diff --git a/docs/getting-started/quick-start.md b/docs/getting-started/quick-start.md
index bd79db9..98a164f 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started/quick-start.md
+++ b/docs/getting-started/quick-start.md
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ From the directory containing your `docker-compose.yml`:
 docker compose up -d
 ```
 
-On the first run Docker will pull `rommapp/romm:latest` and `mariadb:latest`, bring up the database, wait for the healthcheck, then bring up the app. Verify everything is running:
+On the first run Docker will pull `rommapp/romm:latest` and `mariadb:latest`, bring up the database, wait for the healthcheck, then bring up the app. If you dropped the `romm-db` service and pointed RomM at a MariaDB or MySQL server you already run, read the [binary logging prerequisite](../install/databases.md#binary-logging-and-trigger-privileges) first, because migrations fail at startup without it. Verify everything is running:
 
 ```sh
 docker ps -f name=romm
diff --git a/docs/install/databases.md b/docs/install/databases.md
index d627ed9..f814533 100644
--- a/docs/install/databases.md
+++ b/docs/install/databases.md
@@ -66,6 +66,41 @@ services:
             retries: 5
 ```
 
+## Binary logging and trigger privileges
+
+RomM's migrations create triggers on the `roms` table. MariaDB and MySQL refuse trigger DDL when binary logging is enabled and the connecting user lacks `SUPER`, so the container aborts during startup with:
+
+```text
+sqlalchemy.exc.OperationalError: (mariadb.OperationalError) You do not have the SUPER
+privilege and binary logging is enabled (you *might* want to use the less safe
+log_bin_trust_function_creators variable)
+ERROR:    [RomM][init] Failed to run database migrations
+```
+
+This mainly affects external or managed database servers, because binary logging is on by default on MySQL 8 and is commonly enabled on hardened or replicated MariaDB instances. The `mariadb:11` container from the reference Compose is not affected out of the box.
+
+Both fixes below have to be applied by an admin or root database user rather than the RomM user. The quickest one sets the global flag, though it is lost when the database restarts:
+
+```sql
+SET GLOBAL log_bin_trust_function_creators = 1;
+```
+
+To make it survive a restart, add it under `[mysqld]` in the server's option file and restart the database (see [Configuring MariaDB with option files](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/configuring-mariadb/configuring-mariadb-with-option-files)). That file is usually `my.cnf`, or `custom.cnf` under `/config` on the linuxserver image:
+
+```cnf
+[mysqld]
+log_bin_trust_function_creators = 1
+```
+
+Alternatively, grant the privilege to the RomM user itself:
+
+```sql
+GRANT BINLOG ADMIN ON *.* TO 'romm-user'@'%';  -- MariaDB 10.5+
+GRANT SUPER ON *.* TO 'romm-user'@'%';         -- older MariaDB, or MySQL
+```
+
+Restart RomM once the change is in place. A migration that failed this way is safe to re-run, so it picks up from wherever it stopped and completes.
+
 ## PostgreSQL
 
 ```yaml
diff --git a/docs/install/unraid.md b/docs/install/unraid.md
index c74bee2..ad67d03 100644
--- a/docs/install/unraid.md
+++ b/docs/install/unraid.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ docker network ls  # confirm `romm` is listed
 
 1. Install MariaDB
 
-From **Apps** → search `mariadb`. Only the [official `mariadb`](https://hub.docker.com/_/mariadb) and [linuxserver/docker-mariadb](https://github.com/linuxserver/docker-mariadb/pkgs/container/mariadb) templates are supported. **Prefer the official one.**
+From **Apps** → search `mariadb`. Only the [official `mariadb`](https://hub.docker.com/_/mariadb) and [linuxserver/docker-mariadb](https://github.com/linuxserver/docker-mariadb/pkgs/container/mariadb) templates are supported. **Prefer the official one.** If you point RomM at an existing MariaDB or MySQL server instead, check the [binary logging prerequisite](databases.md#binary-logging-and-trigger-privileges) before starting the app.
 
 ![community apps search results for MariaDB](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/76f4b6ef-5b63-454f-9357-d2920b9afd0e)
 
diff --git a/docs/troubleshooting/index.md b/docs/troubleshooting/index.md
index 9776abe..18c3150 100644
--- a/docs/troubleshooting/index.md
+++ b/docs/troubleshooting/index.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ description: Diagnose common issues by symptom
 
 - Container crashes immediately → check `docker logs romm`. If it's `invalid host in "tcp://..."` you're on Kubernetes, see [Kubernetes Troubleshooting](kubernetes.md).
 - Database connection errors → verify `DB_HOST`/`DB_PASSWD` match your DB container, and that the DB has finished initialising (first run takes longer than you'd think).
+- `Failed to run database migrations` with `You do not have the SUPER privilege and binary logging is enabled` → your MariaDB/MySQL server needs `log_bin_trust_function_creators = 1`, or the RomM database user needs the privilege granted (see [Databases → Binary logging and trigger privileges](../install/databases.md#binary-logging-and-trigger-privileges)).
 - "Page not found" on first load → wait, because initial migrations and resource seeding take a minute.
 
 ## No Setup Wizard