Software Downloads: Download UniFi Network Server – Ubiquiti: also known as UniFi Network application and apparently the successor of the UniFi Controller
Posted by jpluimers on 2025/06/02
After moving, I wanted to install new UniFi access points and upgrade the firmware of my existing ones.
The Cloud Key running the UniFi Controller software had long died (bringing that to market was a really bad idea from Ubiquiti in my view), so I started looking for UniFi controller software I could run locally.
From past contacts with other UniFi users, I knew there was some kind of Docker solution, but I hard a hard time finding it.
It looks like UniFi has been busy though and have three download lists coming back with essentially the same software, heck even point to the same release notes ([Wayback/Archive] UniFi Network Application 8.6.9 | Ubiquiti Community)
- [Wayback/Archive] Software Downloads: releases/network-server – Ubiquiti
- [Wayback/Archive] Software Downloads: releases/network-application – Ubiquiti
- [Wayback/Archive] Software Downloads: releases/firmware – Ubiquiti
The actual download of the most recent version is at [Wayback/Archive] Software Downloads: Download UniFi Network Server – Ubiquiti.
If I understand [Wayback/Archive] Self-Hosting a UniFi Network Server – Ubiquiti Help Center correctly, what they mean is that the UniFi Network Application is an implementation of a UniFi Network Software that runs on MacOS/Windows/Linux.
You will likely have to download by hand as – especially on Windows – the package managers are versions behind. At the time of writing the version available above was V8.6.9 released 2024-11-06. This is what was on the package managers:
- [Wayback/Archive] Chocolatey Software | Ubiquiti UniFI Controller 8.5.6 added 2024-10-10, but version actually released a day earlier on 2024-10-09 so I have no idea why 8.6.9 was not added especially since it is an auto-update package according to [Wayback/Archive] au-packages/ubiquiti-unifi-controller at master · flcdrg/au-packages · GitHub
- [Wayback/Archive] Install Ubiquiti UniFi Network Server with winget – winstall had v8.3.32 (it was added 2024-10-01, but actually released way earlier: 2024-07-15)
- [Wayback/Archive] Scoop – Apps (unifi network) did not have it at all
On MacOS, Homebrew was a lot quicker: they updated on the release date itself:
- [Wayback/Archive] ubiquiti-unifi-controller — Homebrew Formulae version: 8.6.9
- [Wayback/Archive] homebrew-cask/Casks/u/ubiquiti-unifi-controller.rb at 0d250573d8bb5eb0b218e2ed33e3a65461b50cdf · Homebrew/homebrew-cask · GitHub commit that updated the version
Self hosting is not hard, as explained here:
- [Wayback/Archive] UniFi self-hosting is cool! Here’s why.. | Scoop
- [Wayback/Archive] How the UniFi Network Server Works And How To Get Started – YouTube
- [Wayback/Archive] Add UniFi Access Point to Existing Network | Step-by-Step – YouTube
Docker:
- [Wayback/Archive] linuxserver/unifi-controller – Docker Image | Docker Hub was deprecated and pointed to the new github repository:
- [Wayback/Archive] GitHub – linuxserver/docker-unifi-network-application pointed to the docker location of the new tool:
- [Wayback/Archive] linuxserver/unifi-network-application – Docker Image | Docker Hub
- Searching found the old repository: [Wayback/Archive] GitHub – linuxserver/docker-unifi-controller
Quest:
- [Wayback/Archive] Has anyone tried running the Unifi controller on an M1 based MAC? : UNIFI
- [Wayback/Archive] UniFi Controller Hosted On Apple Silicon – M1 Mac mini | Ubiquiti Community
- [Wayback/Archive] How to Configure: Ubiquiti UniFi Access Point – YouTube sets up an access point with a mobile application
- [Wayback/Archive] Introduction to UniFi – Ubiquiti Help Center
If you have heard of a ‘UniFi Controller’ before, most likely that is someone referring to the UniFi Network application by an informal name. The preferred way to deploy UniFi Network is on a UniFi Cloud Gateway, rather than on a server, laptop, or other self-hosted environment
I laughed reading the last sentence (:
- [Wayback/Archive] Can Unifi Access Points be run without a controller? : Ubiquiti
Yes you can use iOS and Android apps to operate APs in standalone mode, giving you access to the basic settings. It’s good enough.
- [Wayback/Archive] UniFi – Using the UniFi Network mobile app – Ubiquiti Networks Support and Help Center (archived as the page went to bit heaven)
- [Wayback/Archive] New Access Point Control Software | Ubiquiti Community
You are right, the Unifi Network Application (aka Controller) will give you more options and is recommended, particularly if there are several Unifi devices.
Your Unifi devices will run perfectly even if your controller is not available, e.g. shut down or crashed.
- [Wayback/Archive] UniFi Network Controller Setup for MacOS · GitHub
- [Wayback/Archive] Unifi Controller + macOS Catalina + openjdk8 | Ubiquiti Community
- [Wayback/Archive] UniFi Network Controller Setup for MacOS with Homebrew · GitHub
- [Wayback/Archive] networking – How do I run Ubiquiti’s UniFi Network Application on macOS? – Super User
- [Wayback/Archive] Run the UniFi Controller headless on Mac – Rob Allen
- [Wayback/Archive] Releases | Ubiquiti Community
Queries:
- [WaybackSave/Archive] UniFi CloudKeys on m1 mac – Google Search
- [WaybackSave/Archive] controlling a unifi wifi access point – Sök på Google
- [WaybackSave/Archive] controlling a unifi wifi access point network application – Sök på Google
- [WaybackSave/Archive] brew install Unifi Network Application – Sök på Google
- [WaybackSave/Archive] “UniFi-Network-Server.dmg” M1 – Search on Google
- [WaybackSave/Archive] unifi network application release history – Google Search
- [Wayback/Archive] “unifi network server” – Sök på Google
--jeroen






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