How to Set Up CasaOS on Raspberry Pi 5 (Step-by-Step Guide)

Introduction

The Raspberry Pi 5 is a powerful upgrade from its predecessor, making it an excellent choice for a home server. CasaOS is an open-source, lightweight home cloud system that lets you manage self-hosted apps like Plex, Home Assistant, Nextcloud, and Jellyfin effortlessly.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the installation, setup, remote access, and best practices for running CasaOS on a Raspberry Pi 5.

Why Use CasaOS on Raspberry Pi 5?

• User-Friendly Dashboard – Manage apps with a modern UI.
• Docker-Powered – Supports containerized applications.
• Minimal System Requirements – Runs efficiently on ARM devices like Raspberry Pi 5.
• Free & Open-Source – No licensing fees or hidden costs.

1. What You’ll Need

Before installing CasaOS, make sure you have the following:

2. Installing Raspberry Pi OS

CasaOS requires a 64-bit OS for optimal performance.

Step 1: Download Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit)

1. Visit the official Raspberry Pi OS download page.
2. Download Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) (Debian-based).

Step 2: Flash the OS to MicroSD/SSD

Use Raspberry Pi Imager or Balena Etcher:

1. Insert your microSD card into your computer.
2. Open Raspberry Pi Imager and select:
   • OS: Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit)
   • Storage: Your microSD/SSD
   • Advanced Settings: Enable SSH, set username/password, and configure Wi-Fi (if needed).
3. Click Write and wait for the process to finish.

Step 3: Boot Up Raspberry Pi

1. Insert the microSD card (or SSD) into the Raspberry Pi 5.
2. Power it on and connect via SSH: ssh pi@your-pi-ip-address
3. Update the system: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

3. Installing CasaOS on Raspberry Pi 5

CasaOS has a simple one-line installation script.

Step 1: Run the CasaOS Installation Command

Enter the following command in the terminal:

curl -fsSL https://get.casaos.io | bash

Step 2: Wait for the Installation to Complete

The script will:
✅ Download required dependencies
✅ Install Docker & CasaOS
✅ Set up the CasaOS web interface

Step 3: Access the CasaOS Web Interface

Once the installation is complete, access CasaOS via a browser:

http://your-pi-ip-address:port

Log in with the default credentials or create a new account.

You can change the port later by following the guide below.

4. Configuring CasaOS

Setting Up Storage

1. Go to Settings > Storage Management.
2. Add external drives or SSDs for better performance.

Installing Apps

CasaOS has a built-in App Store for installing self-hosted apps. Popular apps include:

• Plex – Stream movies and shows.
• Home Assistant – Smart home automation.
• Nextcloud – Personal cloud storage.
• qBittorrent – Download torrents.

Adding Docker Containers Manually

If an app isn’t in the CasaOS store, you can add it via Docker:

1. Open Terminal in CasaOS.
2. Run a Docker command, e.g., for Nginx Proxy Manager:
   docker run -d --name=nginx-proxy-manager -p 80:80 -p 443:443 -p 81:81 jc21/nginx-proxy-manager

5. Setting Up Remote Access

To access CasaOS securely from outside your local network, use Cloudflare Tunnel or Tailscale.

Option 1: Remote Access via Cloudflare Tunnel

1. Install Cloudflare Tunnel:
   curl -fsSL https://github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared/releases/latest/download/cloudflared-linux-arm64 -o cloudflared chmod +x cloudflared sudo mv cloudflared /usr/local/bin/
2. Authenticate with Cloudflare:
   cloudflared login
3. Create a tunnel and point it to CasaOS:
   cloudflared tunnel create casaos cloudflared tunnel route dns casaos.yourdomain.com cloudflared tunnel run casaos

Option 2: Remote Access via Tailscale

1. Install Tailscale: curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh
2. Authenticate and enable the service: sudo tailscale up --authkey=your-auth-key
3. Access CasaOS securely using the Tailscale-assigned IP.

6. Performance Optimization

Enable Hardware Acceleration

For better video streaming and container performance, enable hardware acceleration:

sudo apt install -y libva-drm2 libva-x11-2 vdpau-driver-all

Use an SSD Instead of a MicroSD

For faster speeds, migrate your system to an SSD:

sudo rpi-clone -u /dev/sda

Set Up Automatic Updates

To keep CasaOS and Raspberry Pi secure, enable auto-updates:

sudo apt install unattended-upgrades -y

7. FAQs

Conclusion

Setting up CasaOS on Raspberry Pi 5 transforms your device into a powerful home cloud. Whether you’re hosting a media server, managing smart home devices, or running self-hosted apps, CasaOS simplifies everything.

🚀 What’s next? Start installing apps, optimize your setup, and unlock the full potential of your Raspberry Pi 5!

Recommended Reads

🔗 Best Linux Home Server Software
🔗 Why Servers are Important in 2025?

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