diff --git a/README.MD b/README.MD
index 0440a3c..b335043 100644
--- a/README.MD
+++ b/README.MD
@@ -254,6 +254,10 @@ docker-compose logs -f
 2. 部署完成后访问 `/admin`，使用 Zeabur 环境变量/模板指引中的 `DS2API_ADMIN_KEY` 登录。
 3. 在管理台导入/编辑配置（会写入并持久化到 `/data/config.json`）。
 
+Zeabur 首次空卷启动时可以没有 `/data/config.json`；DS2API 会先使用空的文件模式配置启动，并在管理台首次保存时创建该文件。
+
+不依赖模板手动部署时，在 Zeabur 中选择 GitHub 仓库服务，Root Directory 保持 `/`，使用仓库根目录 `Dockerfile` 构建；添加持久卷 `/data`，设置 `PORT=5001`、`DS2API_ADMIN_KEY=你的强密钥`、`DS2API_CONFIG_PATH=/data/config.json`，然后暴露 HTTP 端口 `5001`。更完整步骤见 [docs/DEPLOY.md](docs/DEPLOY.md#不使用模板手动部署)。
+
 说明：Zeabur 使用仓库内 `Dockerfile` 直接构建时，不需要额外传入 `BUILD_VERSION`；镜像会优先读取该构建参数，未提供时自动回退到仓库根目录的 `VERSION` 文件。
 
 ### 方式三：Vercel 部署
diff --git a/README.en.md b/README.en.md
index 609acd8..1376767 100644
--- a/README.en.md
+++ b/README.en.md
@@ -243,6 +243,10 @@ Rebuild after updates: `docker-compose up -d --build`
 2. After deployment, open `/admin` and login with `DS2API_ADMIN_KEY` shown in Zeabur env/template instructions.
 3. Import / edit config in Admin UI (it will be written and persisted to `/data/config.json`).
 
+Fresh Zeabur volumes can start without `/data/config.json`; DS2API will boot with an empty file-backed config and create the file on the first Admin UI save.
+
+For manual deployment without the template, create a Zeabur GitHub service, keep Root Directory as `/`, build with the repo-root `Dockerfile`, mount a persistent volume at `/data`, set `PORT=5001`, `DS2API_ADMIN_KEY=your-strong-secret`, and `DS2API_CONFIG_PATH=/data/config.json`, then expose HTTP port `5001`. See [docs/DEPLOY.en.md](docs/DEPLOY.en.md#manual-deployment-without-the-template) for the full guide.
+
 Note: when Zeabur builds directly from the repo `Dockerfile`, you do not need to pass `BUILD_VERSION`. The image prefers that build arg when provided, and automatically falls back to the repo-root `VERSION` file when it is absent.
 
 ### Option 3: Vercel
diff --git a/docs/DEPLOY.en.md b/docs/DEPLOY.en.md
index 4c1df13..d082326 100644
--- a/docs/DEPLOY.en.md
+++ b/docs/DEPLOY.en.md
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ This repo includes a `zeabur.yaml` template for one-click deployment on Zeabur:
 Notes:
 
 - **Port**: DS2API listens on `5001` by default; the template sets `PORT=5001`.
-- **Persistent config**: the template mounts `/data` and sets `DS2API_CONFIG_PATH=/data/config.json`. After importing config in Admin UI, it will be written and persisted to this path.
+- **Persistent config**: the template mounts `/data` and sets `DS2API_CONFIG_PATH=/data/config.json`. On a fresh volume, DS2API starts with an empty file-backed config; after importing config in Admin UI, it will be written and persisted to this path.
 - **`open /app/config.json: permission denied`**: this means the instance is trying to persist runtime tokens to a read-only path (commonly `/app` inside the image).  
   Recommended handling:
   1. Set a writable path explicitly: `DS2API_CONFIG_PATH=/data/config.json` (and mount a persistent volume at `/data`);
@@ -205,6 +205,37 @@ Notes:
 - **Build version**: Zeabur / regular `docker build` does not require `BUILD_VERSION` by default. The image prefers that build arg when provided, and automatically falls back to the repo-root `VERSION` file when it is absent.
 - **First login**: after deployment, open `/admin` and login with `DS2API_ADMIN_KEY` shown in Zeabur env/template instructions (recommended: rotate to a strong secret after first login).
 
