FAQ¶
Is Tally single-user or multi-user?
Multi-user. Each account keeps its own subscriptions, categories, payment methods, and settings. The first account inherits any existing data.
I'm logged out every time the container restarts.
You haven't set a fixed SESSION_SECRET, so Tally is using a random
per-process key. Set SESSION_SECRET (e.g. in your .env file). See
Getting started for details.
I can log in, but I'm sent back to the login screen when I navigate.
This happens when a Secure cookie is accessed over HTTP. Tally only
attaches Secure to the cookie when it detects x-forwarded-proto: https,
so it also works over plain HTTP (e.g. a Tailscale IP). If you're using a
reverse proxy, configure it to forward this header over HTTPS.
Email notifications aren't being sent.
Email requires SMTP configuration. Set it up per-user under Settings →
Notifications → Email notifications, or use the server's environment
variables (SMTP_HOST, etc.) as a fallback. If neither is set, email is
skipped. See Notifications for details.
Can I see payment dates in a calendar app?
Yes. Issue a feed URL under Settings → iCal calendar integration and subscribe to it from Google, Apple, or other calendar apps. See Features for details.
Are there automatic backups?
Yes. SQLite is backed up safely on a regular schedule (enabled by default,
stored in backups/ inside the volume). Adjust the interval and retention
count with the BACKUP_* environment variables, and you can also run a
manual backup from Settings → Backup. See Self-hosting
for details.
Is there a mobile app?
Tally is a PWA, so you can install it like an app using your browser's "Add to Home Screen" option (push notifications are not used).
How do I stop other people from signing up?
After creating your own account, set DISABLE_REGISTRATION=1 and restart.
The first account can always be created, for initial setup.
It says it can't connect to Docker (Colima).
If you're using Colima, start it with colima start (or
brew services start colima if you want it to start automatically), then
run docker compose up -d.
Where is data stored?
By default, everything is in a single SQLite file (/data/tally.db inside
the container) within the tally-data volume. Back it up by copying this
file. To place it on a different host directory, such as external storage,
set TALLY_DATA_DIR in .env (see Self-hosting).
How do I change the language?
Choose it at sign-up, or change it later under Settings → Language. It's saved per user, and the default categories / payment methods are initialized in that language.