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FreshRSS on Android with Capy

Capy Reader is a clean, free Android app for reading your FreshRSS news on the go. This page walks you through connecting it.

Capy uses a separate password for connecting to FreshRSS — different from your normal HomeFree password. That's on purpose: a phone is easier to lose than your laptop, so the app password gives Capy only the ability to read your feeds and nothing more. You'll set it up in a moment.

Step 1 — Turn on app access in FreshRSS

On your computer, sign in to FreshRSS (open the FreshRSS tile from your HomeFree dashboard).

  1. Click the wrench icon at the top right → Configuration.
  2. Go to Authentication.
  3. Check the box Allow API access (required for mobile apps).
  4. Click Submit.

Step 2 — Pick a phone password

Still in FreshRSS:

  1. Click the person icon at the top right → Profile.
  2. Find the field labelled API password (sometimes shown as "API password (e.g., for mobile apps)").
  3. Type a new password. Don't reuse your HomeFree login password. A short phrase you can type on a phone keyboard is fine.
  4. Click Submit.

Keep this password handy — you'll type it on your phone in Step 4.

Step 3 — Install Capy

On your Android phone, install Capy Reader from one of:

Both work fine; pick whichever app store you prefer.

Step 4 — Connect Capy to your FreshRSS

Open Capy and add an account:

  1. Tap Add account → FreshRSS.
  2. Server URL: https://freshrss.<your-domain>/api/greader.php (replace <your-domain> with your HomeFree domain).
  3. Username: your normal HomeFree username.
  4. Password: the phone password you set in Step 2 — not your normal HomeFree login.
  5. Tap Sign in.

Capy will sync your feeds. Within a few seconds you'll see the same feeds and unread counts you have on your computer.

Other phones, other apps

Capy is the recommended Android app, but the same setup works for:

  • Reeder on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. (Pick the FreshRSS account type.)
  • FluentReader Lite on Android.
  • NetNewsWire on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Use the same server URL, username, and phone password.

If it doesn't work

  • "Authentication failed." You typed your normal HomeFree password instead of the phone password. Go back to Step 2 in FreshRSS, make sure an API password is set, and use that one in Capy.
  • "Could not connect." Make sure you're connected to the internet, and try typing https://freshrss.<your-domain> into your phone's browser — if that loads, Capy will too.
  • Stories aren't marking as read on my computer too. Pull down to refresh in Capy; the sync should catch up within a few seconds.