Migrate to/from Nextcloud (Self-Hosted) via WebDAV

What is Nextcloud?

Nextcloud is the open-source, self-hosted alternative to Dropbox / Google Drive / OneDrive — installed by over 400,000 organizations and 25 million end-users, including the German federal government, the French government, and the EU Parliament's internal collaboration platform. Where commercial cloud means trusting someone else's servers, Nextcloud puts your data on hardware you own (or rent) — running on a PHP application stack against MySQL/MariaDB/PostgreSQL, with file storage on local disk, S3-compatible object storage, or any networked filesystem. The Nextcloud Hub bundles file sync, calendar, contacts, video calls (Talk), email, and a full collaborative-document suite (Office, Whiteboard, Forms) — all under your administrative control with no per-user cloud fees beyond your hosting bill.

Self-hosted means self-defined limits — Nextcloud's per-file upload cap depends entirely on your php.ini configuration: 2 MB by default, configurable up to whatever your filesystem allows (commonly 16 GB or higher with chunked uploads). The Nextcloud sync client and web interface use chunked uploads (default 10 MB chunks) which bypass PHP's upload_max_filesize limit; non-chunking clients are capped at 1 GiB by default. CloudsLinker connects via standard WebDAV with one important caveat: if 2FA is enabled on your Nextcloud account, you cannot use your regular login password — you must generate an app-specific password from Settings → Security → Devices & sessions. This is the single most common misconfiguration when integrating third-party tools with Nextcloud.

Key features of Nextcloud

Self-hosted = you set the rules

Nextcloud runs on your hardware (or VPS). You control storage capacity, file size limits, encryption-at-rest, and retention. CloudsLinker works regardless of your specific deployment topology.

Default upload: 2 MB → configurable

Default PHP upload limit is just 2 MB. Raise <code>upload_max_filesize</code> and <code>post_max_size</code> in <code>php.ini</code> to support larger files (commonly 16 GB+); if behind nginx, also set <code>client_max_body_size</code>.

Chunked uploads: 10 MB

The Nextcloud sync client and web UI use 10 MB chunks to bypass PHP upload limits — files are reassembled server-side. Non-chunking WebDAV clients hit the 1 GiB cap.

App passwords for 2FA

If you have 2FA enabled, WebDAV requires an app-specific password generated from Personal Settings → Security. Regular login password fails on WebDAV — this is the most common third-party-tool integration error.

Hub features beyond files

Nextcloud Hub bundles Calendar, Contacts, Talk (video calls), Mail, Office (collaborative editing), Whiteboard, Forms — all under one admin pane. CloudsLinker handles only the Files surface.

GDPR-aligned by hosting choice

Hosting Nextcloud on EU infrastructure (or your own datacenter) keeps data under your jurisdiction. Common in German government, French Parliament, and Swiss legal environments.

Why connect Nextcloud to CloudsLinker

CloudsLinker connects to Nextcloud via WebDAV using your Nextcloud server URL (e.g. https://cloud.example.com/remote.php/dav/files/yourusername/), your username, and either your password (no 2FA) or an app password (if 2FA is enabled). Once connected, transfers run server-to-server using WebDAV PUT/GET — no local download, no bandwidth on your side. The connector works against any Nextcloud Hub version (currently Hub 8 / 28+), including the home-server NextcloudPi and enterprise-grade clusters with Redis caching and Object Storage backends.

What you can do with Nextcloud on CloudsLinker

WebDAV-based transfers

Migrate from Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or S3 into your Nextcloud instance via the standard WebDAV API. Works against any Nextcloud Hub version.

Runs on our servers

Nextcloud transfers execute on CloudsLinker infrastructure. Useful when your home or office uplink to a self-hosted Nextcloud is slow.

Scheduled & incremental sync

Hourly / daily / weekly schedules with delta mode — keep an off-site cloud bucket mirrored to your self-hosted Nextcloud, or vice versa.

Filter by folder, type, size

Migrate only specific Nextcloud folders, skip files larger than your <code>php.ini</code> upload limit, or sync just office documents.

Common Nextcloud transfer scenarios

Off-site cloud backup of self-hosted Nextcloud to S3 / Wasabi / B2

Nextcloud has built-in S3-compatible Object Storage as a primary backend, but for true off-site DR you still need a second cloud independent of your hosting provider. Schedule a CloudsLinker nightly incremental from Nextcloud to Wasabi ($6.99/TB) or B2 ($6/TB) with Object Lock immutability. A 2 TB Nextcloud instance costs ~$15/month to mirror to off-site for ransomware-resistant backup.

