Tutorials

Install the server on Windows

Set up your own Haven chat server on a Windows PC in a few minutes.

1. Go to haven-app.com, open Download, and download the server .zip.
2. Unzip it and double-click Start Haven.bat.
3. If Node.js isn't installed, it offers to install it for you. Say yes, then run Start Haven.bat again.
4. The first run downloads what Haven needs and makes a security certificate. When it says "Haven is LIVE", it's running. Keep that window open.
5. Open https://localhost:3000 in your browser. The security warning is expected because Haven made its own certificate: click Advanced, then Proceed.
6. Click Register and create an account named admin. That account is the server's admin.

Next: the First login video covers naming your server and making channels.

2 min 13 sec · Haven 4.29.0-beta.1 · YouTube · Rumble

Install the server on Linux

Set up your own Haven chat server on a Linux machine, no Docker needed. Shown on a fresh Ubuntu 24.04.

Commands: sudo apt update sudo apt install -y curl git curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_26.x | sudo -E bash - sudo apt install -y nodejs git clone https://github.com/ancsemi/Haven.git cd Haven chmod +x start.sh && ./start.sh

When it says Haven is LIVE, open https://localhost:3000 (or https://YOUR_SERVER_IP:3000 from another computer). The security warning is expected because Haven made its own certificate: click Advanced, then Proceed. Register an account named admin; that account runs the server.

Haven needs Node.js 22 or newer. The nodejs package in Ubuntu's own repositories is older, which is why this uses NodeSource. Prefer Docker? There's a separate video for that.

1 min 37 sec · Haven 4.26.0 · YouTube · Rumble

Install with Docker

Run your own Haven chat server with one Docker command. Works on Linux, a NAS, or anywhere Docker runs.

Start it: docker run -d --name haven -p 3000:3000 -v haven_data:/data --restart unless-stopped ghcr.io/ancsemi/haven:latest

Then open https://localhost:3000 (or https://YOUR_SERVER_IP:3000). The security warning is expected because Haven made its own certificate: click Advanced, then Proceed. Register an account named admin; that account runs the server.

Update it later: docker pull ghcr.io/ancsemi/haven:latest docker rm -f haven then run the same docker run command again. Your messages and settings stay in the haven_data volume.

Prefer Docker Compose? The repository has a ready docker-compose.yml: git clone https://github.com/ancsemi/Haven.git, cd Haven, docker compose up -d. On Podman or a NAS, see the Docker section of the setup guide.

1 min 31 sec · Haven 4.26.0 · YouTube · Rumble

First login: name, first channel and icon

What to do the first time you sign in to your new Haven server as the admin.

1. The setup window asks for your server's name. Type it and click Next.
2. Name your first channel and click Create & Continue.
3. Click Next past Internet Access (there's a separate video on letting friends in), then Get Started.
4. For a server icon, open Settings, go to the Admin tab. Branding is on the Server page.
5. Choose an image and click Upload. It shows up right away.
6. Add a welcome message if you like, then click Save Settings.

1 min 27 sec · Haven 4.29.0-beta.1 · YouTube · Rumble

Let friends reach your server

By default only people on your home network can reach your Haven server. Here are the ways to let friends in from anywhere.

1. Open Settings, go to the Admin tab, and pick Network & scale. Tunnel is on that page.
2. Choose a provider and click Start Tunnel.
3. Haven shows a public web address. Send it to your friends.

Easiest, built in: a tunnel 1. Open Settings, go to the Admin tab, and pick Network & scale. Tunnel is on that page. 2. Choose a provider and click Start Tunnel. 3. Haven shows a public web address. Send it to your friends. The address changes each time you start the tunnel.

Other ways (step by step in the setup guide): - Port forwarding: forward TCP port 3000 on your router to this computer, and allow it through the firewall. Friends use https://YOUR_PUBLIC_IP:3000. - Tailscale: a private network between you and your friends, with nothing opened to the internet. - Cloudflare Tunnel with your own domain, or a reverse proxy like Caddy.

Setup guide: https://github.com/ancsemi/Haven/blob/main/GUIDE.md#setting-up-remote-access-friends-over-the-internet

1 min 3 sec · Haven 4.29.0-beta.1 · YouTube · Rumble

Invite people

Make an invite link and see what your friend sees when they open it.

1. Click Invite Users at the bottom right.
2. Open Create a new invite link, give it a label, and pick the channels it should join.
3. Choose how many people can use it and when it expires, then click Create invite link.
4. Copy the link and send it to your friend.
5. They open it, create an account, and land in those channels.

Each channel also has its own join code at the top. Anyone with an account can paste a code into Join a Channel. Private channels are never opened by an invite link.

1 min 32 sec · Haven 4.29.0-beta.1 · YouTube · Rumble

Channels, categories and private channels

Set up the channels on your Haven server.

1. Type a name in the Create Channel box on the left and click +.
2. Turn on Private first for a channel only invited people can see.
3. To group channels under a heading, click Organize channels, pick a channel, type a category and click Set.
4. For a sub-channel, hover a channel, click the three dots, and choose Create Sub-channel.

Every channel has its own join code at the top. Channel options like slow mode, read-only and voice are under the three dots, in Channel Functions.

1 min 37 sec · Haven 4.29.0-beta.1 · YouTube · Rumble

Make someone a moderator

Give someone moderator powers on your Haven server in under a minute.

1. Open a channel the person is in.
2. Right-click their name in the member list and choose Role Management.
3. Click Server-wide.
4. Under Add another role, pick Mod.
5. Untick any powers you don't want them to have, then click Save Changes.

Haven has one admin, the owner. To hand the whole server to someone else, use Hand the server to someone else in Settings, Admin, People & roles.

1 min 1 sec · Haven 4.29.0-beta.1 · YouTube · Rumble

Create a role and set its permissions

Make your own role, choose exactly what it can do, and give it to someone.

1. Open Settings, go to the Admin tab, and pick People & roles.
2. Click Permissions, then Add role, and give it a name.
3. Tick the permissions the role should have, then click Save changes.
4. Click Users, pick a person, click the role to give it to them, and click Save changes.

New roles start with the same powers as Member. For colors, levels and icons, click the role's name at the top of its column.

1 min 9 sec · Haven 4.29.0-beta.1 · YouTube · Rumble