Quick Start Checklist

Quick Start Checklist

Work through these steps in order after Watchtower is installed and the server has started once.

---

At a glance

• Time: about 15 minutes for a solid setup
• Goal: first health report, backup location, optional automatic reports and 2FA
• Before you start: Installation done

---

Checklist

• 1. Confirm Watchtower started — look for Watchtower lines in the console and a watchtower/ folder on the server

• 2. Open the dashboard — http://<your-server-ip>:8787 in your browser

• 3. Sign in and change password — username watchtower, password password → pick a new password when asked

• 4. Complete the setup wizard — opens automatically on first visit

  • Initial audit scans logs, crashes, mods, and backups, then runs a 30-day baseline report
  • Backups — automatic scan for backup files; configure later in Settings if none found
  • Scheduled reports — twice daily (recommended), hourly, or off
  • Security (optional) — enable 2FA if the dashboard is reachable from the internet
  • Reopen anytime: Help → Run setup wizard again, or add ?setup=1 to the dashboard URL

• 5. Set up backups (if the wizard did not find any)

  • Settings → Backups — folder on this server, panel webhook, or hybrid (panel setup is not part of the first-run wizard)

• 6. Turn on scheduled reports (if skipped in wizard) — Settings → General → e.g. twice daily or every hour

• 7. Optional: two-factor login (2FA) — Settings → Security — recommended if people outside your home network can reach the dashboard

• 8. On a public host — see Security and Access for how to connect safely (often localhost + tunnel instead of opening port 8787 to the internet)

---

After setup

I want to…	Go to
Understand each dashboard tab	Dashboard Tabs
Tune live charts	Live Charts
Learn useful commands	Commands
Fix a problem	Troubleshooting

---

Replay the guided tour

Click Help (?) → Tour, or open Settings → About → Start guided tour.