DavRoll setup guide
When Nextcloud auto upload is not working, back up directly with WebDAV
Connect DavRoll to your personal Nextcloud WebDAV URL, back up photos to the same server, and see the post-upload integrity result.
DavRoll is an independent WebDAV client, not an official Nextcloud app
or certified integration. A direct connection can replace the mobile
app's upload path, but it cannot bypass server permissions, quota,
reverse-proxy, or authentication problems.
Current automation scope: Background new-photo
discovery is a separate opt-in and is off by default. When enabled, it
non-interactively checks at most 80 items within the photo access
already granted in the foreground and the saved backup scope. Each new
item is added once to the duplicate-safe queue for every compatible enabled
destination. Timing is best effort and controlled by the operating
system. Existing pending or failed uploads can still run when discovery
is off.
1. Check Nextcloud itself first
- Sign in with a browser and upload a small file in Nextcloud Files.
- Confirm the user or shared folder has free quota and write permission.
- If you want a dedicated backup folder, create it in the web interface first.
- If another auto-upload app writes to the same folder, disable one path to avoid duplicate backups.
2. Get your personal WebDAV URL and an app password
- Copy the personal URL shown under Files → Settings → WebDAV. Copying this value is safer than assembling it yourself.
- Open Personal settings → Security and create an app password for DavRoll. Nextcloud recommends app passwords for third-party WebDAV clients.
- Enter the app password in DavRoll immediately. Do not paste it into documentation, notes, or support requests.
A root installation commonly uses
https://<NEXTCLOUD_HOST>/remote.php/dav/files/<USERNAME>/.
A subdirectory installation adds its path, for example
https://<NEXTCLOUD_HOST>/<BASE_PATH>/remote.php/dav/files/<USERNAME>/.
Do not guess from a display name or email address; use the user identifier
in the URL shown by Files settings.
3. Connect DavRoll
- In DavRoll, open Settings → Backup location → Advanced storage → WebDAV.
- Enter the fields below and tap Test and save.
| DavRoll field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Server URL | The HTTPS WebDAV URL copied from Files settings. To use an existing dedicated folder as the root, append <BACKUP_FOLDER>/ |
| Username | The Nextcloud user identifier shown in the WebDAV URL |
| Password | The DavRoll-specific app password created under Personal settings → Security |
DavRoll accepts only HTTPS WebDAV. Use the authenticated personal-files
path /remote.php/dav/files/<USERNAME>/, not a public-share
/public.php/dav URL.
4. Run a first backup and check verification
- Confirm photo access and the destination, then run a small manual backup.
- Look for a Verified count in the completion summary and a Verified state in upload history.
- Open Nextcloud Files and confirm the destination contains the uploaded file.
DavRoll does not trust only the upload success response. It reads the
remote WebDAV file back and compares its SHA-256 with the local upload
data. The item is recorded as Verified only when they
match.
Can I open backup files without DavRoll?
WebDAV backups with media encryption off remain regular files on the
destination filesystem and can be accessed in Nextcloud Files or
another WebDAV browser without DavRoll. JPEGs converted with the
optional JPEG XL setting require a compatible JPEG XL app, while
encrypted .droll files must be restored with DavRoll.
Troubleshooting by symptom
| Symptom | Check first |
|---|---|
| Authentication failed | User identifier, app password, two-factor/OIDC policy, and whether the reverse proxy forwards the Authorization header |
| Permission denied | Destination write permission, share or Group Folder ACL, and server security policy |
| Path not found | Nextcloud installation subdirectory, /remote.php/dav/files/<USERNAME>/, and backup-folder spelling |
| TLS or network failure | Certificate trust and hostname, DNS, HTTPS port, and reverse-proxy connectivity |
| Server error or repeated timeout | Free quota, Nextcloud/PHP/web-server logs, proxy timeout, and KeepAlive settings |
If web login and a normal file upload work but DavRoll cannot connect, copy the WebDAV URL again and check the username and app password. Do not modify the Nextcloud data directory directly on the server file system.
5. Process queued uploads and optionally discover new photos
- First review photo access and the saved backup scope in the app and complete a small Back up now run. Then enable Automatically find new photos only if you want it; it is off by default and never opens a permission prompt from the background.
- Android: Also enable Settings → Automatic backup → Turn on Android automatic backup, then choose mobile-data, charging, and low-battery conditions. When the OS runs the task, DavRoll checks at most 80 of the newest items in the saved scope. After adding or importing more than 80 photos between runs, use Back up now.
- iOS: Work runs when the app launches or resumes, or during background time granted by iOS. iOS decides the exact timing. Automatic discovery is skipped when limited photo access and an album scope are used together; use Back up now in the app in that case.
- Discovered photos are queued once for every compatible enabled destination, including Nextcloud WebDAV. Checking the same scope again does not create another queue row for the same photo and destination.
- Open DavRoll once to check pending items and recent results, and review failure notifications together with operating-system battery and network restrictions.