Darktable is an open source photography workflow application and raw developer. A virtual lighttable and darkroom for photographers. It manages your digital negatives in a database, lets you view them through a zoomable lighttable and enables you to develop raw images and enhance them. In this step by step guide I will show you how to install Darktable on your Synology NAS using Docker.

💡Note: This guide works perfectly with the latest Darktable 5.2.1 release.

💡Note: Check out my new guide on how to Install Darktable Using Portainer.

• STEP 1

Please Support My work by Making a Donation.

• STEP 2

Install Container Manager via Synology “Package Center”. If you run an older DSM version (under 7.2), search for Docker instead of Container Manager.

• STEP 3

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

• STEP 4

Go to Control Panel / Task Scheduler / Create / Scheduled Task / User-defined script. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 5

Once you click on User-defined script, a new window will open. Follow the instructions below:

1. General: In the Task field type in “Install Darktable“. Uncheck “Enabled” option. Select root User.
2. Schedule: Select Run on the following date then select “Do not repeat“.
3. Task Settings: Check “Send run details by email“, add your email then copy paste the code below in the Run command area. After that click OK.

docker run -d --name=darktable \
-p 7450:3001 \
-p 7451:3000 \
-e PUID=1026 \
-e PGID=100 \
-e TZ=Europe/Bucharest \
-e CUSTOM_USER=marius \
-e PASSWORD=mariushosting \
-e DOCKER_MODS=linuxserver/mods:universal-package-install \
-v /volume1/docker/darktable:/config \
--restart=always \
ghcr.io/linuxserver/darktable

Note: Before you paste the code above in the Run command area below, change the value numbers for PUID and PGID with your own values. (Follow my step by step guide on how to do this.)
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Run command area below, change the value for TZ. (Select your current Time Zone from this list.)
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for CUSTOM_USER. Type in your own username. marius is an example for a username.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for PASSWORD. Type in your own password. mariushosting is an example for a password. ⚠️Warning: Do NOT use passwords with special characters.

• STEP 6

After you click OK on STEP 5 a new warning pop up window will open. Click OK.

After you click OK, type in your DSM Password then click Submit. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 7

After you click Submit on STEP 6, select your “Install Darktable” Task then click the “Run” tab. You will be asked to run Install Darktable – click OK. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 8

🟢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 9

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 https://Synology-ip-address:7450

Keep in mind, if you type in http:// this will not work. It’s mandatory to use https://

Click Advanced. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 10

Click Proceed. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 11

If everything goes right, you will see the Darktable Login page. Type in your own Username (CUSTOM_USER) and Password (PASSWORD) that you have previously created at STEP 5 then click Sign In. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 12

Under import, click add to library. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 13

Click the + button. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 14

At the top right of the page, click create new folder. Give a name to the folder, then click Create. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 15

The folder that you have previously created at STEP 14 will be automatically visible in File Station. Open it, then populate it with your own photos. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 16

In Synology DSM, open the Container Manager app or Docker. On the left sidebar, click Containers. Select your Darktable container, then restart it.

• STEP 17

Start editing your photos that you have previously uploaded at STEP 15.

Enjoy Darktable!

🆘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 Darktable container over HTTPS check How to Run Docker Containers Over HTTPS.

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 Darktable 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 Tuesday / August 26th, 2025 at 11:50 PM