How to Install Pinchflat on Your Synology NAS

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How to Install Pinchflat on Your Synology NAS

Pinchflat is a self-hosted app for downloading YouTube content built using yt-dlp. It’s designed to be lightweight, self-contained, and easy to use. You set up rules for how to download content from YouTube channels or playlists and it’ll do the rest, checking periodically for new content. It’s perfect for people who want to download content for use with a media center app (Plex, Jellyfin, Kodi) or for those who want to archive media! It’s not great for downloading one-off videos – it’s built to download large amounts of content and keep it up to date. It’s also not meant for consuming content in-app – Pinchflat downloads content to your NAS download folder where you can then watch it with a media center app or VLC. In this step by step guide I will show you how to install Pinchflat on your Synology NAS using Docker & Portainer.

💡Note: This guide works perfectly with the latest Pinchflat v2024.10.30 release.

  • STEP 1

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  • 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

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

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 1

  • STEP 4

Now create two new folders inside the pinchflat folder that you created at STEP 3 and name them config and downloads. Follow the instructions in the image below.
Note: Be careful to enter only lowercase, not uppercase letters.

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 2

  • STEP 5

Log into Portainer using your username and password. On the left sidebar in Portainer, click on Stacks then + Add stack. Follow the instructions in the image below.

1 Synology Portainer Add Stack

  • STEP 6

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

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

version: "3.9"
services:
  pinchflat:
    container_name: Pinchflat
    image: ghcr.io/kieraneglin/pinchflat:latest
    security_opt:
      - no-new-privileges:false
      - seccomp:unconfined
    healthcheck:
      test: timeout 10s bash -c ':> /dev/tcp/127.0.0.1/8945' || exit 1
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 90s
    volumes:
      - /volume1/docker/pinchflat/config:/config:rw
      - /volume1/docker/pinchflat/downloads:/downloads:rw
    ports:
      - 8945:8945
    restart: on-failure:5

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 3

  • STEP 7

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.

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 4

⌛Now just wait because the Pinchflat image is about 1.2GB.

  • STEP 8

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

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 5

  • STEP 9

Go back to STEP 1 or you will deal with karma 🙂

  • STEP 10

The installation process can take up to a few seconds/minutes. It will depend on your Internet speed connection. Now open your browser and type in http://Synology-ip-address:8945 Click New Media Profile. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 6

  • STEP 11

Use a Preset. Select preset, then click Load Preset. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 7

  • STEP 12

Scroll down the page, then click Save Media profile. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 8

  • STEP 13

Click New Source. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 9

  • STEP 14

Give a Custom Name to the new source, then add a Full link URL of a YouTube channel that you like. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 10

  • STEP 15

Scroll down the page, then click Save Source. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 11

  • STEP 16

Click Let’s Go. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 11

  • STEP 17

Your Pinchflat at a glance! Note: Your videos will be automatically saved in the downloads folder that you have previously created at STEP 4.

Pinchflat Synology NAS Set up 13

Enjoy Pinchflat!

🆘TROUBLESHOOTING

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

Note: If you want to run the Pinchflat container over HTTPS, check How to Run Docker Containers Over HTTPS. In order to make Pinchflat work via HTTPS, it’s mandatory to activate WebSocket.

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 Pinchflat 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.

This post was updated on Thursday / November 7th, 2024 at 6:28 PM

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