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Integrate Self-Hosted ONLYOFFICE Editors with Nextcloud Using Docker

Image ONLYOFFICE Docs Installed

When I first tried integrating ONLYOFFICE editors into my self-hosted Nextcloud setup, I assumed it would be a quick, one-evening project. I was wrong, it ended up taking several evenings of trial and error. The root of my frustrations? I installed the wrong component of the ONLYOFFICE suite.

This guide aims to save you that time by walking you through the correct setup of ONLYOFFICE Document Server using Docker, and integrating it with an existing Nextcloud instance.

What Is ONLYOFFICE?

ONLYOFFICE is an open-source office suite that enables you to view, edit, and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs, and more. It's available for web, desktop, and mobile platforms. In my experience, it offers the best editors for office documents on Linux.

Here's some of the things that ONLYOFFICE has to offer:

Component Description
Desktop Editors Desktop applications for Windows, macOS and Linux
Mobile Editors Mobile apps for Android and iOS
Docs (Document Server) Web-based office suite for integration with platforms like Nextcloud
Groups Team collaboration suite (CRM, projects, email, etc.)
DocSpace Document hub for room-based collaboration

For this guide, we’ll be using the ONLYOFFICE Docs, also known as ONLYOFFICE Document Server.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

  • A Docker host up and running
  • Basic familiarity with Docker and Docker Compose
  • A working Nextcloud instance
  • Admin access to your Nextcloud setup
  • Basic knowledge on how to manage Nextcloud

Setting Up ONLYOFFICE Docs in Docker

Generate a JWT Secret

ONLYOFFICE uses a JWT (JSON Web Token) secret to secure communication between Nextcloud and the Document Server. Generate a strong, random secret using a password manager or any secure method. This will be used in both the container and Nextcloud settings.

Option 1: Docker CLI

docker run -i -t -d -p 8081:80 --name onlyoffice-docs --restart=always \
    -v ./logs:/var/log/onlyoffice  \
    -v ./data:/var/www/onlyoffice/Data  \
    -v ./lib:/var/lib/onlyoffice \
    -v ./db:/var/lib/postgresql \
    -e JWT_SECRET=[YOUR SECRET HERE] \
    onlyoffice/documentserver

Option 2: Docker Compose

docker-compose.yml
services:
  docs:
    image: onlyoffice/documentserver
    container_name: onlyoffice-docs
    restart: 'unless-stopped'
    ports:
      - 8081:80
    environment:
      JWT_SECRET: '[YOUR SECRET HERE]'
    volumes:
      - ./logs:/var/log/onlyoffice
      - ./data:/var/www/onlyoffice/Data
      - ./lib:/var/lib/onlyoffice
      - ./db:/var/lib/postgresql

Testing the Document Server

Wait a few moments for the container to fully start up. Then, open a browser and visit: http://your-docker-server:8081

You should see the following welcome page:

Image ONLYOFFICE Docs Installed

Optional: Run the Integrated Test Example

You can run the integrated test example to verify everything is working correctly:

Docker CLI

docker exec onlyoffice-docs sudo supervisorctl start ds:example

Docker Compose

docker compose exec docs sudo supervisorctl start ds:example

The response should be:

ds:example: started

Now, click the `GO TO TEST EXAMPLE` button on the homepage. You’ll see the following interface:

Image ONLYOFFICE Docs Test Example

You can now explore the various editors (text, spreadsheet, presentation) in a demo environment.

Before using ONLYOFFICE in production, it's best to stop and remove the test environment:

Docker CLI

docker rm onlyoffice-docs

Docker Compose

docker compose down

Then recreate the container without running the test example.

Configure ONLYOFFICE in Nextcloud

  1. Log in to Nextcloud as an admin
  2. Click your profile picture => + Apps
  3. Go to the Office & text category
  4. Search for ONLYOFFICE and click Download and enable
  5. After installation, go to Administration settings
  6. Click ONLYOFFICE under the Administration section
  7. Enter the ONLYOFFICE Docs address and the JWT Secret
  8. Click Save

If everything is correct, you’ll see additional options to configure supported file types:

Image ONLYOFFICE Extra Settings
The additional options after correct configuration

End-to-End Test

Upload or open a document in Nextcloud. It should now open directly in the ONLYOFFICE editor:

Image ONLYOFFICE Extra Settings

Exposing ONLYOFFICE to the Internet

If your Nextcloud instance is publicly accessible, you’ll need to expose the ONLYOFFICE server as well. Ensure:

  • You set the public URL of ONLYOFFICE in the Nextcloud settings
  • You use HTTPS in production with a reverse proxy

Security Best Practices

  • Use a strong JWT_SECRET and keep it private
  • Never expose ONLYOFFICE over plain HTTP in production—use HTTPS
  • Disable the example test once setup is complete
  • Keep both ONLYOFFICE and Nextcloud up to date with security patches

References

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