With One-Click Apps, you can install applications such as Nextcloud, n8n, databases, or monitoring tools from an app catalog on your Dedicated Server and manage them directly in the ZapX Dashboard. Coolify, an open-source platform for container apps, runs in the background.
Unlike a VPS, One-Click Apps on a Dedicated Server require a one-time manual setup: create a command in the dashboard and run it as root on your server. ZapX takes care of the rest. This guide explains what your server needs, how setup works, how to manage apps, and what ZapX's maintenance access does on your server.
Your Dedicated Server needs: Check these requirements before running the command. The command checks them automatically and exits without making changes if anything is incompatible.
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Debian or Ubuntu with an SSH server |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| CPU | 2 cores |
| Free storage | 30 GB |
| IP address | Public IPv4 address configured on the server |
| Available ports | 8000, 6001, 6002, and 8080 (your apps need 80 and 443) |
| SSH | Your server's SSH port must be reachable by ZapX |
A fresh operating system is recommended: For the best results, set up One-Click Apps on a fresh Debian or Ubuntu installation. Services already using the required ports, a custom Docker setup, or an existing Coolify installation with its own login will cause setup to stop. To reinstall your server, go to the Installation tab of your Dedicated Server.
Proxmox host and Windows: One-Click Apps cannot be set up directly on a Proxmox host. Instead, use a VM on the server with one of your server's IP addresses. Windows is not supported.
Only the server owner can set up One-Click Apps.
Open your Dedicated Server in the ZapX Dashboard and go to the One-Click Apps tab. There, you'll see the Set up One-Click Apps card.
Choose two details:
- IP address for panel and apps: This list shows your server's public IPv4 addresses, with the primary address marked. The Coolify panel and your apps will be available at this IP address.
- Admin email for Coolify: You'll use this email address to sign in to the Coolify panel.
Then click Create command. ZapX prepares the address for your panel, which can take up to a minute.
Log in to your server as root over SSH. Copy the command shown using the copy icon, then run it. It starts with curl -fsSL and ends with | bash.
If curl isn't installed on your server, install it first with:
apt update && apt install -y curl
The installation will then continue in the background. You can close the terminal.
Don't share the command: It contains a personal key for this specific server and is valid for 24 hours. Don't share it with anyone. To get a new command, click Cancel manual installation and create a new one.
The tab shows the setup progress:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| We're waiting for you to run the command on your server. | The command hasn't been started yet |
| Connected. Installation is running on your server. | ZapX is installing Coolify, which usually takes up to 10 minutes |
| Coolify is installed. We're connecting the panel now. | Final step, takes about a minute |
If ZapX still can't reach your server over SSH after a few minutes, the tab will show a message. Check that your firewall allows incoming connections on your server's SSH port.
- It checks the operating system, resources, IP address, and available ports, and exits with a message if anything is incompatible.
- It creates the
zapx-appsuser with sudo permissions. ZapX uses this user to manage Coolify and your apps. Sign-in is only possible with a key from ZapX and only from ZapX addresses; password login isn't available. - It installs Coolify using the official installer, which also sets up Docker.
- For setup, ZapX temporarily uses a highly restricted root key and adjusts the SSH configuration if needed. Both are removed after setup.
- The command does not change firewall rules.
You can find the setup log on the server at /var/lib/zapx-oneclick-apps/setup.log.
Once setup is complete, the One-Click Apps tab shows three sections:
| Section | Contents |
|---|---|
| Installed apps | Your apps, with their status and available actions |
| App catalog | All available apps to install |
| Access & settings | Panel address, login, and maintenance access |
- Open the App catalog and search for the app you want.
- Click Install.
- In the Install app window, enter the requested values, such as
[your_app_name]or[your_domain]. - Click Queue installation.
If your server doesn't have enough RAM for an app, the catalog will show the message “Your server doesn't have enough RAM for this app.”
Get help from the ZapX AI Agent: You can ask the ZapX AI Agent for your server to suggest an app, check your apps' status, or prepare an installation. The agent only makes changes after you confirm them. Always manage credentials and secrets in the One-Click Apps tab.
Under Installed apps, you can manage each app directly:
| Action | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Start | Starts a stopped app |
| Stop | Stops a running app |
| Restart | Restarts the app |
| Logs | Shows the app's logs for troubleshooting |
| Settings | Changes environment values, the domain, and other app options |
The Maintenance access card shows whether ZapX can reach your server:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Active | ZapX can reach your server and manage Coolify and your apps |
| Interrupted | ZapX can no longer reach your server, for example because the SSH host key has changed or the ZapX key is no longer accepted |
| Removed | You've removed maintenance access |
Clicking Remove access deletes ZapX's key, the sudo rule, and the zapx-apps user from your server. Coolify and your apps will keep running, but ZapX will no longer be able to manage them. You won't be able to install apps, troubleshoot issues, or make changes in the dashboard. In this case, manage your apps directly in the Coolify panel.
If your server can't be reached when you remove access, ZapX will disable access on its side. You can then delete the zapx-apps user and the /etc/sudoers.d/zapx-apps file yourself on the server.
Clicking Restore access creates a new command that sets up maintenance access again. Coolify and your apps remain unchanged. As with the initial setup, run the command as root on your server.
| Event | What happens |
|---|---|
| Reinstallation from the Installation tab | Setup is reset and the addresses on zap.cloud are deleted. The system is reinstalled, so back up your app data first. Then set up One-Click Apps again. |
| Release of the IP address used for the panel and apps | Maintenance access is removed, the addresses on zap.cloud are deleted, and setup is reset. Coolify and your apps continue running on the server. To manage them in the dashboard again, set up One-Click Apps with a different IP address. |
| Cancellation or end of contract | Maintenance access and the addresses on zap.cloud are removed. |
| Message or issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| No SSH connection after a few minutes | Check that the SSH server is running and your firewall allows connections on the SSH port |
| Ports are already in use | Stop the services using ports 8000, 6001, 6002, and 8080, or reinstall the server |
| Coolify is already installed | ZapX can't take over an existing Coolify installation with its own login. Remove it or use a fresh system |
| Your SSH server only allows certain users (AllowUsers) | Add zapx-apps to your SSH configuration and run the command again |
| An installation is currently running on the server | Wait until installation is complete in the Installation tab |
| The server doesn't have a public IPv4 address yet | Set up a public IPv4 address for your server first |
| Too many attempts | Wait a few minutes, then create the command again |
More details about a failed setup are available in /var/lib/zapx-oneclick-apps/setup.log. If you still need help, create a support ticket and include the error message from the tab.
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