On the phone there are several official apps for Nextcloud — one for managing files, separate ones for Talk, Notes, Deck. Here’s what to install, how to log in, and which features pay off most often.
Which apps exist
Search for “Nextcloud” in the App Store / Play Store:
- Nextcloud — the main app: files, sharing, photos
- Nextcloud Talk — chat and video conferences
- Nextcloud Notes — Markdown notes
- Nextcloud Deck — kanban board for projects
- Nextcloud News — RSS feed reader (syncs with the News app)
- CalDAV/CardDAV sync: a separate app, see below
To start with, the main app is enough.
First login (identical on iOS and Android)
- Open the app → Log in
- Enter the server URL:
https://<your-nextcloud-url> - The browser opens → you log in → if 2FA is on: enter the code
- Confirm Grant access → the app is connected
In the background, an app password is created — the app stores that, not your account password. More in Understanding app passwords.
Automatic photo & video upload
Probably the most important feature. Nextcloud uploads your new photos and videos automatically.
Setup
App → Settings → Auto upload:
- Enable auto upload
- Choose the source folder (on iOS: camera roll automatically, on Android: explicitly selectable folders)
- Target folder in Nextcloud (default:
/Photos/<Year>/<Month>) - Upload conditions: Wi-Fi only, only while charging, only with enough battery — all configurable
- Existing photos: upload on first sync, or only new ones from now on
Practical recommendation
- Upload over Wi-Fi only (or your data plan is gone)
- Not on low battery (or your phone is dead by your next appointment)
- A folder structure by year/month helps when searching later
What happens when you delete a photo locally
Default: the file in Nextcloud stays. Local deletion does not sync back. Safe against data loss.
If you want to flip that behavior (delete locally = delete in the cloud too), you can do so in the settings — we recommend the default.
The Files area
The Files tab shows all your cloud files. Similar to the browser:
- Browse folders
- Tap a file → opens depending on type (image viewer, PDF viewer, OnlyOffice/Collabora, text editor)
- Long-press → actions: download, sharing, move, rename, delete
- Plus symbol → new file / folder / upload from the gallery
Offline files
Mark specific files for offline use:
Long-press a file → Make available offline. The file is stored on the phone and readable offline too.
Don’t enable this for everything — phone storage fills up fast. Only for files you need on the go without reception.
Sharing from the mobile app
Like in the browser: long-press a file → Share → select users or generate a public link.
External sharing links can be shared directly with other apps (WhatsApp, Mail, Signal, etc.).
The Talk app
The separate Nextcloud Talk app uses the same account as the main app. On first start: same server URL, then the login flow.
Features:
- Chats and calls like in the browser
- Push notifications for new messages and calls
- Voice messages
- Screen sharing (limited on iPhone, full on iPad/Android)
More in Talk — chat and video conferences.
Calendar / Contacts / Tasks sync
The main app does NOT sync calendar/contacts. You need separate apps for that:
iOS
iOS has CalDAV/CardDAV natively:
- Settings → Calendar → Add account → Other → CalDAV account
- Server:
<your-nextcloud-url>, username, app password
Identical for CardDAV (contacts). The Reminders app syncs with the Tasks app in Nextcloud.
Android
Android has no native CalDAV. We recommend DAVx⁵ (F-Droid or Google Play, a one-time ~€6 in the Play Store or free via F-Droid).
Setup:
- Install DAVx⁵
- Add account → URL + login
- Calendar and address book show up in the standard Android Calendar/Contacts
For tasks: additionally OpenTasks or Tasks.org.
More details in Calendar/Contacts/Tasks.
The Notes app
Markdown notes, synced with the Notes app in Nextcloud (in the browser at /apps/notes).
On iOS / Android: the Nextcloud Notes app. Clean Markdown editing, search, categories.
From our experience: it replaces Apple Notes or Google Keep for privacy-conscious users.
The Deck app
Kanban board, synced with the Deck app. To-dos, projects, club tasks.
Can be used together with Talk — embed Deck cards in Talk conversations.
Push notifications
Only work if the server has a push provider configured. Active by default on xaweho setups:
- iOS: Apple Push Notification Service (APNs)
- Android: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)
If pushes don’t arrive:
- App → check Settings → Notifications
- Phone settings → Nextcloud app → check the notifications permission
- Reinstall the app as a last resort
- Or open a ticket with us
Security on the phone
Passcode lock for the app
App → enable Settings → Passcode lock. The app asks for a code (or FaceID/fingerprint) when you open it.
We recommend this especially on work phones or with sensitive files.
If you lose the device
If your phone is gone / stolen:
- In the browser on a PC: Personal settings → Security → Devices & sessions
- Identify the mobile device → trash symbol → end the session
That invalidates the app password — even if someone unlocks your phone, the Nextcloud app can’t fetch any more data.
Frequently asked questions
iCloud Drive vs Nextcloud on the iPhone — conflict? No. Nextcloud files appear in the iOS Files app under “Locations → Nextcloud”. Usable alongside iCloud Drive.
Double auto-upload — a photo lands twice? Shouldn’t happen. Nextcloud uses the file hash to detect whether the photo was already uploaded. After reinstalling the app: it counts the first upload as “new” — that can land twice. Fix: on reinstall, pick “only new photos from now on”.
How much battery does the app use in the background? Typically <2% per day, depending on push frequency and auto-upload activity. If you see explosive battery drain: check the app’s battery usage in the phone settings, and maybe disable auto-upload temporarily.
The app won’t load — what now?
- Check Wi-Fi/mobile connection
- Restart the app
- Check the server URL in the settings
- Regenerate the app password
- Reinstall the app as a last resort
Can I have several accounts in the app in parallel? Yes, in both apps. Switch via the avatar symbol at the top right.
What if I have 2FA and get a new phone? During setup, log in via the browser → 2FA code from your authenticator app → a new app password is created. The old one (from the old phone) stays active until you end it manually.
Is the mobile app open source? Yes. Both iOS and Android are open source, code on the Nextcloud GitHub. Forks exist on F-Droid, some with different features.
Can I open files from other apps directly in Nextcloud? On iOS: yes, via the Files app integration. On Android: yes, via the Storage Access Framework — other apps see Nextcloud as a storage provider.
What’s next
First login as a Nextcloud admin
What to do after your Nextcloud is provisioned — login, profile, the important first settings, what we handle and what you handle.
Admin GUI overview — what you'll find where
Nextcloud's administration settings are big. Here's a tour of the sections that matter and what they do.
Creating users and groups
Create users for family, club or team, organize groups, set quotas, control login behavior.
Sharing — files with others, internally and externally
Sharing files in Nextcloud — within your cloud with other users, with groups, or externally via sharing link.