diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index ea64e23..5ae749e 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ DOCKER_TAG=latest
 
 # Basic Gitea Settings
 # GITEA_URL=http://gitea:3000
+# GITEA_EXTERNAL_URL=https://gitea.example.com  # Optional: used only for UI links
 # GITEA_TOKEN=your-local-gitea-token
 # GITEA_USERNAME=your-local-gitea-username
 # GITEA_ORGANIZATION=github-mirrors  # Default organization for single-org strategy
diff --git a/docs/ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLES.md b/docs/ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLES.md
index 1f7c3f5..487c41f 100644
--- a/docs/ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLES.md
+++ b/docs/ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLES.md
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ Settings for the destination Gitea instance.
 | Variable | Description | Default | Options |
 |----------|-------------|---------|---------|
 | `GITEA_URL` | Gitea instance URL | - | Valid URL |
+| `GITEA_EXTERNAL_URL` | Optional external/browser URL used for dashboard links. API and mirroring still use `GITEA_URL`. | - | Valid URL |
 | `GITEA_TOKEN` | Gitea access token | - | - |
 | `GITEA_USERNAME` | Gitea username | - | - |
 | `GITEA_ORGANIZATION` | Default organization for single-org strategy | `github-mirrors` | Any string |
diff --git a/src/components/config/ConfigTabs.tsx b/src/components/config/ConfigTabs.tsx
index 4e2bcde..0af2ea2 100644
--- a/src/components/config/ConfigTabs.tsx
+++ b/src/components/config/ConfigTabs.tsx
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ export function ConfigTabs() {
     },
     giteaConfig: {
       url: '',
+      externalUrl: '',
       username: '',
       token: '',
       organization: 'github-mirrors',
diff --git a/src/components/config/GiteaConfigForm.tsx b/src/components/config/GiteaConfigForm.tsx
index a9d543d..c1a13f3 100644
--- a/src/components/config/GiteaConfigForm.tsx
+++ b/src/components/config/GiteaConfigForm.tsx
@@ -195,6 +195,27 @@ export function GiteaConfigForm({ config, setConfig, onAutoSave, isAutoSaving, g
           />
         </div>
 
+        <div>
+          <label
+            htmlFor="gitea-external-url"
+            className="block text-sm font-medium mb-1.5"
+          >
+            Gitea External URL (optional)
+          </label>
+          <input
+            id="gitea-external-url"
+            name="externalUrl"
+            type="url"
+            value={config.externalUrl || ""}
+            onChange={handleChange}
+            className="w-full rounded-md border border-input bg-background px-3 py-2 text-sm shadow-sm transition-colors placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-ring"
+            placeholder="https://gitea.example.com"
+          />
+          <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mt-1">
+            Used only for dashboard links. API sync still uses Gitea URL.
+          </p>
+        </div>
+
         <div>
           <label
             htmlFor="gitea-token"
diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/RepositoryList.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/RepositoryList.tsx
index dab4b66..f7591be 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/RepositoryList.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/RepositoryList.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ export function RepositoryList({ repositories }: RepositoryListProps) {
 
   // Helper function to construct Gitea repository URL
   const getGiteaRepoUrl = (repository: Repository): string | null => {
-    if (!giteaConfig?.url) {
+    const rawBaseUrl = giteaConfig?.externalUrl || giteaConfig?.url;
+    if (!rawBaseUrl) {
       return null;
     }
 
@@ -38,9 +39,9 @@ export function RepositoryList({ repositories }: RepositoryListProps) {
     }
 
     // Ensure the base URL doesn't have a trailing slash
-    const baseUrl = giteaConfig.url.endsWith('/')
-      ? giteaConfig.url.slice(0, -1)
-      : giteaConfig.url;
+    const baseUrl = rawBaseUrl.endsWith("/")
+      ? rawBaseUrl.slice(0, -1)
+      : rawBaseUrl;
 
     return `${baseUrl}/${repoPath}`;
   };
diff --git a/src/components/organizations/OrganizationsList.tsx b/src/components/organizations/OrganizationsList.tsx
index 01497b9..5b4cfd1 100644
--- a/src/components/organizations/OrganizationsList.tsx
+++ b/src/components/organizations/OrganizationsList.tsx
@@ -67,7 +67,8 @@ export function OrganizationList({
 
   // Helper function to construct Gitea organization URL
   const getGiteaOrgUrl = (organization: Organization): string | null => {
-    if (!giteaConfig?.url) {
+    const rawBaseUrl = giteaConfig?.externalUrl || giteaConfig?.url;
+    if (!rawBaseUrl) {
       return null;
     }
 