+#### Manual Deployment Without The Template
+
+If you do not want to use the `zeabur.yaml` one-click template, deploy directly from the repo root with Zeabur's GitHub integration:
+
+1. Fork this repo, or push the code to your own GitHub repository.
+2. In Zeabur Dashboard, create a Project, add a Service, then choose a GitHub/Git repository source.
+3. Select the repository and branch. Keep Root Directory as `/`.
+4. Use the Dockerfile build path. Zeabur auto-detects the repo-root `Dockerfile`; do not set `ZBPACK_IGNORE_DOCKERFILE=true`. If the UI asks for a Dockerfile name, enter `Dockerfile`.
+5. Add a persistent volume in the Service settings and mount it at `/data`.
+6. Configure environment variables:
+
+| Variable | Recommended value | Description |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `PORT` | `5001` | Service listen port; keep it aligned with the exposed Zeabur HTTP port. |
+| `DS2API_ADMIN_KEY` | Strong random string | Required admin login key. |
+| `DS2API_CONFIG_PATH` | `/data/config.json` | Recommended persistent config path. |
+| `LOG_LEVEL` | `INFO` | Optional log level. |
+| `DS2API_CONFIG_JSON` | Raw JSON or Base64 JSON | Optional config bootstrap from env. |
+| `DS2API_ENV_WRITEBACK` | `1` | Optional; enable only when using `DS2API_CONFIG_JSON` and you want the initial config written to `/data/config.json`. |
+
+7. Expose HTTP port `5001`. The health check path can be `/healthz`.
+8. After deployment, open `/admin`, login with `DS2API_ADMIN_KEY`, then import or edit config in Admin UI. A fresh volume does not need `/data/config.json` up front; the service boots first and creates the file on the first save.
+
+Troubleshooting:
+
+- **Startup log says `open /data/config.json: no such file or directory`**: make sure you deployed a version that includes the fresh-volume bootstrap fix, then redeploy the latest code.
+- **`open /app/config.json: permission denied`**: the config path still points at the read-only image directory; mount `/data` and set `DS2API_CONFIG_PATH=/data/config.json`.
+- **Config disappears after restart**: check that the `/data` persistent volume is mounted on this service. If you use `DS2API_CONFIG_JSON` but want Admin UI saves persisted, enable `DS2API_ENV_WRITEBACK=1`.
+
+References: Zeabur's official [GitHub/Git integration](https://zeabur.com/docs/en-US/deploy/github), [Dockerfile deployment](https://zeabur.com/docs/en-US/deploy/dockerfile), and [Volumes](https://zeabur.com/docs/data-management/volumes) docs.
+
 ---
 
 ## 3. Vercel Deployment
diff --git a/docs/DEPLOY.md b/docs/DEPLOY.md
index 47dfd4b..3faaf95 100644
--- a/docs/DEPLOY.md
+++ b/docs/DEPLOY.md
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ healthcheck:
 部署要点：
 
 - **端口**：服务默认监听 `5001`，模板会固定设置 `PORT=5001`。
-- **配置持久化**：模板挂载卷 `/data`，并设置 `DS2API_CONFIG_PATH=/data/config.json`；在管理台导入配置后，会写入并持久化到该路径。
+- **配置持久化**：模板挂载卷 `/data`，并设置 `DS2API_CONFIG_PATH=/data/config.json`；首次空卷启动时会先使用空的文件模式配置，在管理台导入配置后，会写入并持久化到该路径。
 - **`open /app/config.json: permission denied`**：说明当前实例在尝试把运行时 token 持久化到只读路径（常见于镜像内 `/app`）。  
   处理建议：
   1. 显式设置可写路径：`DS2API_CONFIG_PATH=/data/config.json`（并挂载持久卷到 `/data`）；  
@@ -205,6 +205,37 @@ healthcheck:
 - **构建版本号**：Zeabur / 普通 `docker build` 默认不需要传 `BUILD_VERSION`；镜像会优先使用该构建参数，未提供时自动回退到仓库根目录的 `VERSION` 文件。
 - **首次登录**：部署完成后访问 `/admin`，使用 Zeabur 环境变量/模板指引中的 `DS2API_ADMIN_KEY` 登录（建议首次登录后自行更换为强密码）。
 
