How to Host an App on IPFS and Filecoin Through Fleek

Fleek can help you publish a website or application to IPFS, but treat IPFS delivery and Filecoin storage as separate jobs. IPFS addresses content by its content identifier (CID); it does not, by itself, guarantee that someone will keep a copy online. Filecoin can be used for storage deals, but a deal is not the same thing as a web server or a guarantee that a browser can load your app directly.

Before you begin, decide what your app needs:

• Static files only: A built front end can usually be published as a set of files.
• A backend: Login, databases, private APIs, server-side rendering or payment processing may need services outside IPFS.
• Durable storage: Decide how you will keep the published files available, and whether you need Filecoin storage in addition to IPFS pinning.

Fleek has been described as a platform for building, hosting and storing sites and apps on IPFS and Filecoin. Its products and integrations can change, so first check that your current Fleek account supports the specific IPFS publishing and Filecoin storage workflow you need. Do not assume that choosing IPFS automatically creates a Filecoin deal.

Prepare a production build before connecting your project to a hosting service. The exact command depends on your framework, so use its production-build instructions and confirm that the output folder contains the files needed to run the app. Common output folders include dist, build or out, but yours may be different.

Check these details locally:

1. Open the build’s main HTML file and confirm its scripts and styles point to files included in the build.
2. Test the build using a local static server, not only the framework’s development mode.
3. Confirm that routes work when opened directly. Some single-page apps need a fallback to the main HTML file; verify how your chosen gateway handles this.
4. Remove development-only settings and private data.
5. Make sure API addresses and other public configuration values are appropriate for production.

Never put passwords, private keys, access tokens or other secrets in client-side code. Files published on IPFS are public to anyone who can obtain them. If the app relies on a server, database or authenticated API, arrange that separately and test its access rules. A successful static build is necessary, but it does not prove that external services will work from an IPFS-hosted front end.

Sign in to Fleek and create a project using its current site or app deployment workflow. Fleek’s interface and supported integrations may change; follow the options shown in your account rather than relying on an old walkthrough. You will generally need to tell the service where the project files come from and how to produce the deployable build.

If you connect a code repository, review the permissions requested and grant only what is needed. Choose the correct production branch, build command and output directory. If you upload a prepared build instead, verify that you are selecting the final output files rather than the source code folder. Keep a record of the repository commit or build version used for each release.

Before confirming a deployment, check the project’s destination and any selected storage or network options. If you want Filecoin storage, look for an explicit Filecoin deal or storage setting and read its terms, including duration, renewal and charges. If Fleek does not offer that option in your account, you may need a separate storage provider or workflow. Do not interpret a successful IPFS deployment as proof that a Filecoin deal was created.

Start with a test deployment and open the resulting IPFS address through a compatible gateway. Fleek may present a CID or another way to access the published content; save the CID somewhere outside the dashboard. It identifies that particular version of the files, so it is useful for verification and recovery if you later change a deployment.

Check the app as a visitor would:

• Does the home page load without relying on a logged-in Fleek session?
• Do images, fonts and scripts load, or are some paths still tied to your local machine or development server?
• Do page refreshes and direct links to app routes work?
• Do forms, APIs and wallet connections behave as expected?
• Does the browser console show missing files or blocked requests?

A gateway is a way to retrieve IPFS content over the web; it is not the content itself. Gateways can differ in availability, caching and behavior. Test through more than one route if your app is important, and keep the CID even if you plan to use a Fleek-provided address. Fix problems in the build, then publish a corrected version rather than assuming a gateway issue will resolve them.

If your aim includes Filecoin, verify the storage arrangement separately from the public IPFS address. Check whether Fleek offers a Filecoin option for your project and what that option actually covers. In particular, look for the data included, the storage period, renewal or retrieval terms, payment requirements and what happens if a deal expires or is not renewed.

A Filecoin storage deal concerns storing data with a provider; it does not necessarily provide the fast, continuous delivery that a website visitor expects. Your app may also need IPFS pinning or another retrieval and availability plan. Confirm how the stored files are associated with their CID and how you can retrieve them if you stop using Fleek.

Before relying on a deal, make a small test with non-sensitive files. Check that the data can be retrieved and that you understand any steps needed to renew or replace the deal. Keep a local copy of the build and the deployment record. Fleek does not publish a price in the information covered by this guide, so check the current account pricing and storage terms before committing; include any separate provider charges in your budget.

A custom domain is optional. It can give visitors a familiar address, but it does not replace the CID or ensure that the content is stored. If you want one, first confirm that Fleek currently supports the domain setup you need and follow its displayed DNS instructions. DNS changes can take time to appear consistently, so avoid switching a live domain until the IPFS deployment works at its direct address.

Use this order:

1. Publish and test the app using its IPFS address.
2. Add the domain in the hosting service and copy the exact DNS records it requests.
3. Enter those records at your domain registrar or DNS provider, checking for conflicting old records.
4. Wait for the domain to resolve, then test it on desktop and mobile and from another network.
5. Keep a note of the CID and the DNS settings you changed.

If you use a content-addressed domain arrangement, understand how it resolves the CID and how updates are handled before relying on it. A conventional domain can point visitors toward content, but domain control and gateway access remain separate dependencies. Keep access to your registrar account secure and do not share its credentials with anyone offering to “fix” a deployment.

Treat every published build as a public release. Review the files before deployment for secrets, personal information, private configuration and test data. Client-side code can be inspected, even if visitors reach it through a gateway rather than a conventional web host. Use server-side controls for information or actions that should not be public.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Expecting IPFS to run a backend: Host databases, private APIs and server-side functions separately.
• Assuming Filecoin is automatic: Confirm an actual storage option or deal, its duration and its cost.
• Keeping only a dashboard copy: Retain the source, build instructions and a copy of each release.
• Forgetting that updates change the CID: Publish and test the new version, then update any domain or links that need to point to it.
• Ignoring gateways: A gateway can be unavailable or slow even when the content exists on IPFS. Keep another retrieval path where practical.
• Publishing secrets: Remove them from the build and rotate any credential that was accidentally exposed.

Check your Fleek account and any storage provider for current charges before launch. Hosting, storage, bandwidth, domains and renewals may be billed separately. Prices and included features can change, so confirm the terms for your own deployment rather than budgeting from an old guide.

After launch, keep a release record containing the source revision, build settings, CID, domain changes and any Filecoin storage details. This makes it easier to identify which version visitors are seeing and to restore or republish the app. Recheck the live site after framework updates, dependency changes and DNS edits.

When you make an update, build and test it again, then publish the new files. Because content addressing reflects the content, a changed build generally has a new CID. Confirm that the new version works before directing a production domain or users to it. If the deployment service supports automatic builds, review which branch triggers publication and who can change that branch.

For important apps, do not rely on one access path. Keep a separate copy of the build, know how to retrieve the stored data, and periodically verify that your chosen pinning or storage arrangement remains active. Check Filecoin deal status and renewal requirements if you use a deal. A domain, gateway, hosting dashboard and storage provider are distinct parts of the setup; a problem with one can affect visitors even if the others still work.