From d9bc94c919925e024a7e4b41ec757230d642d744 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Josh Hawkins <32435876+hawkeye217@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2026 15:43:22 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] docs

---
 docs/docs/configuration/advanced.md | 12 ++++++++++--
 docs/docs/configuration/index.md    |  3 ++-
 2 files changed, 12 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)

diff --git a/docs/docs/configuration/advanced.md b/docs/docs/configuration/advanced.md
index 17eb2053d..c04cec97c 100644
--- a/docs/docs/configuration/advanced.md
+++ b/docs/docs/configuration/advanced.md
@@ -44,13 +44,21 @@ go2rtc:
 
 ### `environment_vars`
 
-This section can be used to set environment variables for those unable to modify the environment of the container, like within Home Assistant OS.
+This section can be used to set environment variables for those unable to modify the environment of the container, like within Home Assistant OS. Docker users should set environment variables in their `docker run` command (`-e FRIGATE_MQTT_PASSWORD=secret`) or `docker-compose.yml` file (`environment:` section) instead. Note that values set here are stored in plain text in your config file, so if the goal is to keep credentials out of your configuration, use Docker environment variables or Docker secrets instead.
+
+Variables prefixed with `FRIGATE_` can be referenced in config fields that support environment variable substitution (such as MQTT host and credentials, camera stream URLs, and ONVIF host and credentials) using the `{FRIGATE_VARIABLE_NAME}` syntax.
 
 Example:
 
 ```yaml
 environment_vars:
-  VARIABLE_NAME: variable_value
+  FRIGATE_MQTT_USER: my_mqtt_user
+  FRIGATE_MQTT_PASSWORD: my_mqtt_password
+
+mqtt:
+  host: "{FRIGATE_MQTT_HOST}"
+  user: "{FRIGATE_MQTT_USER}"
+  password: "{FRIGATE_MQTT_PASSWORD}"
 ```
 
 #### TensorFlow Thread Configuration
diff --git a/docs/docs/configuration/index.md b/docs/docs/configuration/index.md
index c1b0dc903..efa59246f 100644
--- a/docs/docs/configuration/index.md
+++ b/docs/docs/configuration/index.md
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ Frigate supports the use of environment variables starting with `FRIGATE_` **onl
 
 ```yaml
 mqtt:
+  host: "{FRIGATE_MQTT_HOST}"
   user: "{FRIGATE_MQTT_USER}"
   password: "{FRIGATE_MQTT_PASSWORD}"
 ```
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ mqtt:
 
 ```yaml
 onvif:
-  host: 10.0.10.10
+  host: "{FRIGATE_ONVIF_HOST}"
   port: 8000
   user: "{FRIGATE_RTSP_USER}"
   password: "{FRIGATE_RTSP_PASSWORD}"