How to Install Bitwarden Lite on Your UGREEN NAS

How to Install Bitwarden Lite on Your UGREEN NAS

Bitwarden Lite is an official self-hosted deployment option for the Bitwarden password manager, released to general availability in December 2025 (previously known as the “Unified” deployment during its beta phase). It is designed as a lightweight and flexible alternative to Bitwarden’s standard self-hosted setup, making it ideal for personal use, homelabs, and small-scale deployments rather than large organizations or businesses. Bitwarden Lite has a lower CPU and memory usage and is optimized for running on modest hardware like NAS servers. It’s fully compatible with official Bitwarden clients (mobile apps, desktop, browser extensions, web vault). In this step by step guide I will show you how to install Bitwarden LiteĀ on your UGREEN NAS using Docker & Portainer.

šŸ’”Note: This guide works perfectly with the latest Bitwarden Lite v2025.12.1Ā release.

šŸ’”Note: Check out my guide on how to Install Bitwarden Lite on Your Synology NAS.

  • STEP 1

Please Support My work by Making a Donation.

  • STEP 2

InstallĀ Portainer using my step by step guide. If you already have Portainer installed on your UGREEN NAS, skip this STEP. Attention: Make sure you have installed the latest Portainer version.

  • STEP 3

āš ļøMandatory: Enable HTTPS on your UGREEN NAS.

  • STEP 4

Create a new hostname on the noip website using your noip account. For example, I have created bitwardenliteĀ as Host and I use the free ddns.net domain. In the IP Address area, type in your own IPV4 IP address from your ISP, then click Create. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 1

  • STEP 5

Go toĀ Files and open the docker folder. Inside the docker folder, create one new folder and name itĀ bitwardenlite. Follow the instructions in the image below.
Note: Be careful to enter only lowercase, not uppercase letters.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 2

  • STEP 6

Now create three new folders inside the bitwardenlite folder that you have previosuly created at STEP 5 and name them data, db, logs. Follow the instructions in the image below.
Note: Be careful to enter only lowercase, not uppercase letters.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 3

  • STEP 7

Launch your browser, then go to the official Bitwarden website by clicking on the blue link below.

https://bitwarden.com/host

On the Admin Email Address field, type in your own email. I recommend you use a Gmail account. Select your Data Region, then click Submit. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS KEYS 1

  • STEP 8

After you click Submit at STEP 7, you will automatically get an INSTALLATION ID and an INSTALLATION KEY. Copy and save them to a safe place because you will need them at STEP 11.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS KEYS 2

  • STEP 9

Follow my step by step guide on how to activate SMTP for your Gmail account. This step is mandatory. Note: If you don’t want to use the easiest way for SMTP with Google and you already have SMTP details from your own Mail Server, you can just skip this STEP and use your personalized email SMTP details instead.

  • STEP 10

Log into Portainer using your username and password. On the left sidebar in Portainer, click onĀ HomeĀ thenĀ Live connect. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Portainer Add Stack NAS 1

On the left sidebar in Portainer, click on StacksĀ thenĀ + Add stack. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Portainer Add Stack NAS 2

  • STEP 11

In the Name field type in bitwardenlite. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Note: Copy Paste the code below in the Portainer Stacks Web editor.

services:
  db:
    image: postgres:18
    container_name: Bitwarden-LITE-DB
    hostname: bitwarden-db
    user: 999:10
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD", "pg_isready", "-q", "-d", "bitwarden_vault", "-U", "bitwardenuser"]
      timeout: 45s
      interval: 10s
      retries: 10
    volumes:
      - /volume1/docker/bitwardenlite/db:/var/lib/postgresql:rw
    environment:
      POSTGRES_DB: bitwarden_vault
      POSTGRES_USER: bitwardenuser
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: bitwardenpass
    restart: on-failure:5

  bitwarden:
    image: ghcr.io/bitwarden/lite
    container_name: Bitwarden-LITE
    hostname: bitwarden
    security_opt:
      - no-new-privileges:true
    healthcheck:
      test: curl -fsSo - http://localhost:8080
    environment:
      - BW_DOMAIN=bitwardenlite.ddns.net
      - BW_DB_PROVIDER=postgresql
      - BW_DB_SERVER=bitwarden-db
      - BW_DB_DATABASE=bitwarden_vault
      - BW_DB_USERNAME=bitwardenuser
      - BW_DB_PASSWORD=bitwardenpass
      - BW_INSTALLATION_ID=Your-Own-Bitwarden-Installation-ID
      - BW_INSTALLATION_KEY=Your-Own-Bitwarden-Installation-KEY
      - UID=999
      - GID=10
      - BW_ENABLE_ADMIN=true
      - globalSettings__logDirectory=/etc/bitwarden/logs
      - adminSettings__admins=Your-own-gmail-address
      - globalSettings__disableUserRegistration=false
      - globalSettings__mail__replyToEmail=Your-own-gmail-address
      - globalSettings__mail__smtp__host=smtp.gmail.com
      - globalSettings__mail__smtp__ssl=false
      - globalSettings__mail__smtp__port=587
      - globalSettings__mail__smtp__username=Your-own-gmail-address
      - globalSettings__mail__smtp__password=Your-own-app-password
    ports:
      - 9891:8080
    volumes:
      - /volume1/docker/bitwardenlite/data:/etc/bitwarden:rw
      - /volume1/docker/bitwardenlite/logs:/var/log/bitwarden:rw
    restart: on-failure:5
    depends_on:
      db:
        condition: service_started

Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value numbers for user with your own UID and GID values. (Follow my step by step guide on how to do this.) 999 is my personal UID value and 10Ā is my personal GID value. You have to type in your own values.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for BW_DOMAINĀ and type in your own NO IP DDNS withoutĀ https:// at the beginning that you have previously created at STEP 4.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for BW_INSTALLATION_ID and type in your own Bitwarden INSTALLATION ID that you have previously copied and saved at STEP 8.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value forĀ BW_INSTALLATION_KEYĀ and type in your own Bitwarden INSTALLATION KEY that you have previously copied and saved atĀ STEP 8.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value numbers for UID and GIDĀ with your own values. (Follow my step by step guide on how to do this.) 1026 is my personal UID value and 100 is my personal GID value. You have to type in your own values.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for adminSettings__admins and type in your own Gmail address. STEP 9.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for globalSettings__mail__replyToEmail and type in your own Gmail address. STEP 9.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for globalSettings__mail__smtp__username and type in your own Gmail address. STEP 9.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for globalSettings__mail__smtp__password and type in your own Gmail app password. STEP 9.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 4

  • STEP 12

Scroll down on the page until you see a button namedĀ Deploy the stack. Click on it. Follow the instructions in the image below. The installation process can take up to a few minutes. It will depend on your Internet speed connection.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 5

  • STEP 13

If everything goes right, you will see the following message at the top right of your screen: ā€œSuccess Stack successfully deployedā€œ.

Portainer Success Stack NAS

  • STEP 14

Open your Nginx Proxy Manager container that you have previously installed at STEP 3. Click Add Proxy Host. A new pop up window will open. Add the following details:

Domain Names: Type in your own noip domain name that you have previously created at STEP 4.
Scheme: http
Forward Hostname/IP: Type in the local NAS IP of your UGREEN NAS.
Forward Port: Type in the Bitwarden Lite local Port that is 9891
Check Block Common Exploits
Check Websockets Support
Click the SSL tab. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 6

  • STEP 15

After you click the SSL tab, add the following details:

SSL Certificate: Request a new SSL Certificate
Check: Force SSL
Check: HSTS Enabled
Check: HTTP/2 Support
Click Save. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 7

  • STEP 16

In the Proxy Hosts area, if everything goes right, you will see that your bitwardenliteĀ hostname has been generated. Go straight to the next STEP.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 8

  • STEP 17

🟢Please Support My work by Making a Donation. Almost 99,9% of the people that install something using my guidesĀ forget to support my work, or justĀ ignoreĀ STEP 1. I’ve been very honest about this aspect of my work since the beginning: I don’t run any ADS, I don’t require subscriptions, paid or otherwise, I don’t collect IPs, emails, and I don’t have any referral links from Amazon or other merchants. I also don’t have any POP-UPs or COOKIES. I have repeatedly been told over the years how much I have contributed to the community. It’s something I love doing and have been honest about my passion since the beginning. But I also Need The Community to Support me Back to be able to continue doing this work.

  • STEP 18

Now open your browser and type in your HTTPS/SSL certificate like this https://bitwardenlite.ddns.net/#/signupĀ In my case it’s https://bitwardenlite.ddns.net/#/signup If everything goes right, you will see the Bitwarden Lite Register account page. Type in your own Email address (adminSettings__admins) that you have previously added at STEP 11, and Name. Click Continue. Follow the instructions in the image below. Note: If you forget to add /#/signup after your no IP DDNS, you will not be able to register an account.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 9

  • STEP 19

If you get an error message when registering that says: unhandled server error, just wait for a few seconds/minutes, then click the Continue button again. If the error message pops up again, make sure the BW_DOMAIN at STEP 11 is correctly added. Also check if your email credentials at STEP 9 are correct. If you notice there was a typo somewhere in your compose stack at STEP 11, you will need to start the Bitwarden Lite installation from scratch.

  • STEP 20

Type in your Master Password, confirm it, then click Create Account. Wait a few seconds until your account is created. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 10

  • STEP 21

After the account is created, you will also receive a Welcome email. Go to the next STEP.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 11

  • STEP 22

Get the extension or click Add it later to add it later. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 12

  • STEP 23

Skip to web app if you decided to add the extension later. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 13

  • STEP 24

One of the most important things you need to know about Bitwarden is that anyone who can access your HTTPS Bitwarden link can register for a new account by default. Follow my step by step guide below to disable registration of new users in Bitwarden. Open Portainer then go to Stacks. Localize then click on your bitwardenlite stack that you have previously created at STEP 11. Click the EDITOR tab then change the value on line globalsettings__disableUserRegistration from:

– globalsettings__disableUserRegistration=false to – globalsettings__disableUserRegistration=true

Click Update the stack. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 14

A new pop up window will open. Click Update.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 15

When new users try to register, they will receive the following error message: ā€œAn error has occurred. Open Registration has been disabled by the system administrator”. To reactivate user registration, change the value from true to false.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 16

  • STEP 25

If you want, you can also access your Bitwarden admin dashboard at https://bitwardenlite.ddnsnet/adminĀ In my case it’s https://bitwardenlite.ddns.net/admin

  • STEP 26

You can also change the theme from Light to Dark. On the left sidebar in Bitwarden Lite, click Settings, then Preferences. Select the Dark theme, then click Save. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 17

  • STEP 27

Your Bitwarden Lite dashboard at a glance!

Bitwarden Lite UGREEN NAS Set up 18

Enjoy Bitwarden Lite on Your UGREEN NAS!

šŸ†˜TROUBLESHOOTING

šŸ†™Note/Update/Container: How to Update Your Docker Containers on UGREEN NAS Using Portainer.
🐳Note: How to Create Docker Shortcuts on Desktop.
šŸ†•Note: How to Update Portainer to the latest version.
šŸ†•Note: How to Clean Docker.

This post was updated on Friday / December 26th, 2025 at 11:26 PM