Configure Kestra – Settings, Environments, and Defaults
Use this page when you need to know where Kestra configuration is defined, how it is overridden, and which part of the config tree controls a given capability.
Where Kestra configuration lives
Kestra configuration is YAML-based, but the place you edit it depends on how you run Kestra.
| Deployment style | Where you usually edit configuration |
|---|---|
| Local Docker or Docker Compose | The KESTRA_CONFIGURATION environment variable or your docker-compose.yml |
| Kubernetes | Your Helm values or rendered manifests |
| VM or standalone server | A YAML config file plus environment variables such as JAVA_OPTS or KESTRA_* |
| Managed or shared environments | A checked-in deployment config, then environment-specific overrides through environment variables or platform secrets |
Environment variables override file-based configuration, so many teams keep a shared base config in YAML and inject deployment-specific values at runtime.
Start here
- Use Configuration Basics to understand config sources, overrides, environment variable conversion, and the minimal setup required to boot Kestra.
- Use Runtime and Storage for repository, queue, datasource, storage, server, and JVM settings.
- Use Observability and Networking for telemetry, logs, metrics, Micronaut, endpoints, and webserver behavior.
- Use Plugins and Execution for plugin installation, plugin defaults, retries, tasks, system flows, templates, and file access.
- Use Security and Secrets for encryption, secret backends, auth-related security settings, and server hardening.
- Use Enterprise and Advanced Features for EE license settings, Elasticsearch, Kafka, indexer, AI Copilot, and air-gapped deployments.
Common tasks
| If you need to… | Start here |
|---|---|
| Find the file or deployment surface where config is edited | Configuration Basics |
| Configure queue, repository, datasource, storage, or server settings | Runtime and Storage |
| Tune logs, metrics, telemetry, endpoints, CORS, SSL, or UI web settings | Observability and Networking |
| Configure plugin defaults, task temp storage, retries, or local flow sync | Plugins and Execution |
| Set up encryption, secret backends, RBAC-adjacent security, or server auth | Security and Secrets |
| Configure Enterprise-only platform services such as Kafka, Elasticsearch, AI Copilot, or air-gapped operation | Enterprise and Advanced Features |
Browse configuration docs
Kestra Configuration Basics – Where to Edit Config and How Overrides Work
Learn where Kestra configuration is defined, how YAML and environment variables interact, and what minimal settings are needed to start a Kestra instance.
Kestra Runtime and Storage Configuration
Configure Kestra's repository, queue, datasource, internal storage, server runtime, JVM behavior, environment settings, and variables.
Kestra Observability and Networking Configuration
Configure telemetry, logs, metrics, Micronaut settings, endpoints, SSL, CORS, and webserver behavior in Kestra.
Kestra Plugins and Execution Configuration
Configure plugin installation, plugin defaults, feature flags, retries, task settings, system flows, templates, and execution-related behavior in Kestra.
Kestra Security and Secrets Configuration
Configure encryption, secret backends, auth-related security settings, RBAC-adjacent platform security, and secure server behavior in Kestra.
Kestra Enterprise and Advanced Configuration
Configure Enterprise-only and advanced Kestra settings including licenses, Elasticsearch, Kafka, indexer behavior, UI custom links, AI Copilot, and air-gapped deployments.
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