📂 From Alist to Openlist: Migrating to a Safer, Transparent Cloud Drive Manager

By | August 9, 2025
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In 2025, the popular open-source cloud drive aggregator Alist faced a major trust crisis after being secretly acquired by a commercial company. Openlist, a clean, community-driven alternative, is quickly emerging as the safer and more reliable choice for users who value transparency and data control.

🚨 The Current Crisis with Alist

Once loved by the open-source community, Alist’s reputation took a hit after recent developments:

  1. Lack of Transparency – Secretly acquired in April 2025 by “Guizhou Buguo Technology,” with a quiet domain name change and no public announcement.
  2. Security Concerns – Users discovered malicious data collection code in new releases; the acquiring company has a history of backdoor implants.
  3. Open Source Commitment at Risk – Key features now depend on proprietary APIs, increasing the risk of service disruptions.

Security Tip: Existing Alist users should stop updating immediately to avoid exposure to compromised versions.

🌟 Openlist: A Clean, Open-Source Alternative

Founded by Alist’s original core contributors, Openlist retains all the essential features of Alist but removes commercial contamination entirely:

  • ✅ Security Hardened – Malicious code removed after full audit; open API system rebuilt.
  • ♻️ Seamless Compatibility – Supports 40+ cloud drives (Aliyun Drive, Baidu Netdisk, OneDrive, etc.).
  • 🌍 Community-Driven – Licensed under AGPL-3.0; all commits undergo community review.
  • 🚀 Active Development – Stable v4.0 released; community activity continues to grow.

Key Advantage: Zero-cost migration—simply import your Alist configuration, and all mounts remain intact.

🖥️ Full Windows Deployment Guide

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

# Extract the ZIP
Expand-Archive -Path "openlist.zip" -DestinationPath .
2. Method 1: Run Executable (Best for Beginners)
  1. Extract the ZIP file.
  2. Start the server in PowerShell: 
    .\openlist.exe server
  3. Retrieve the initial password: 
    Get-Content .\data\log\log.log | Select-String "password"
  4. Visit http://localhost:5244 to log in.
3. Method 2: Docker Deployment (Recommended for Long-Term Use)
# Create data directory
mkdir C:\openlist_data

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

# Retrieve password
docker logs openlist | Select-String "password"
4. Method 3: Cloud Hosting (No Local Server Required)
  1. Register at ClawCloud.
  2. Create an app:
    • Image: openlistteam/openlist:beta
    • Port: 5244
    • Enable Public Address
  3. Retrieve access info and password from logs.
5. Method 4: Compile from Source (For Developers)
# Install dependencies
choco install git golang nodejs -y

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

# Build frontend
npm install
npm run build

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

# Run server
.\openlist.exe server

⚙️ Configuration & Usage Tips

Basic Configuration (data/config.json)
{
  "port": 5244,
  "scheme": {
    "https": false
  },
  "storages": [{
    "mount_path": "/alist",
    "driver": "Local",
    "path": "D:\cloud_storage"
  }]
}
Migration from Alist
  1. Stop the Alist service.
  2. Copy the data folder from Alist to the Openlist data directory.
  3. Start Openlist—your settings will be auto-applied.
Advanced Use Cases
  • Media Center – Use WebDAV (http://localhost:5244/dav) with PotPlayer or Infuse.
  • Remote Access – Set up HTTPS via Nginx reverse proxy.
  • Team Sharing – Enable multi-user permission management.

🔧 Maintenance & Optimization

Auto-Start on Windows

Place a shortcut to Openlist in: 

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Run as Windows Service (Using NSSM)
Invoke-WebRequest https://nssm.cc/release/nssm-2.24.zip -OutFile nssm.zip
Expand-Archive nssm.zip

.ssm.exe install Openlist "C:\path  o\openlist.exe" server
Common Issues
Problem Solution
Port Conflict Use netstat -ano to check and free the port.
Firewall Block New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Openlist" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 5244 -Protocol TCP -Action Allow
Data Missing Check storage path permissions and config file.
Login Failure Delete data/users.json to reset the password.

📦 Ecosystem Integration Ideas

  1. Media Playback – Pair with VidHub or Infuse.
  2. File Search – Use CloudSaver for cross-drive search.
  3. Mobile Access – Connect via RaiDrive mobile app.
  4. Auto-Sync – Use FreeFileSync for two-way sync.

🏁 Conclusion: Back to Open Source Roots

Alist’s commercial pivot seems irreversible. Openlist’s rise shows the strength of community-driven open source:

  • For Casual Users: Use prebuilt binaries or Docker.
  • For Developers: Contribute to the community.
  • For Enterprises: Consider private deployment for full control.

The true value of open source lies in transparency and collective trust. Openlist’s code is fully public on GitHub, making every user a potential auditor and contributor. In an age where data privacy is critical, choosing truly open tools means taking back control over your data.

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