Getting Started with CasaOS on Raspberry Pi (Full Guide)

A Raspberry Pi can run dozens of self-hosted applications, but managing them from the terminal isn’t for everyone. After trying several solutions, I think CasaOS offers one of the easiest ways to get started, with a beautiful web interface to manage everything.

CasaOS is a free web interface for Linux that turns a Raspberry Pi into an easy-to-manage home server. It includes an app store, file manager, and system dashboard, making self-hosting accessible without requiring advanced Linux skills.

I’ll show you how to install CasaOS from scratch, explain how the dashboard works, and share a few tips to help you get the most out of it.

If you’re new to Raspberry Pi or Linux, I’ve got something that can help you right away!
Download my free Linux commands cheat sheet – it’s a quick reference guide with all the essential commands you’ll need to get things done on your Raspberry Pi. Click here to get it for free!

What is CasaOS?

Before we jump into the installation, let me give you a quick explanation of what CasaOS is.

Introducing CasaOS

Casa is a Spanish word that translates to “home,” and CasaOS is a community-based, open-source cloud OS based on the docker ecosystem. It is a service/application that runs on a Linux-based OS. We’ve done a showcase on it as one of the most searched Raspberry Pi project ideas this year.

Once installed its dashboard can be accessed from a web browser using the hostname or IP of your device. Then, you can install different applications from the dashboard, like Home Assistant, Jellyfin, and PhotoPrism.

All users on your home network can access and use the personal cloud hosted by CasaOS.

Before installation, if you want to get a feel for the CasaOS dashboard you can visit their website and try the live demo (username = casaos, password = casaos).

What to Do with CasaOS

If you just learned about CasaOS and are intrigued about having a personal cloud. Here are a few scenarios that CasaOS is commonly used for:

• Home Security Enhancement: CasaOS integrates with smart security cameras and motion sensors to create a comprehensive home security system. You can receive real-time alerts, monitor your home remotely, and even trigger automated responses.
  
• Energy Management: CasaOS enables you to optimize energy usage by integrating with smart thermostats and energy monitoring devices. You can regulate temperature settings, control appliances, and track energy consumption to reduce waste.
  
• Convenience and Comfort: With CasaOS, you can enhance your daily routines by automating repetitive tasks and customizing your smart home environment. For instance, you can set up automated lighting scenes to create ambiance, schedule heating/cooling systems, and even automate morning routines such as turning on a coffee maker and adjusting blinds.
  
• Entertainment and Media Control: CasaOS offers seamless integration with smart entertainment devices such as smart TVs, streaming devices, and audio systems.
  
• Remote Property Management: For users with vacation homes or rental properties, CasaOS provides the ability to remotely monitor and manage the property to ensure that your property remains secure and well-maintained.

However, these are just a few examples. With a personal cloud, the possibilities are limitless.

Installing CasaOS

Installation of CasaOS is as simple as copying a command from the internet and executing it. However, before running that command, there are a few preparatory steps that we need to take.

Installing Raspberry Pi OS

Before installing CasaOS, you need an operating system on your Pi for it to run from.
Here’s a quick refresher on how to get one:

• Install Raspberry Pi OS on your Raspberry Pi using Raspberry Pi Imager.
• Ensure you have internet connectivity and SSH enabled during the installation using the configuration settings shown in the screenshots below.
• Alternatively, you can follow this tutorial to connect to the internet and enable SSH on your device.
• Make sure your device is up-to-date using the commands:
  sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade

That is it, now you are ready to install CasaOS on your Raspberry Pi.

Install CasaOS

To get CasaOS, we’ll be running the install script available on its official website.

Here’s how to install CasaOS on your Raspberry Pi:

• Open a terminal or SSH into your Raspberry Pi.
• Run the official installation script:
  curl -fsSL https://get.casaos.io | sudo bash
• The script will now begin installing CasaOS.
  
• Once completed, it will display as shown in the screenshot below:
  
• Note the HTTP address given by the installation script.
  This address will be used to access the CasaOS dashboard in the next section.

