From e38df023ad0ba8b25cf365a4ff9f10530192b6fd Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Outis <outis1@duck.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2026 09:46:14 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] Update README for Docker network and Caddyfile instructions

Clarify instructions for Docker network and Caddyfile snippet placement.
---
 README.md | 23 ++++++++++++++++++++---
 1 file changed, 20 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fc16d57..83d6414 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -72,11 +72,18 @@ docker run --rm authelia/authelia:4.39.20 authelia crypto hash generate argon2 -
 ```
 Paste the output into `users.yml` for each user. Tell users to use "Forgot Password" on first login to set their own.
 
-### 6. Create Docker network
+### 6. Create or verify Docker network
+If Caddy is already running with an existing network, find its name and use that instead:
 ```bash
-docker network create caddy_net
+docker network ls
 ```
 
+If the network doesn't exist yet, create it:
+```bash
+docker network create caddy_net```
+
+Update `DOCKER_MY_NETWORK` in `authelia/.env` to match.
+
 ### 7. Start Authelia
 ```bash
 cd ~/docker/authelia
@@ -87,6 +94,9 @@ docker compose logs -f
 ```
 
 ### 8. Start Caddy
+The `(authelia)` snippet in the Caddyfile **must be at the very top**, before any site blocks.
+This is required for `import authelia` to work in any site block.
+
 ```bash
 cd ~/docker/caddy
 docker compose up -d
@@ -137,7 +147,10 @@ In `authelia/docker-compose.yml` the network name must match your existing Caddy
 Authelia needs to be on the same network as Caddy to be reachable by container name.
 
 ### 3. Add the authelia snippet to your existing Caddyfile
-Add at the top of your Caddyfile (before any site blocks):
+The `(authelia)` snippet **must be at the top of the Caddyfile**, before any site blocks.
+Without it at the top, `import authelia` in site blocks will fail.
+
+Add at the very top:
 ```caddyfile
 (authelia) {
     forward_auth authelia:9091 {
@@ -186,6 +199,10 @@ cd ~/docker/authelia && docker compose up -d
 2. Add user block with hash
 3. Restart Authelia: `docker compose restart authelia`
 4. Tell user to use "Forgot Password" to set their own password
+1. Edit `~/docker/authelia/config/users.yml`
+2. Add user block with hash
+3. Restart Authelia: `docker compose restart authelia`
+4. Tell user to use "Forgot Password" to set their own password
 
 ## Logging in