Setting Up Supabase Using Docker Desktop

If you’re new to self-hosting or want a simple, visual setup, Docker Desktop offers the easiest way to run Supabase locally. It provides a graphical interface for managing containers, configuring ports, and ensuring your data persists across restarts—no command-line work required.

Step 1. Install Docker Desktop

●       Download Docker Desktop for your operating system.

●       Install it following the installer instructions.
Windows users: Enable WSL2 during installation and restart if prompted.

●       Open Docker Desktop and make sure it’s running. You should see the Docker whale icon in your system tray or menu bar.

Step 2. Prepare a Folder for Data

●       Supabase stores data (PostgreSQL database, file uploads) in volumes. To make your data persistent:

○       macOS / Linux: ~/supabase-data

○       Windows: C:\supabase-data

This folder ensures your data is safe even if you remove or update containers.

Step 3. Pull the Official Supabase Images

Supabase uses multiple Docker images for its services: PostgreSQL, Auth, Realtime, Storage, API, and Studio. You can pull them directly in Docker Desktop:

1. Open Docker Desktop and go to the Images tab.
2. In the search bar, enter the official image names:

○       supabase/postgres

○       supabase/gotrue

○       supabase/realtime

○       supabase/storage-api

○       supabase/postgrest

○       supabase/studio

3. Click Pull for each image to download it to your machine. Repeat for all images.

Step 4. Create Containers for Each Service

Once the images are downloaded, you need to create a container for each service:

1. Go to the Containers/Apps tab in Docker Desktop and click + Add Container.
2. Select the image you just pulled.
3. Configure settings for each container:
   
   

○       Name: Give it a meaningful name (e.g., supabase_postgres, supabase_auth).

○       Ports: Map the container ports to host ports:

■       PostgreSQL: 5432

■       Supabase Studio: 3000

■       Others use default ports (check each service documentation).

○       Volumes: Bind your host folder to the container for persistence:

■       Example: ~/supabase-data → /var/lib/postgresql/data for PostgreSQL

○       Environment Variables: Set essential keys:

■       POSTGRES_PASSWORD, JWT_SECRET, ANON_KEY, SERVICE_ROLE_KEY

○       Restart Policy: Always or Unless Stopped

4. Click Run to launch the container. Repeat for all Supabase services.

Step 5. Access Supabase Studio

●       Once all containers are running, open your browser and go to:
 http://localhost:3000

●       You now have full access to Supabase Studio and can manage your database, authentication, and storage visually.

Step 6. Updating Supabase

When new Supabase releases are available:

1. Stop and remove the containers using Docker Desktop.
2. Pull the updated images (Images tab → Pull).
3. Recreate containers using the same settings and volume mappings.

Because your data is stored in persistent volumes, it remains safe during updates.

Step 7. Maintenance and Monitoring

●       Docker Desktop lets you monitor resource usage, logs, and container health.

●       Regularly check logs for errors and ensure your data folder has sufficient disk space.

●       For production or long-term local usage, consider automating container updates using Watchtower.