Home Assistant Docker 2026: Installation and Setup via Docker Compose in 15 Minutes

Want to run Home Assistant on a server alongside Jellyfin, Ollama and other services — but HAOS takes over the entire machine? Docker solves this: Home Assistant lives in its own container, other services in theirs, and restarting HA does not break your Zigbee network or MQTT broker. In 2026 this is the standard choice for anyone building a self-hosted home stack.

Key facts

• Home Assistant Container runs as a standard Docker container — alongside any other services
• Current stable version — 2026.3, image: ghcr.io/home-assistant/home-assistant:stable
• Minimum requirements: 2 cores, 2 GB RAM, Docker Engine 19.03+
• No Add-on Store in Docker variant — extensions are deployed as separate containers via Compose
• For Zigbee and mDNS, network_mode: host is required

What we checked for this article: whether "Home Assistant Docker 2026: Setup via Docker Compose in 15 Minutes Without Losi…" answers a real buyer question with practical constraints, risks, and next steps.

Comparison: How to Install Home Assistant — Which Method to Choose?

Method	Control	Add-ons	Other Services	Best For
HAOS	Minimal	Yes	No	Beginners
Docker Container	Full	No (own containers)	Yes	Experienced users
Supervised	Medium	Yes	Limited	Debian only
AI Home Server	Full	Yes (pre-installed)	Yes (Ollama, Jellyfin)	All levels

HAOS is simpler but locks you out of the base system. Docker gives full freedom: restart HA — your Zigbee network and MQTT broker keep running in their own containers.

How to Install Home Assistant in Docker in 3 Steps?

The entire process takes 15 minutes on any Linux server or mini PC with Docker.

Step 1. Install Docker and Create compose.yaml

Install Docker Engine on Ubuntu/Debian: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh. Create a compose.yaml file:

services:
  homeassistant:
    container_name: homeassistant
    image: "ghcr.io/home-assistant/home-assistant:stable"
    volumes:
      - ./config:/config
      - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
    restart: unless-stopped
    privileged: true
    network_mode: host

Step 2. Start the Container

Run docker compose up -d and open http://your-ip:8123 in a browser. The setup wizard will guide you through account creation and initial integrations.

Step 3. Add Services — or Use a Ready-Made Solution

Zigbee2MQTT, Mosquitto, Node-RED — each is added as a separate container in the same compose file. Or connect an AI Home Server — a mini PC where Home Assistant, local Ollama AI, media server, and backup are already configured and working out of the box.

See Also

• How to Install Home Assistant in 2026: 4 Methods
• Home Assistant Setup: Step-by-Step Guide
• Home Assistant Zigbee: Connecting Devices
• Ollama: What It Is and How to Run AI Locally

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you lose by installing Home Assistant in Docker instead of HAOS? The Add-on Store and Supervisor. But all the same services (Zigbee2MQTT, Node-RED, Mosquitto) can be run as separate Docker containers — this is often even more reliable since they don't depend on HA restarts.

What hardware is needed for Home Assistant in Docker? Minimum — 2 cores and 2 GB RAM. For 50+ devices and additional containers, an Intel N100 mini PC with 8 GB RAM is recommended.

Is network_mode: host required for Home Assistant in Docker? Yes, if you use Zigbee, Google Cast, HomeKit, or Sonos. Without host mode, mDNS packets don't pass through the Docker bridge and devices cannot be discovered.

Can I migrate from HAOS to Docker without losing data? Yes. Export a backup from HAOS (Settings → System → Backups), extract the archive, and copy the config folder to the Docker container volume.

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Article by onout.org team. Updated: 2026-03-05.

Sources: - https://www.home-assistant.io/installation/ - https://www.home-assistant.io/installation/linux/ - https://allsmarthome.ru/smart-home/chto-takoe-home-assistant/home-assistant-docker-compose-install/ - https://corelab.tech/ultimate-home-assistant-guide/ - https://hub.docker.com/r/homeassistant/home-assistant

The article "Home Assistant Docker 2026: Setup via Docker Compose in 15 Minutes Without Losing Fle…" is AI-assisted and reviewed by Alexander Ruin, founder of onout.org. Updated: 2026-05-01.