Migrate Google Drive / OneDrive / Dropbox → Nextcloud (de-Google migration)

Many privacy-conscious users and EU public-sector teams migrate away from US-controlled clouds toward self-hosted Nextcloud. CloudsLinker copies entire user OneDrive / Google Drive content into a Nextcloud user account preserving folder hierarchy and modification times — the typical migration weekend that historically required local rsync of 100s of GB.

Hybrid cloud: keep working data on Nextcloud, archive to cheap object storage

Self-hosted Nextcloud often runs on relatively expensive local storage (NVMe RAID for speed). Use CloudsLinker filters to tier cold content (modified > 12 months ago) to IDrive e2 ($4/TB) or Wasabi, freeing up your local Nextcloud capacity for active working data.

Replicate between two Nextcloud instances (HA / DR)

Run a primary Nextcloud at the office and a secondary at a colo / cloud VM. CloudsLinker schedules cross-instance sync — both instances connect via their respective WebDAV URLs and app passwords, with delta sync keeping the secondary current without bandwidth-saturating both ends.

Government / regulated industry: enforce EU jurisdiction end-to-end

EU regulated teams (healthcare, government, legal) sometimes use Nextcloud as their primary collaboration platform precisely to keep data under EU jurisdiction. CloudsLinker integrates Nextcloud with EU-only object stores (Scaleway, Hetzner, IONOS) for backup that never leaves EU borders end-to-end.

How to connect Nextcloud to CloudsLinker

Nextcloud uses WebDAV authentication — URL + username + password. If 2FA is enabled, you must use an app-specific password instead of your login password.

Before you start

If 2FA is enabled on your Nextcloud account, generate an app password first:

Sign in to your Nextcloud at https://<your-domain> with your normal credentials and 2FA.
Click your avatar (top right) → Personal Settings.
Go to Security in the left sidebar.
Scroll to Devices & sessions → enter a name (e.g. cloudslinker) → click Create new app password.
Nextcloud displays the generated app password once. Copy it.

If you don’t have 2FA enabled, you can use your regular login password — but creating an app password is still recommended (revocable individually without changing your main password).

Connection steps

In CloudsLinker, click Add Cloud → choose Nextcloud (or generic WebDAV for non-Nextcloud servers).
Enter a display name (e.g. “Nextcloud — self-hosted”).
Enter the WebDAV URL in this format: https://<your-nextcloud-domain>/remote.php/dav/files/<username>/
- Replace <your-nextcloud-domain> with your public Nextcloud URL (HTTPS required for production).
- Replace <username> with the Nextcloud login (case-sensitive).
Enter the username (same as the URL placeholder).
Enter the app password from step 5 above (or your regular password if no 2FA).
Click Confirm — CloudsLinker validates with a PROPFIND request and shows the connection ready.

Self-hosted prerequisites

For uploads larger than 2 MB, ensure your Nextcloud server has:

php_value upload_max_filesize 16G and php_value post_max_size 16G in php.ini
client_max_body_size 16G in nginx (if applicable)
php_value max_input_time 3600 and max_execution_time 3600 for slow uploads

Revoke access

To revoke CloudsLinker’s app password later: Nextcloud → Personal Settings → Security → Devices & sessions → find the entry → click the trash icon. The app password becomes immediately invalid.

Nextcloud upload & download limits you should know

Nextcloud is self-hosted, so most “limits” are configurable — the defaults are conservative to prevent server resource exhaustion:

Default PHP upload limit: 2 MB out of the box. Most production deployments raise this to 16 GB or higher.
Default Nextcloud non-chunking-client cap: 1 GiB.
Sync client chunked upload size: 10 MB chunks by default, allowing arbitrarily large file uploads regardless of PHP upload_max_filesize.
Storage capacity: whatever you provision — local disk, RAID array, S3-compatible object storage, NFS, SMB. No software-imposed cap.
WebDAV authentication: username + password. If 2FA enabled, app-specific password required (regular password fails).
Bandwidth: unlimited by default; configurable per-user via Files Access Control or Quota apps.
Per-user quota: configurable by admin (default unlimited); enforced via Files app.
Trash retention: default 30 days, configurable.
Version history: enabled by default; configurable retention via Versions app.
API rate limits: Nextcloud applies brute-force protection on auth endpoints; otherwise no per-user rate limiting by default.
End-to-End Encryption: optional via the E2EE app — encrypts files such that only client devices can decrypt. Not readable via standard WebDAV.

Sources: Nextcloud Admin Manual: Big file uploads, Nextcloud User Manual: Large file uploads, Nextcloud Admin Manual: WebDAV, Nextcloud Community: WebDAV with 2FA.

Nextcloud + CloudsLinker — Frequently Asked Questions

Why does WebDAV fail with my Nextcloud password?

Almost always because 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) is enabled on the account. WebDAV does not support TOTP prompts during HTTP basic auth — Nextcloud blocks regular-password authentication on WebDAV when 2FA is active. Solution: generate an app password from Personal Settings → Security → Devices & sessions, and use that as your password in CloudsLinker.

What's the maximum file size I can upload?

Depends on your Nextcloud configuration. Default PHP: 2 MB. Default Nextcloud non-chunked client: 1 GiB. With proper php.ini tuning (upload_max_filesize + post_max_size raised to e.g. 16 GB) and chunked uploads: effectively unlimited within filesystem constraints. CloudsLinker uses chunked uploads where supported to bypass PHP limits.

What WebDAV URL format does Nextcloud use?

https://<your-nextcloud-domain>/remote.php/dav/files/<username>/. Replace <your-nextcloud-domain> with your server's public URL (must be HTTPS for production) and <username> with your Nextcloud login. The path after /files/ is your personal user space.

Are my Nextcloud credentials safe with CloudsLinker?

Yes. Username + app password are encrypted at rest with AES-256 and decrypted only inside the active transfer worker. We strongly recommend using an app password (revocable from Nextcloud Settings) rather than your main login password — even if you don't have 2FA enabled. App passwords can be revoked individually without affecting your main password.

Does CloudsLinker support External Storage backends mounted on Nextcloud?

Yes — External Storage mounts (S3, SMB, FTP, WebDAV, etc.) appear as folders inside your Nextcloud user space and are accessed transparently through the same WebDAV API. CloudsLinker reads and writes to them just like local Nextcloud folders, with one caveat: throughput depends on the underlying storage backend's speed.

How fast can CloudsLinker push data into Nextcloud?

Throughput depends on three factors: (1) your Nextcloud server's CPU and disk speed, (2) the network path between CloudsLinker and your server, and (3) your reverse proxy's client_max_body_size. Typical sustained throughput against a modest VPS-hosted Nextcloud is 50–150 GB/day; against a fast bare-metal instance with NVMe, 300–500 GB/day.

Can I migrate from one Nextcloud instance to another?

Yes. Connect each instance as a separate cloud in CloudsLinker (each with its own WebDAV URL + app password). Run a cross-instance copy preserving folder hierarchy and modification times. Useful for moving from a hosted Nextcloud-as-a-Service provider to your own self-hosted instance.

Does CloudsLinker work with the Nextcloud End-to-End Encryption app?

The Nextcloud E2EE app encrypts files such that only your client devices (with the same E2EE recovery key) can read them. CloudsLinker connects via standard WebDAV and cannot decrypt E2EE-encrypted content — only see it as encrypted blobs. For E2EE folders, use the Nextcloud sync client or Talk's file-sharing instead.

What about server-side encryption?

Nextcloud's server-side encryption (the default 'Encryption module') is transparent to WebDAV — files are encrypted at rest on the server but presented decrypted to authenticated WebDAV sessions. CloudsLinker reads the decrypted content; the source server applies its encryption before disk writes.

Is this an official Nextcloud partnership?

No. CloudsLinker is a third-party tool that uses Nextcloud's standard WebDAV API. Revoke access by deleting the app password from Personal Settings → Security in your Nextcloud instance.

Conclusion

Nextcloud is the dominant self-hosted alternative to commercial cloud — open-source, GDPR-compliant by hosting choice, and used by 400,000+ organizations from home labs to government ministries. CloudsLinker bridges your self-hosted Nextcloud to the rest of the cloud ecosystem via standard WebDAV + app password, with chunked-upload support and incremental sync. Connect with your Nextcloud URL + username + app password and run your first migration in minutes.

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