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Install the Bark plugin on your BTCPay Server and set up a Bark wallet for your store.

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Before you start

You need:
  • A self-hosted BTCPay Server on version 2.3.9 or later. Installing plugins requires server admin access, so accounts on third-party hosts won’t work.
  • A store on that server.
You don’t need to set up a Lightning node. If you already have Lightning enabled, the Bark plugin will take over your store’s Lightning functionality once installed.

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Download and install the plugin

The Bark plugin isn’t listed in the BTCPay plugin directory yet, so you install it by uploading the plugin file.
1

Download the plugin file

Download BTCPayServer.Plugins.Bark.btcpay from the plugin’s official page on the BTCPay Plugin Builder website.
Screenshot of the Bark plugin page on the BTCPay Plugin Builder, with the Download button on the right
2

Open Manage Plugins

Sign in to BTCPay Server as a server admin. At the top right of the interface, select the block icon to open the dropdown menu, then select Manage Plugins.
3

Upload the plugin file

Scroll to Upload Plugin at the bottom of the page, below the plugin list. Select Upload Plugin, browse to the .btcpay file you downloaded, then select Upload. The upload can take a few minutes on a slow connection.
Screenshot of the Add plugin manually section at the bottom of the Manage Plugins page, with the file picker and the Upload button
4

Restart BTCPay Server

Restart when prompted. BTCPay Server loads the plugin during startup.

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Set up a Bark wallet for your store

After the restart, your store’s sidebar gains a Bark entry under Wallets. Opening it for the first time takes you to the Set up Bark screen.
Screenshot of the Set up Bark screen, with the plugin toggled on, and the Ark server and chain source fields set to the default values.

The Set up Bark screen, with the payments toggle and the pre-filled Ark server and chain source fields

1

Select Bark in your store's sidebar

2

Keep the Accept Lightning & Ark payments toggle on

You can change this later in the plugin’s settings.
3

Review the Ark server and chain source

Both fields come pre-filled for mainnet: https://ark.second.tech, the Ark server that manages your VTXOs, and https://mempool.second.tech/api, the chain source that verifies on-chain activity. See Ark server and chain source for the available options.
The Ark server and chain source you confirm here can’t be changed later. To move the store to a different Ark server, you would need to remove and reinstall the plugin.
4

Select Confirm & Enable

The plugin checks that both endpoints are reachable, creates a Bark wallet for your store, and opens the wallet dashboard.
The plugin creates and manages your store’s wallet keys on the server. See Back up your wallet to keep them recoverable.

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Lightning is now driven by Bark

Completing setup enables two new payment methods on your store’s checkout, Ark and Lightning:
  • You should see status lights turn green for Lightning and Bark in the sidebar.
  • The Lightning page will show that it is being managed by Bark.
  • Checkout will now start showing a QR code and payment link that combines on-chain, Ark, and Lightning payment methods.