Migrate from Alist to OpenList: a community-driven, AGPL-3.0 fork that removes commercial bloat. Full Windows guide with 4 deployment methods.

📝 Translation note: This is the English version of the original Chinese article. Read the Chinese original →

🎤 Introduction

In 2025, the open-source cloud drive aggregator Alist fell into a trust crisis after a commercial acquisition, while OpenList, born from Alist's original core contributors, has emerged as a safer, community-driven alternative. This guide walks you through the migration and provides a complete Windows deployment walkthrough.

⚠️ The Alist Trust Crisis

Alist, once a beloved open-source cloud drive aggregator, recently became controversial due to a stealth commercial acquisition:

  • Lack of transparency: Secretly acquired in April 2025 by "Guizhou Bu Gou Tech" — the official domain was quietly swapped without any public announcement.
  • Code security risks: Users discovered malicious data collection code in new versions, and the acquiring company has a history of implanting backdoors.
  • Eroding open-source promise: Documentation is heavily commercialized, core features depend on private APIs, and service disruption risk has increased.

Security advisory: Existing Alist users should pause updates immediately and avoid upgrading to versions controlled by the commercial entity.

🌟 OpenList: The Pure Open-Source Alternative

OpenList was created by Alist's original core contributors. It preserves all of Alist's core functionality while completely removing commercial contamination:

  • ✅ Security hardened: Full audit and removal of malicious code; open API system rebuilt
  • ♻️ Seamless compatibility: Supports 40+ cloud drives (Aliyun Drive, Baidu Netdisk, OneDrive, etc.)
  • 🌍 Community-driven: Licensed under AGPL-3.0; all submissions reviewed by the community
  • 🚀 Actively maintained: Stable v4.0 released; community activity continues to grow

Key advantage: Zero-cost data migration — directly import your Alist configuration and keep all cloud drive mount settings.

💻 Complete Windows Deployment Guide

Step 1: Download the Official Release

Grab the official package from GitHub:

# Download the latest Windows release (replace version number)
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://github.com/OpenListTeam/OpenList/releases/download/v4.0.0/openlist_windows_amd64.zip" -OutFile "openlist.zip"

# Extract to the current directory
Expand-Archive -Path "openlist.zip" -DestinationPath .

Method 1: Direct Binary (Recommended for Beginners)

  1. Extract the downloaded ZIP file
  2. Start the service in PowerShell:
.\openlist.exe server
  1. Retrieve the initial password:
Get-Content .\data\log\log.log | Select-String "password"
  1. Visit http://localhost:5244 to access the admin panel

Method 2: Docker Deployment (Recommended for Long-Term Use)

  1. Install Docker Desktop
  2. Run the container:
# Create a data directory
mkdir C:\openlist_data

# Start the container
docker run -d `
  --name openlist `
  -p 5244:5244 `
  -v C:\openlist_data:/opt/openlist/data `
  openlistteam/openlist:latest

# Retrieve the password
docker logs openlist | Select-String "password"

Method 3: Cloud Deployment (No Local Server Required)

  1. Register a ClawCloud account

  2. Create an app with:

    • Image name: openlistteam/openlist:beta
    • Port: 5244
    • Enable Public Address
  3. After deployment, retrieve the access URL and password from the logs

Method 4: Build from Source (For Developers)

# Install dependencies
choco install git golang nodejs -y

# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/OpenListTeam/OpenList.git
cd OpenList

# Build the frontend
npm install
npm run build

# Build the backend
go build -o openlist.exe main.go

# Run the service
.\openlist.exe server

⚙️ Configuration & Usage Tips

Basic Configuration

Edit data/config.json:

{
  "port": 5244,
  "scheme": {
    "https": false
  },
  "storages": [{
    "mount_path": "/alist",
    "driver": "Local",
    "path": "D:\\cloud_storage"
  }]
}

Data Migration from Alist

  1. Stop the Alist service
  2. Copy the Alist data folder to the OpenList data directory
  3. Start OpenList — it will auto-detect and adapt the configuration

Advanced Use Cases

  • Media center: Mount the WebDAV URL http://localhost:5244/dav into PotPlayer, Infuse, or other players
  • Remote access: Use Nginx reverse proxy for HTTPS access
  • Team sharing: Set up multi-user permissions management

🛠️ System Maintenance & Optimization

Auto-Start on Boot

Drop the OpenList shortcut into the Startup folder:

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Register as a Windows Service

Use the NSSM tool:

# Download NSSM
Invoke-WebRequest https://nssm.cc/release/nssm-2.24.zip -OutFile nssm.zip
Expand-Archive nssm.zip

# Register the service
.\nssm.exe install Openlist "C:\path\to\openlist.exe" server

Troubleshooting Common Issues

ProblemSolution
Port conflictnetstat -ano to find the conflicting PID and kill it
Firewall blockingNew-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Openlist" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 5244 -Protocol TCP -Action Allow
Data not showingCheck storage path permissions; verify the config file
Login failedReset the password: delete data/users.json and restart

🔗 Ecosystem Integration Suggestions

  • Media playback: Pair with VidHub or Infuse to build a personal media library
  • File search: Use CloudSaver to search resources across cloud drives
  • Mobile access: Access files on the go via the RaiDrive mobile app
  • Auto sync: Combine with FreeFileSync for local ↔ cloud bidirectional sync

🎯 Conclusion: Back to Open-Source Roots

Alist's commercial turn is now inevitable, but OpenList's birth is a victory for the open-source spirit. It inherits Alist's best features and rebuilds trust through community governance:

  • For everyday users: Use the prebuilt binary or Docker deployment
  • For developers: Dive into community contributions and help shape the project
  • For enterprise users: Private deployment ensures data security

The value of open source lies not in the code itself, but in the transparency and trust built through community collaboration. OpenList has opened all its code on GitHub (OpenListTeam/OpenList) — every user can be a watchdog and contributor.

Resource roundup: