# Installation using Portainer {#installation-using-portainer}


Portainer is a well known container management tool for Docker. It can help you manage your containers, networks and volumes.

These instructions are for the CE edition.

You can add Firefly III and the Data Importer as a "stack" using the instructions below.


## Preparation {#preparation}


You will need to download and save the following configuration files:

1. [Docker compose](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/firefly-iii/docker/main/docker-compose-importer.yml) file
2. This [stack.env](https://support.firefly-iii.org/composed.php) file with all the environment variables. Save it as `stack.env`.


### Edit docker compose file {#edit-docker-compose-file}


Open the docker compose file in your favorite editor, and change all references under `env_file:` to say `env_file: stack.env`.



> [!TIP]
> All `env_file:` references must be pointing to exactly `stack.env`. Nothing else.




### Edit stack.env {#edit-stackenv}


You must do a few things:

1. Change `DB_PASSWORD` in `stack.env` to something else. Pick a nice password.
2. Also change `MYSQL_PASSWORD` in `stack.env` to the SAME value (it's at the bottom)
3. Change `FIREFLY_III_URL` in `stack.env` to `http://app:8080`
4. Change `VANITY_URL` in `stack.env` to `http://localhost`
5. Set `TRUSTED_PROXIES=*` (yes, with an asterisk) when you have a reverse proxy like nginx or Traefik


## Installation {#installation}



### Add docker compose file {#add-docker-compose-file}


Open Portainer and go to the environment where you want to install Firefly III. This is usually the "local" one. Then, select "Stacks" in the left-hand menu. Click "Add stack".

Give your stack the name `firefly-iii`, and copy-paste the content of your edited docker compose file.

![Creating a stack](/_media/c6abd0e4b50412ee38a3.png)


### Add stack.env file {#add-stackenv-file}


Upload the `stack.env` file here. You will see that Portainer will expand all the environment variables in the file.

![Loading environment variables](/_media/b8551edd4eeeb945b35c.png)

If you did not make the changes indicated earlier, now is the time.

![Editing environment variables](/_media/4306e902b1af42b3c274.png)


## Deploy! {#deploy}


Press the button to get the stack deployed! After a while, it should run as expected.

![Portainer stack](/_media/1b2a95660c2ed196c222.png)

![Portainer final overview](/_media/cf4e79a8916d6359775b.png)

The default configuration will run Firefly III on port 80 which means you can visit Firefly III at [http://localhost](http://localhost). If your portainer is running somewhere else, or in a different configuration, the URL will be different of course. 

The data importer (again, in the default configuration) can be reached at [http://localhost:81](http://localhost:81).

From this point forward, you can follow these tutorials and guides to help you set up:

- [Tutorial: Create accounts and transactions](https://sourcey-firefly.pages.dev/tutorials/finances/first-steps/index.md)
- [Tutorial: My first accounts](https://sourcey-firefly.pages.dev/tutorials/finances/first-accounts/index.md)
- [Tutorial: Import a basic CSV file](https://sourcey-firefly.pages.dev/tutorials/data-importer/csv/index.md)