Lyftr is a self-hosted, open-source fitness tracker that lets you log workouts (800+ exercise library), build reusable programs, track nutrition (calories, macros, barcode scanning), and monitor progress with dashboards, charts, and personal records, all while keeping your data private on your own NAS server. With a modern mobile-first UI, Go + React/TypeScript backend/frontend, single SQLite database, it’s an ideal privacy-focused alternative to commercial fitness apps. In this step by step guide I will show you how to install Lyftr on your Synology NAS using Docker & Portainer.

💡Note: This guide works perfectly with the latest Lyftr v0.1.0 release.

• STEP 1

Please Support My work by Making a Donation.

• STEP 2

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

• STEP 3

Make sure you have a synology.me Wildcard Certificate. Follow my guide to get a Wildcard Certificate. If you already have a synology.me Wildcard certificate, skip this STEP.

• STEP 4

Go to Control Panel / Network / Connectivity tab/ Check Enable HTTP/2 then click Apply. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 5

Go to Control Panel / Security / Advanced tab/ Check Enable HTTP Compression then click Apply. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 6

Go to Control Panel / Login Portal / Advanced Tab / click Reverse Proxy. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 7

Now click the “Create” button. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 8

After you click the Create button, the window below will open. Follow the instructions in the image below.

On the General area, set the Reverse Proxy Name description: type in Lyftr-API. After that, add the following instructions:

Source:
Protocol: HTTPS
Hostname: lyftrapi.yourname.synology.me
Port: 443

Check Enable HSTS

Destination:
Protocol: HTTP
Hostname: localhost
Port: 3008

• STEP 9

On the Reverse Proxy Rules, click the Custom Header tab. Click Create and then, from the drop-down menu, click WebSocket. After you click on WebSocket, two Header Names and two Values will be automatically added. Click Save. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 10

Go to Control Panel / Login Portal / Advanced Tab / click Reverse Proxy. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 11

Now click the “Create” button. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 12

After you click the Create button, the window below will open. Follow the instructions in the image below.

On the General area, set the Reverse Proxy Name description: type in Lyftr. After that, add the following instructions:

Source:
Protocol: HTTPS
Hostname: lyftr.yourname.synology.me
Port: 443

Check Enable HSTS

Destination:
Protocol: HTTP
Hostname: localhost
Port: 3011

• STEP 13

On the Reverse Proxy Rules, click the Custom Header tab. Click Create and then, from the drop-down menu, click WebSocket. After you click on WebSocket, two Header Names and two Values will be automatically added. Click Save. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 14

Go to File Station and open the docker folder. Inside the docker folder, create one new folder and name it lyftr. Follow the instructions in the image below.
Note: Be careful to enter only lowercase, not uppercase letters.

• STEP 15

Log into Portainer using your username and password. On the left sidebar in Portainer, click on Home then Live connect. Follow the instructions in the image below.

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

• STEP 16

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

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

services:
  backend:
    image: cwlumm/lyftr-backend:latest
    container_name: Lyftr-BACK
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD", "wget", "-qO-", "http://localhost:3008/health"]
      interval: 30s
      timeout: 10s
      retries: 3
    volumes:
      - /volume1/docker/lyftr/:/app/data:rw
    environment:
       ENV: production
       PORT: 3008
       JWT_SECRET: dOxZYTTZgXKMHkqLBIQVImayQXAVWdzGBPuFJKggzcgvgPJPXpWzqzKaUOIOGGIr
       CORS_ORIGIN: https://lyftr.yourname.synology.me #or your own domain name with https:// at the beginning
       DB_TYPE: sqlite
       DB_PATH: /app/data/lyftr.db
    ports:
      - 3008:3008
    restart: on-failure:5

  frontend:
    image: cwlumm/lyftr-frontend:latest
    container_name: Lyftr-FRONT
    ports:
      - 3011:80
    depends_on:
      backend:
        condition: service_healthy
    restart: on-failure:5

Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for JWT_SECRET. (Generate your own Random 64 length JWT_SECRET.)
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for CORS_ORIGIN and type in your own synology.me DDNS with https:// at the beginning that you have previously created at STEP 12.

• STEP 17

Scroll down on the page until you see a button named 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.

• STEP 18

If everything goes right, you will see the following message at the top right of your screen: “Success Stack successfully deployed“.

• STEP 19

🟢Please Support My work by Making a Donation. Almost 99,9% of the people that install something using my guides forget to support my work, or just ignore 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 20

Now open your browser and type in your HTTPS/SSL certificate that you have previously added at STEP 12 like this https://lyftr.yourname.synology.me/register In my case it’s https://lyftr.mariushosting.synology.me/register In the SERVER URL area, type in your own API address that you have previously added at STEP 6 like this https://lyftrapi.yourname.synology.me In my case it’s https://lyftrapi.mariushosting.synology.me Click Save. Type in your own Email address and Password. Click Create Account. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 21

Your command area at a glance!

• STEP 22

Your workout program at a glance!

Enjoy Lyftr!

🆘TROUBLESHOOTING

If you encounter issues by using this container, make sure to check out the Common Docker issues article.

Note: Can I run Docker on my Synology NAS? See the supported models.
Note: How to Back Up Docker Containers on your Synology NAS.
Note: Find out how to update the Lyftr container with the latest image.
Note: How to Free Disk Space on Your NAS if You Run Docker.
Note: How to Schedule Start & Stop For Docker Containers.
Note: How to Activate Email Notifications.
Note: How to Add Access Control Profile on Your NAS.
Note: How to Change Docker Containers Restart Policy.
Note: How to Use Docker Containers With VPN.
Note: Convert Docker Run Into Docker Compose.
Note: How to Clean Docker.
Note: How to Clean Docker Automatically.
Note: Best Practices When Using Docker and DDNS.
Note: Some Docker Containers Need WebSocket.
Note: Find out the Best NAS Models For Docker.
Note: Activate Gmail SMTP For Docker Containers.