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Needs a static export

How to publish a Next.js site as a static export

Next.js renders on a server by default, so it needs one config change before it can be published as a finished site.

Choosing a host rather than a command? Next.js Hosting and React Hosting cover what they cost and what does not work here.

Build command
npm run build
Folder to upload
out
Upload your out folder How it works

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.droply.id

  1. Build the project

    Run npm run build in the project folder. This is the step Droply does not do for you: we publish finished pages, we never run your build.

  2. Find the output folder

    The build writes a finished site to out. That folder, not the project folder, is what gets uploaded.

  3. Drag it in

    Drop the folder (or a ZIP of it) into Droply. It is live on an HTTPS droply.id subdomain in seconds, and re-uploading publishes a new version at the same URL.

Worth knowing about Next.js

  • Add output: "export" to next.config.js, then build. The static site appears in out, not .next.

  • Anything that runs on the server does not survive the export: API routes, server actions, middleware, on-demand revalidation and dynamic image optimisation.

  • If your app depends on those, it needs a host that runs Node. That is a real answer, not a limitation we can configure around.

Did an AI tool build this project?

  • v0 hosting: Next.js with shadcn/ui. Needs a static export before it can be served as files, and this is the page that says which setting.

Hosting an AI-generated website covers the question that comes before the build command: whether what you are holding is a single file or a project, and which of the two every tool actually hands back.

Frequently asked questions

Does Droply build my Next.js project for me?
No, and it never will. Droply publishes finished static files. Running your build would mean running your dependencies on our servers, which is a different and much riskier product. Build locally or in your existing CI, then upload the result.
Which folder do I upload?
The out folder that npm run build creates, not the project folder. Upload it directly or ZIP it first; both work.
Can I host a server-rendered Next.js app here?
No. Droply serves static files and never runs server code, so anything that renders per request needs a host that runs Node. The static export route above is the way to publish a Next.js project here, and only if the project does not depend on server behaviour.
What happens when I update the site?
Build again and upload again. The new version replaces the old one at the same URL, so a link you have already shared keeps working. The Pro, Business and Enterprise plans keep a version history you can roll back to in one click.
Can I use my own domain?
Yes, on the Pro, Business and Enterprise plans. Point your domain at Droply, and the certificate is issued and renewed automatically.
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