Projects / Paperless-ngx

Paperless-ngx

Notes & Knowledge

Organize scans and electronic documents into a searchable personal archive.

Use with conditions
Last updatedRelease 2026-09-20
Open source licenseGPL-3.0
PlatformsDocker server · Web
DeploymentContainers / self-hosted

About this project

Paperless-ngx turns scanned and electronic documents into a searchable archive. Its processing workflow can extract text with OCR, retain original files, and create archival versions. Documents can enter through the web interface or email-processing rules. The application manages material intended for ongoing classification and retrieval, rather than merely exposing a directory from which files can be downloaded.

Tags, correspondents, document types, and custom fields structure the archive. Full-text search, filters, and bulk editing help locate and maintain records, with permissions and workflows supporting additional organization. Supported inputs include PDF, images, and plain text. Processing Office formats requires optional components such as Apache Tika, so format support must be checked against the deployed configuration.

The repository recommends Docker Compose and provides installation and migration guidance. It explicitly states that documents are stored unencrypted on disk. Server and backup handling consequently matter to the deployment: the project advises against using an untrusted host and recommends running it on one's own server with backups. The document interface itself does not provide storage encryption.

Decision guide
01

Why it is worth a look

  • OCR for scanned documents and full-text search in one application
  • First-party usage or installation documentation is available
  • A verifiable formal release record is available
02

Before you use it

  • The project explicitly stores documents unencrypted and advises using a trusted host
  • Both original documents and the database need backups
  • Email import and Office support require additional configuration
Manual setupHigh
With an AI agentModerate
DeploymentContainers / self-hosted
Additional requirements3 confirmed; others not verified

Use the officially recommended Docker Compose setup; Confirmed requirements: Command line, Docker, An always-on device or service; Some requirements have not been verified. Check the official setup instructions.

03

What it can do

  • OCR for scanned documents
  • Full-text search
  • Classification by tags, types, and correspondents
  • Retain originals and PDF/A copies
  • Multi-user permissions
  • Email import

Who it fits

Good for

People organizing receipts and scanned archives; Households able to maintain a local document server

Not a fit

Unwilling to maintain a self-hosted service and not considering hosting providers; Only accepting a workflow without checking permissions and data backups

Getting started

  1. Use the officially recommended Docker Compose setup
  2. Set data, media, and import directories
  3. Create an account and upload a small set of test documents
  4. Verify OCR and backups before importing in bulk