Fix OpenList Permission Error on Your NAS: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Is Your OpenList Broken After Updating?

You updated OpenList on your NAS, and now it won’t start. You see an error message about “permissions” or something like:

Error: Current user does not have write and/or execute permissions...

Don’t panic! This is a common problem that happens when updating to OpenList version 4.1.0 or newer. The good news? There’s a simple fix that takes just 2 minutes.

Why This Happens (The Simple Version)

The new version of OpenList is more secure, but it needs your data folder to have specific permissions. Your NAS can’t automatically fix this, so we need to use a small helper tool. Think of it like needing a key to unlock a door – we just need to get the right key.

The Fix: Two Simple Steps

We’re going to use a helper tool called axiilay/chown that fixes the permissions automatically. Here’s how:

Step 1: Run the Permission Fixer

This tool will fix the permissions on your OpenList data folder. It takes about 1 second to run.

For Synology Users

Open Container Manager (or Docker if you’re on DSM 6)
Go to Registry tab
Search for axiilay/chown
Download the image (click Download or pull)
Go to Container tab
Click Create or Run
Choose axiilay/chown:latest
Click Next
Give it any name (like “fix-permissions”)
Click Next again
In Volume Settings, click Add Folder
- Choose your OpenList data folder (usually something like /docker/openlist)
- Set mount path to: /opt/openlist/data
Click Next through the remaining screens
Click Done to run it
The container will run and stop automatically (this is normal!)

For QNAP Users

Open Container Station
Click Create in the left menu
Search for axiilay/chown
Click Install (choose ‘latest’ version)
In the creation wizard:
- Name: fix-permissions (or any name you like)
- Click Advanced Settings
- Go to Shared Folders tab
- Click Add and select your OpenList folder
- Set mount point to: /opt/openlist/data
Click Create
The container will run and stop (this is normal!)

Using Command Line (SSH)

If you’re comfortable with SSH, here’s the quick command:

docker run --rm -v /path/to/your/openlist/data:/opt/openlist/data axiilay/chown

Replace /path/to/your/openlist/data with your actual OpenList data folder path.

Step 2: Start OpenList Normally

Now that permissions are fixed, start your OpenList container as you normally would. It should work perfectly!

If you had deleted your old OpenList container, create a new one:

Use image: openlistteam/openlist:latest
Map the same data folder you fixed in Step 1
Set port: 5244
Start the container

Using Docker Compose? Here’s Your File

If you prefer Docker Compose, save this as docker-compose.yml:

version: '3'
services:
  # This fixes permissions first
  fix-permissions:
    image: axiilay/chown:latest
    volumes:
      - ./data:/opt/openlist/data
    restart: 'no'

  # This is your OpenList
  openlist:
    image: openlistteam/openlist:latest
    depends_on:
      - fix-permissions
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - ./data:/opt/openlist/data
    ports:
      - '5244:5244'
    environment:
      - UMASK=022

Then just run docker-compose up -d and you’re done!

Frequently Asked Questions

”The fix container stopped immediately. Is that normal?”

Yes! The fixer only needs to run for a second to change the permissions. Once it’s done, it stops. That’s exactly what should happen.

”Do I need to run the fixer every time?”

No! Just once after updating to version 4.1.0 or newer. After that, OpenList will work normally.

”Can I delete the fixer container after using it?”

Yes! Once your OpenList is working, you can safely delete the axiilay/chown container. You only needed it for the one-time fix.

”I’m still getting errors”

Make sure:

You mapped the correct folder (the one containing your OpenList data)
The mount path is exactly /opt/openlist/data
You’re using the latest OpenList image

Visual Check: How to Know It Worked

After running both steps, you should see:

✅ OpenList starts without errors
✅ You can access the web interface at http://your-nas-ip:5244
✅ Your files and settings are still there

Need More Help?

If you’re still stuck:

Double-check the folder mapping - This is the most common mistake. Make sure both containers use the same folder.
Try restarting - Sometimes a simple restart of the OpenList container helps.
Ask for help - The OpenList community is friendly! Share your error message and someone will help you.

Why This Tool Exists

When OpenList updated to version 4.1.0, they made it more secure by changing how permissions work. But this created a problem for NAS users because NAS devices don’t let you easily change file permissions through Docker.

This helper tool was created specifically to solve this problem. It’s safe, simple, and does just one thing: fixes the permissions so OpenList can access your data.

Summary: The Two-Minute Fix

Run the permission fixer (axiilay/chown) once with your data folder mapped
Start OpenList normally

That’s it! Your OpenList should be working perfectly again.

Remember: This is a one-time fix. Once done, you can forget about it and enjoy using OpenList as before.

This guide is for OpenList version 4.1.0 and newer. If you’re using an older version, you don’t need this fix.

# Fix OpenList Permission Error on Your NAS: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide