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Deploying Dash Locally and Making It Publicly Accessible via Ngrok

This guide walks you through all the steps to deploy your Dash app locally using Docker and PostgreSQL, and share it publicly using Ngrok.

1. Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • A working Dash app running locally on port 8050
  • Docker installed and the app running inside a container
  • PostgreSQL running on your local Windows machine, accessible to the Dash app

2. Verify Local Deployment

Ensure your Dash app is accessible via your browser at:

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http://localhost:8050

Make sure:

  • The Dash app binds to 0.0.0.0 (not just 127.0.0.1) inside Docker
  • The Docker container can connect to the PostgreSQL database via host.docker.internal

Example Dash app launch code:

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if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run_server(host='0.0.0.0', port=8050, debug=False)

3. Set Up PostgreSQL for Docker Access

3.1 Find Configuration Files

Run this SQL command in pgAdmin or psql to find the path to config files:

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SHOW config_file;
SHOW hba_file;

3.2 Edit postgresql.conf

  • Locate and open postgresql.conf
  • Change:
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listen_addresses = '*'

3.3 Edit pg_hba.conf

  • Open pg_hba.conf
  • Add this line:
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host    all             all             172.17.0.0/16           md5

This allows Docker container IPs to connect

3.4 Restart PostgreSQL Service

  • Open services.msc
  • Find postgresql-x64-14 (or your version)
  • Right-click > Restart

4. Install and Configure Ngrok

4.1 Download Ngrok

4.2 Register for a Free Account

4.3 Authenticate Ngrok

Open PowerShell or CMD in the Ngrok folder and run:

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./ngrok authtoken YOUR_AUTHTOKEN_HERE

5. Expose Dash to the Public

In the same folder, run:

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./ngrok http 8050

You’ll see an output like:

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Forwarding    https://abcd1234.ngrok.io -> http://localhost:8050

Share this HTTPS URL with others—they can now access your Dash app over the internet.

6. Optional: One-Click Startup Script

Create a start_ngrok.bat file with:

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@echo off
cd /d C:\ngrok
ngrok http 8050
pause

Double-click to launch the tunnel easily.

7. Notes and Considerations

  • Free Ngrok tunnels last up to 8 hours
  • Each session creates a new URL unless you upgrade for custom subdomains
  • For production use, consider persistent hosting (e.g., cloud VM + reverse proxy)

You’re now ready to share your Dash app from your local machine with anyone in the world!