🔥 How to Install JDownloader2 on Portainer (Quick & Easy Guide)

🚀 What is JDownloader2 and Why Run It on a Server?

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If you frequently download files from various hosting sites, you’re probably familiar with JDownloader2. It’s a powerful download manager that can auto-capture links, bypass captchas (via MyJDownloader), and resume interrupted downloads.

To make things even more practical, I run JDownloader2 on a server using Docker via Portainer — so it’s always online and can download files directly into the storage!

🧰 What You’ll Need

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Before we begin, make sure you have:

• ✅ Docker and Portainer installed (on an STB, VPS, or home server)
• ✅ A storage path for downloads (in this guide: /mnt/erb/Downloads)
• ✅ A config folder for JDownloader (e.g. /portainer/Files/AppData/Config/jdownloader2/config)
• ✅ A working internet connection (obviously 😄)

🛠️ How to Install JDownloader2 on Portainer

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🧱 1. Open Portainer and Go to Stacks

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Login to Portainer → Stacks → click + Add Stack.

You could also use Docker Compose from terminal if you prefer, but here I’ll focus on Portainer since it’s easier for beginners.

🧾 2. Paste the Stack Configuration

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version: '3.3'
services:
  jdownloader2:
    image: jlesage/jdownloader-2
    container_name: JDownloader-2
    hostname: jdownloader2
    mem_limit: 8g
    cpu_shares: 2048
    security_opt:
      - no-new-privileges:true
      - seccomp:unconfined
    ports:
      - 3129:3129       # MyJDownloader API (optional)
      - 5800:5800       # Web UI via browser
      - 5900:5900       # VNC access (optional)
    volumes:
      - /portainer/Files/AppData/Config/jdownloader2/config:/config:rw
      - /mnt/erb/Downloads:/Downloads:rw
    environment:
      TZ: Asia/jakarta
      USER_ID: 65534
      GROUP_ID: 100
      UMASK: 0000
      DARK_MODE: 1
    restart: always

📝 Important notes:

• Adjust /mnt/erb/Downloads and the config path to match your server’s structure.
• The USER_ID and GROUP_ID may need to match your system’s file permissions.

▶️ 3. Deploy the Stack

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Click Deploy the Stack and wait until the process finishes.

If everything goes well, you’ll see a JDownloader-2 container running in your container list.

🌐 Access & Configuration

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🌍 4. Access the JDownloader2 Web UI

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Open your browser and visit:

http://[YOUR-SERVER-IP]:5800

You’ll be greeted with a VNC-based desktop UI in your browser. From there, you can open JDownloader and log into your MyJDownloader account (create one if you haven’t already).

🎯 With MyJDownloader, you can control your downloads remotely from your phone!

⚙️ 5. Change Download Location (Optional)

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By default, JDownloader might use /root/Downloads. To change it:

1. Go to Settings → Downloads
2. Set the download folder to /Downloads (as mapped in the container)
3. Apply changes and restart JDownloader if needed.

💡 Tips & Tricks

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• 🛡️ Use a VPN or proxy if you’re dealing with geo-blocked hosts.
• 📦 Auto-extraction can be enabled under Settings → Archive Extractor
• 📁 Share your download folder over Samba/NFS for easy access from your PC or laptop

❓ FAQ

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Q: Will it auto-start after server reboot?

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A: Yep — restart: always ensures it starts back up automatically.

Q: Can I control it from my phone?

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A: Absolutely! Just install the MyJDownloader app on Android/iOS and log in with your account.

Q: Why is the Web UI a bit slow?

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A: Since it’s VNC over a browser, it can feel a bit laggy. But it’s mainly for setup. You can use MyJDownloader for day-to-day control.

✅ Wrapping Up

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With this setup, you now have a self-hosted JDownloader2 instance running 24/7 on your server — fully controllable remotely, and saving files directly to your storage.

If you found this guide useful, feel free to share or bookmark it! 😉