@@ -84,9 +85,9 @@ export function OrganizationList({
     }
 
     // Ensure the base URL doesn't have a trailing slash
-    const baseUrl = giteaConfig.url.endsWith('/')
-      ? giteaConfig.url.slice(0, -1)
-      : giteaConfig.url;
+    const baseUrl = rawBaseUrl.endsWith("/")
+      ? rawBaseUrl.slice(0, -1)
+      : rawBaseUrl;
 
     return `${baseUrl}/${orgName}`;
   };
diff --git a/src/lib/db/schema.ts b/src/lib/db/schema.ts
index 7fb4e37..56cc3b1 100644
--- a/src/lib/db/schema.ts
+++ b/src/lib/db/schema.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export const githubConfigSchema = z.object({
 
 export const giteaConfigSchema = z.object({
   url: z.url(),
+  externalUrl: z.url().optional(),
   token: z.string(),
   defaultOwner: z.string(),
   organization: z.string().optional(),
diff --git a/src/lib/env-config-loader.ts b/src/lib/env-config-loader.ts
index 5184bd6..6f72382 100644
--- a/src/lib/env-config-loader.ts
+++ b/src/lib/env-config-loader.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ interface EnvConfig {
   };
   gitea: {
     url?: string;
+    externalUrl?: string;
     username?: string;
     token?: string;
     organization?: string;
@@ -118,6 +119,7 @@ function parseEnvConfig(): EnvConfig {
     },
     gitea: {
       url: process.env.GITEA_URL,
+      externalUrl: process.env.GITEA_EXTERNAL_URL,
       username: process.env.GITEA_USERNAME,
       token: process.env.GITEA_TOKEN,
       organization: process.env.GITEA_ORGANIZATION,
@@ -267,6 +269,7 @@ export async function initializeConfigFromEnv(): Promise<void> {
     // Build Gitea config
     const giteaConfig = {
       url: envConfig.gitea.url || existingConfig?.[0]?.giteaConfig?.url || '',
+      externalUrl: envConfig.gitea.externalUrl || existingConfig?.[0]?.giteaConfig?.externalUrl || undefined,
       token: envConfig.gitea.token ? encrypt(envConfig.gitea.token) : existingConfig?.[0]?.giteaConfig?.token || '',
       defaultOwner: envConfig.gitea.username || existingConfig?.[0]?.giteaConfig?.defaultOwner || '',
       organization: envConfig.gitea.organization || existingConfig?.[0]?.giteaConfig?.organization || undefined,
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/config-defaults.ts b/src/lib/utils/config-defaults.ts
index 13fb6c4..8d074c8 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/config-defaults.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/config-defaults.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export interface DefaultConfigOptions {
     githubToken?: string;
     githubUsername?: string;
     giteaUrl?: string;
+    giteaExternalUrl?: string;
     giteaToken?: string;
     giteaUsername?: string;
     scheduleEnabled?: boolean;
@@ -38,6 +39,8 @@ export async function createDefaultConfig({ userId, envOverrides = {} }: Default
   const githubToken = envOverrides.githubToken || process.env.GITHUB_TOKEN || "";
   const githubUsername = envOverrides.githubUsername || process.env.GITHUB_USERNAME || "";
   const giteaUrl = envOverrides.giteaUrl || process.env.GITEA_URL || "";
+  const giteaExternalUrl =
+    envOverrides.giteaExternalUrl || process.env.GITEA_EXTERNAL_URL || "";
   const giteaToken = envOverrides.giteaToken || process.env.GITEA_TOKEN || "";
   const giteaUsername = envOverrides.giteaUsername || process.env.GITEA_USERNAME || "";
   
@@ -77,6 +80,7 @@ export async function createDefaultConfig({ userId, envOverrides = {} }: Default
     },
     giteaConfig: {
       url: giteaUrl,
+      externalUrl: giteaExternalUrl || undefined,
       token: giteaToken ? encrypt(giteaToken) : "",
       defaultOwner: giteaUsername,
       mirrorInterval: "8h",
diff --git a/src/lib/utils/config-mapper.ts b/src/lib/utils/config-mapper.ts
index 9be2594..bffbb02 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils/config-mapper.ts
+++ b/src/lib/utils/config-mapper.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ export function mapUiToDbConfig(
   // Map Gitea config to match database schema
   const dbGiteaConfig: DbGiteaConfig = {
     url: giteaConfig.url,
+    externalUrl: giteaConfig.externalUrl?.trim() || undefined,
     token: giteaConfig.token,
     defaultOwner: giteaConfig.username, // Map username to defaultOwner
     organization: giteaConfig.organization, // Add organization field
@@ -127,6 +128,7 @@ export function mapDbToUiConfig(dbConfig: any): {
   // Map from database Gitea config to UI fields
   const giteaConfig: GiteaConfig = {
     url: dbConfig.giteaConfig?.url || "",
+    externalUrl: dbConfig.giteaConfig?.externalUrl || "",
     username: dbConfig.giteaConfig?.defaultOwner || "", // Map defaultOwner to username
     token: dbConfig.giteaConfig?.token || "",
     organization: dbConfig.githubConfig?.defaultOrg || "github-mirrors", // Get from GitHub config
diff --git a/src/types/config.ts b/src/types/config.ts
index d49f6b3..c9d7bf5 100644
--- a/src/types/config.ts
+++ b/src/types/config.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ export type StarredReposMode = "dedicated-org" | "preserve-owner";
 
 export interface GiteaConfig {
   url: string;
+  externalUrl?: string;
   username: string;
   token: string;
   organization: string;