Phase 3: Complete the Stalwart setup wizard

On first startup, Stalwart enters bootstrap mode and prints temporary administrator credentials in its logs.

The logs resemble:

Stalwart bootstrap mode - temporary administrator account

username: admin
password: temporary-password

Use those credentials at:

https://mail.example.com/admin

3.1 Server identity

Configure:

Server hostname:
mail.example.com

Default email domain:
example.com

Enable:

Generate email signing keys

Initially disable:

Automatically obtain TLS certificate

Dokploy’s Traefik already manages the public HTTPS certificate. We will later give Stalwart access to that certificate for direct SMTP and IMAP connections.

3.2 Storage

For a lightweight single-server deployment, use the defaults:

Data store: RocksDB
Blob store: default/data store
Search store: default/data store
In-memory store: default/data store

This avoids needing PostgreSQL, Redis, or an external object-storage provider during initial deployment.

3.3 Account directory

Select:

Internal Directory

This lets Stalwart manage users, passwords, aliases, and domains directly.

3.4 Logging

Select:

Console logging

Dokploy and Docker will capture the logs.

3.5 DNS management

Select:

Manual DNS management

Your external DNS provider will remain authoritative.

Stalwart will generate the DNS records that must later be copied manually.

3.6 Save permanent administrator credentials

At the end of the wizard, Stalwart creates a permanent administrator account.

Save the new credentials immediately.

Restart the Stalwart container and log in again using the permanent administrator—not the bootstrap account.