How to Deploy a Next.js App on Ubuntu with Nginx and PM2 (2026 Production Guide)

What We Are Setting Up

• Ubuntu VPS (20.04 or 22.04 recommended)
• Node.js installed
• Next.js production build running on a port
• PM2 managing the Node process
• Nginx reverse proxy forwarding traffic to the app

This structure ensures your app runs continuously and automatically restarts if it crashes.

Step 1: Connect to Your Ubuntu Server

Use SSH to access your server:

ssh username@your_server_ip

Update system packages:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Node.js

Install Node.js using NodeSource:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

Verify installation:

node -v
npm -v

Step 3: Upload Your Next.js Project

You can either clone from GitHub:

git clone https://github.com/your-repo/project.git
cd project

Or upload files manually using SFTP.

Install dependencies:

npm install

Step 4: Create Production Build

npm run build

Test locally on server:

npm start

By default, it runs on port 3000.

Step 5: Install and Configure PM2

Install PM2 globally:

sudo npm install -g pm2

Start your app with PM2:

pm2 start npm --name "nextjs-app" -- start

Check running processes:

pm2 list

Enable auto start on reboot:

pm2 startup
pm2 save

Now your app will restart automatically if the server reboots.

Step 6: Install Nginx

sudo apt install nginx -y

Allow firewall:

sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'

Step 7: Configure Nginx as Reverse Proxy

Create a new config file:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/yourdomain

Add this configuration:

server {
    server_name yourdomain.com www.yourdomain.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
    }
}

Enable the config:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/yourdomain /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

Test Nginx:

sudo nginx -t

Restart Nginx:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Step 8: Point Domain to Server

Update your domain’s DNS A record to point to your VPS IP address. Once propagated, your domain should load the Next.js application.

Production Best Practices

Use Environment Variables

Store sensitive values in a .env file and never commit it to GitHub.

Enable SSL

Use Certbot to generate a free SSL certificate for HTTPS.

Enable Gzip in Nginx

Improves performance by compressing responses.

Monitor Logs

pm2 logs

Check Nginx logs if needed:

sudo tail -f /var/log/nginx/error.log

Common Deployment Mistakes

• Forgetting to run npm run build
• Wrong port in Nginx proxy_pass
• DNS not properly configured
• Firewall blocking traffic

Final Thoughts

This deployment structure is simple, scalable, and reliable. Nginx handles incoming traffic efficiently, while PM2 ensures your Node process stays alive.

Once you understand this flow, deploying any future Next.js application becomes straightforward. Focus on clean builds, proper environment handling, and server security for long-term stability.