- Complete the initial setup wizard
- Add your first service via App Selector
- Customize the theme to your liking
- Set up automated backups
- Explore the Admin section for advanced settings
- Join the community for tips and support