File Browser
User-friendly file management with a web UI
Overview
File Browser provides a file managing interface within a specified directory and can upload, delete, preview, rename, and edit files. QuickBox Pro installs File Browser as a per-user service, creates a per-user database, and exposes it through the user-scoped reverse proxy path.
Key features
These highlights focus on how QuickBox configures File Browser for each user.
📁 User-scoped root
Each user’s root is set to /home/username/ with a matching base URL of /username/filebrowser/.
🔐 Per-user login
QuickBox creates a File Browser user named username in the per-user database.
🧾 Per-user database
Settings and users live in /home/username/.config/Filebrowser/filebrowser.db.
⚙️ Per-user service
Runs with a templated systemd unit named filebrowser@username.
When to use it
File Browser is ideal when you need a lightweight, browser-based file manager for user home directories.
Good fit
- You want a web UI to manage files inside user home directories.
- You need per-user access with QuickBox-managed credentials.
What QuickBox sets up
- QuickBox configures a user-scoped File Browser instance at /username/filebrowser/.
- Each user gets their own database and log directory under /home/username/.config/Filebrowser.
Installation
File Browser supports QuickBox CLI installs and dashboard installs.
Install from the QuickBox CLI
qb install filebrowserOther supported lifecycle commands:
qb reinstall filebrowser
qb update filebrowser
qb remove filebrowserInstall from the Dashboard
In the QuickBox dashboard Package Management tab, select Install for File Browser. The catalog is filtered by your group membership — you will see File Browser if your group includes the File Management category.
Access and authentication
URL / route
QuickBox configures File Browser with a user-scoped base URL and reverse proxy route:
/username/filebrowser/
The dashboard Launch action opens the same user-scoped route.
Credentials / tokens
QuickBox creates a File Browser user for each QuickBox user and sets the password using the QuickBox user password. If the password is shorter than 12 characters, QuickBox pads it with random alphanumerics before writing it to the File Browser database.
Security notes
File Browser is configured to use JSON authentication and stores its settings and users in /home/username/.config/Filebrowser/filebrowser.db.
Ports and networking
QuickBox assigns the File Browser port dynamically. It selects a random base in the 8200–8300 range and then sets the web port to that base plus 10 (typically 8210–8310).
You can confirm the live port in the dashboard Service Control list, where the File Browser row displays the assigned port in the port field.
Configuration and files
The File Browser configuration, logs, and database are stored per user.
Additional files and paths used by QuickBox:
/usr/local/bin/filebrowser/etc/nginx/software/username.filebrowser.conf/etc/systemd/system/filebrowser@.service
Common tasks
Use the dashboard Service Control list for File Browser to start, stop, refresh, and launch the web UI. The same panel shows the current assigned port.
Best practices
These recommendations align with how QuickBox configures File Browser.
Do
- Use the dashboard port field to confirm the assigned File Browser port.
- Keep the File Browser database at
/home/username/.config/Filebrowser/filebrowser.dbintact for user access. - Use
qb update filebrowserto keep the binary current.
Don't
- Do not assume a fixed port, since QuickBox assigns the web port dynamically.
Troubleshooting
These checks map to the configuration and dashboard controls provided by QuickBox.
File Browser does not load at /username/filebrowser/
Verify the nginx reverse proxy exists at /etc/nginx/software/username.filebrowser.conf and that the File Browser service is running in the dashboard Service Control list.
Login fails with the expected password
QuickBox may pad short passwords to at least 12 characters before creating the File Browser user.
Port mismatch
The assigned port is shown in the File Browser row of the dashboard Service Control list. Use that value when validating connectivity.
Resources
These links are derived from the QuickBox release source for File Browser.
Resources
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