+#### 不使用模板手动部署
+
+如果你不想使用 `zeabur.yaml` 一键模板，可以直接用 Zeabur 的 GitHub 集成从仓库根目录构建：
+
+1. Fork 本仓库，或把代码推送到你自己的 GitHub 仓库。
+2. 在 Zeabur Dashboard 中创建 Project，然后添加 Service，选择 GitHub/Git 仓库来源。
+3. 选择仓库与分支，Root Directory 保持 `/`。
+4. 构建方式使用 Dockerfile。Zeabur 会自动检测仓库根目录的 `Dockerfile`；不要设置 `ZBPACK_IGNORE_DOCKERFILE=true`。如果界面要求填写 Dockerfile 名称，填写 `Dockerfile`。
+5. 在 Service 配置中添加持久卷，挂载目录填写 `/data`。
+6. 配置环境变量：
+
+| 变量 | 推荐值 | 说明 |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `PORT` | `5001` | 服务监听端口，需要和 Zeabur 暴露的 HTTP 端口一致。 |
+| `DS2API_ADMIN_KEY` | 强随机字符串 | 管理台登录密钥，必填。 |
+| `DS2API_CONFIG_PATH` | `/data/config.json` | 配置持久化路径，建议必填。 |
+| `LOG_LEVEL` | `INFO` | 可选，日志级别。 |
+| `DS2API_CONFIG_JSON` | 原始 JSON 或 Base64 JSON | 可选，用于用环境变量初始化配置。 |
+| `DS2API_ENV_WRITEBACK` | `1` | 可选；当设置了 `DS2API_CONFIG_JSON` 且希望首次启动后写入 `/data/config.json` 时再启用。 |
+
+7. 暴露 HTTP 端口 `5001`，健康检查路径可填 `/healthz`。
+8. 部署完成后访问 `/admin`，用 `DS2API_ADMIN_KEY` 登录，然后在管理台导入或编辑配置。首次空卷可以没有 `/data/config.json`，服务会先启动，第一次保存时自动创建该文件。
+
+常见问题：
+
+- **启动日志出现 `open /data/config.json: no such file or directory`**：请确认已经部署包含“首次空卷启动”修复的版本，并重新部署最新代码。
+- **出现 `open /app/config.json: permission denied`**：说明配置路径仍指向镜像内只读目录；设置持久卷 `/data`，并确认 `DS2API_CONFIG_PATH=/data/config.json`。
+- **管理台保存后重启配置丢失**：检查 `/data` 持久卷是否已挂载到当前服务；如果使用了 `DS2API_CONFIG_JSON`，但想让管理台保存落盘，请启用 `DS2API_ENV_WRITEBACK=1`。
+
+参考：Zeabur 官方文档的 [GitHub/Git 集成](https://zeabur.com/docs/en-US/deploy/github)、[Dockerfile 部署](https://zeabur.com/docs/zh-CN/deploy/dockerfile) 与 [Volumes](https://zeabur.com/docs/data-management/volumes)。
+
 ---
 
 ## 三、Vercel 部署
diff --git a/internal/config/config_test.go b/internal/config/config_test.go
index 1c7700f..d695403 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -144,6 +144,44 @@ func TestLoadStoreIgnoresLegacyConfigJSONEnv(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestExplicitMissingConfigPathBootstrapsEmptyFileBackedStore(t *testing.T) {
+	path := t.TempDir() + "/config.json"
+
+	t.Setenv("DS2API_CONFIG_JSON", "")
+	t.Setenv("DS2API_CONFIG_PATH", path)
+
+	store, err := LoadStoreWithError()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected missing explicit config path to bootstrap, got: %v", err)
+	}
+	if store.IsEnvBacked() {
+		t.Fatal("expected bootstrap store to be file-backed")
+	}
+	if store.ConfigPath() != path {
+		t.Fatalf("ConfigPath() = %q, want %q", store.ConfigPath(), path)
+	}
+	if len(store.Keys()) != 0 || len(store.Accounts()) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty bootstrap config, got keys=%d accounts=%d", len(store.Keys()), len(store.Accounts()))
+	}
+	if _, statErr := os.Stat(path); !errors.Is(statErr, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected bootstrap not to create config until first save, stat err=%v", statErr)
+	}
+
+	if err := store.Update(func(c *Config) error {
+		c.Keys = []string{"first-key"}
+		return nil
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("update should persist bootstrap config: %v", err)
+	}
+	content, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected first update to write config: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(string(content), "first-key") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected saved config to contain first key, got: %s", content)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestEnvBackedStoreWritebackBootstrapsMissingConfigFile(t *testing.T) {
 	tmp, err := os.CreateTemp(t.TempDir(), "config-*.json")
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/config/store.go b/internal/config/store.go
index 0af367f..603ff9a 100644
--- a/internal/config/store.go
+++ b/internal/config/store.go
@@ -52,11 +52,12 @@ func loadStore() (*Store, error) {
 