Congrats, you have successfully installed CasaOS on your Raspberry Pi.
Let’s learn how to access the CasaOS Dashboard for initial setup.

Tip: Command lines can be a pain to memorize. I put the essential Linux commands on a printable cheat sheet so you don't have to keep googling them. You can grab the PDF here if you want to save some time.

Initial Setup

The CasaOS dashboard can be accessed from any computer connected to the same network as your Raspberry Pi.

• Open the web browser on your computer and enter the HTTP address of your CasaOS.
  (It was given at the end of your CasaOS installation script).
• Alternatively, if you forgot to note down the address, you can access the CasaOS Dashboard using the following address:
  http://<raspberrypi-hostname>For example, in my case since my hostname is “raspberrypi” therefore I can enter the following address in my web browser: http://raspberrypi
• Upon initial launch, you will be greeted by the Welcome screen as shown below:
  
• Click Go and create your user for CasaOS.
  Enter the username and password you want to use to access CasaOS in the future.
  
• You’ll be granted access to your CasaOS Dashboard:
  

That’s all for the initial setup. In the next section, let’s learn how to use CasaOS.

Exploring CasaOS

Now that you’ve installed CasaOS, let’s learn how to configure and use it.

The CasaOS Dashboard

Before listing the different applications available in the CasaOS App Store, let’s tour the Dashboard. A breakdown of the components of the CasaOS Dashboard is shown below:

• Widgets Menu (yellow): Widgets are shown on the left side of the dashboard. Widgets show the current health of your Raspberry Pi. They can be configured under Widget settings.
• Search Bar (green): The search bar is shown at the top of the dashboard. The search bar can be used to search online via any search engine (default is DuckDuckGo).
• Applications (blue): All applications available on your CasaOS are shown below the search bar. All newly installed applications automatically appear over here.
• Configuration Menus (orange): The CasaOS user interface can be configured using the Settings menu at the top left.
  

The App Store

CasaOS by default only comes with two applications, the App Store and Files. Presently, over 350 add-ons are available in the App Store which can be downloaded and installed directly.

Additionally, CasaOS provides the option to manually deploy Docker Containers.
To do so, click the Custom Install button on the top right of the App Store.

You can fill in the manual installation dialog with information regarding your Docker Container and click “Install” for manual installation.

What Applications are Available

Having understood the Dashboard interface and the App Store of CasaOS, let’s dive into a few applications available on CasaOS.

Files

Files come pre-installed on CasaOS. It is a file explorer which can be used to access the local storage of your Raspberry Pi.

Home Assistant

Home Assistant is another popular app available on the CasaOS App Store. Home Assistant is an open-source home automation tool that can be integrated with available smart devices at your home.

• To install Home Assistant, open the App Store and search for Home Assistant.
• Click on the Install button to begin the installation.
  
• Once installed the application will appear on your CasaOS Dashboard.
• Click on Home Assistant to launch the application in a new tab.
• On the first launch, you shall be greeted with the Welcome Screen.
  
• Click on “Create My Smart Home” to create user.
  
• Enter your desired credentials and click “Create Account”
• You will then be prompted to enter your location.
  
• Enter your location and click “Next”.
• Configure data-sharing settings in the follow-up prompt.
  
• Click “Next”
• The screen will now display a list of devices the Home Assistant App has discovered on your network.
  
• A list of all available integrations can be found on the Home Assistant website.
• Click “Finish”.
  

And that’s it, you have completed the initial setup of Home Assistant on your Raspberry Pi. To familiarize yourself with the Home Assistant interface and to add more integrations/ smart devices you can follow the getting started guide on their website.

Following this tutorial, you have successfully installed CasaOS on your Raspberry Pi and turned it into your cloud. The App Store of CasaOS, although limited in the number of available applications, comes with many useful applications to run on your cloud e.g. AdGuard Home, Jellyfin, and Plex.

Furthermore, owing to its open-source nature, you can easily find help online on different forums for anything you plan to do with CasaOS. You can also check out our guide to easy home automation projects with Raspberry Pi.

And if you are still looking for a better alternative, you might want to try YunoHost (link to my tutorial about it).

Not getting the same result?

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