 func loadConfig() (Config, bool, error) {
 	rawCfg := strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv("DS2API_CONFIG_JSON"))
+	path := ConfigPath()
 	if rawCfg != "" {
 		cfg, err := parseConfigString(rawCfg)
 		if err != nil {
 			if !IsVercel() && envWritebackEnabled() {
-				if fileCfg, fileErr := loadConfigFromFile(ConfigPath()); fileErr == nil {
+				if fileCfg, fileErr := loadConfigFromFile(path); fileErr == nil {
 					return fileCfg, false, nil
 				}
 			}
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ func loadConfig() (Config, bool, error) {
 		if IsVercel() || !envWritebackEnabled() {
 			return cfg, true, err
 		}
-		content, fileErr := os.ReadFile(ConfigPath())
+		content, fileErr := os.ReadFile(path)
 		if fileErr == nil {
 			var fileCfg Config
 			if unmarshalErr := json.Unmarshal(content, &fileCfg); unmarshalErr == nil {
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ func loadConfig() (Config, bool, error) {
 			if validateErr := ValidateConfig(cfg); validateErr != nil {
 				return cfg, true, validateErr
 			}
-			if writeErr := writeConfigFile(ConfigPath(), cfg.Clone()); writeErr == nil {
+			if writeErr := writeConfigFile(path, cfg.Clone()); writeErr == nil {
 				return cfg, false, err
 			} else {
 				Logger.Warn("[config] env writeback bootstrap failed", "error", writeErr)
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ func loadConfig() (Config, bool, error) {
 		}
 		return cfg, true, err
 	}
-	cfg, err := loadConfigFromFile(ConfigPath())
+	cfg, err := loadConfigFromFile(path)
 	if err != nil {
 		if shouldTryLegacyContainerConfigPath() {
 			legacyPath := legacyContainerConfigPath()
@@ -100,6 +101,10 @@ func loadConfig() (Config, bool, error) {
 			// Vercel may start without writable/present config; keep in-memory bootstrap config.
 			return Config{}, true, nil
 		}
+		if shouldBootstrapMissingConfigFile(err) {
+			Logger.Warn("[config] config file missing; starting with empty file-backed config", "path", path)
+			return Config{}, false, nil
+		}
 		return Config{}, false, err
 	}
 	if IsVercel() {
@@ -109,6 +114,10 @@ func loadConfig() (Config, bool, error) {
 	return cfg, false, nil
 }
 
+func shouldBootstrapMissingConfigFile(err error) bool {
+	return errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) && strings.TrimSpace(os.Getenv("DS2API_CONFIG_PATH")) != ""
+}
+
 func loadConfigFromFile(path string) (Config, error) {
 	content, err := os.ReadFile(path)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/zeabur.yaml b/zeabur.yaml
index 8ed1340..502bdfb 100644
--- a/zeabur.yaml
+++ b/zeabur.yaml
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ spec:
     1. Open your service URL, then visit `/admin`
     2. Login with `DS2API_ADMIN_KEY` (shown in Zeabur env/instructions)
     3. Import / edit config in Admin UI (saved to `/data/config.json`)
+    4. On a fresh volume, DS2API starts with an empty config and creates `/data/config.json` on the first save
 
   services:
     - name: ds2api