diff --git a/docker/example.env b/docker/example.env
index 52af38e91..b0e3f9417 100644
--- a/docker/example.env
+++ b/docker/example.env
@@ -1,45 +1,44 @@
-#url of the frontend, this must be accessible by your clients browser
+# Copy this file to `.env` before starting the containers
+
+### === Required Config ===
+
+# URL of the frontend (accessible by browser)
 MONKEYTYPE_FRONTENDURL=http://myserver:8080
 
-#url of the backend server, this must be accessible by your clients browser
+# URL of the backend (accessible by browser)
 MONKEYTYPE_BACKENDURL=http://myserver:5005
 
-# firebase config
-# uncomment below config if you need user accounts
-#FIREBASE_APIKEY=
-#FIREBASE_AUTHDOMAIN=
-#FIREBASE_PROJECTID=
-#FIREBASE_STORAGEBUCKET=
-#FIREBASE_MESSAGINGSENDERID=
-#FIREBASE_APPID=
+### === Optional: Google reCAPTCHA ===
 
+# Default keys below work for localhost/private instances
+# RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY=6LeIxAcTAAAAAJcZVRqyHh71UMIEGNQ_MXjiZKhI
+# RECAPTCHA_SECRET=6LeIxAcTAAAAAGG-vFI1TnRWxMZNFuojJ4WifJWe
 
-# email server config
-# uncomment below if you want to send emails for e.g. password reset
-#EMAIL_HOST=mail.myserver
-#EMAIL_USER=mailuser
-#EMAIL_PASS=mailpass
-#EMAIL_PORT=465
-#EMAIL_FROM="Support <noreply@myserver>"
-
-# google recaptcha
-# uncomment below config if you need user accounts
-# you can use these defaults if you host this privately
-#RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY=6LeIxAcTAAAAAJcZVRqyHh71UMIEGNQ_MXjiZKhI
-#RECAPTCHA_SECRET=6LeIxAcTAAAAAGG-vFI1TnRWxMZNFuojJ4WifJWe
 RECAPTCHA_SITE_KEY=
 RECAPTCHA_SECRET=
 
-# use alternative ports
+### === Optional: Firebase ===
+
+# Uncomment if using user accounts
+# FIREBASE_APIKEY=AIzaSy******** 
+# FIREBASE_AUTHDOMAIN=your-app.firebaseapp.com 
+# FIREBASE_PROJECTID=your-app 
+# FIREBASE_STORAGEBUCKET=your-app.appspot.com 
+# FIREBASE_MESSAGINGSENDERID=1234567890 
+# FIREBASE_APPID=1:1234567890:web:abcdef123456 
+
+### === Optional: Email Server ===
+# Enables email (e.g. password reset)
+
+# EMAIL_HOST=smtp.mailserver.com 
+# EMAIL_USER=your@email.com 
+# EMAIL_PASS=password
+# EMAIL_PORT=465
+# EMAIL_FROM="Support <noreply@yourdomain.com>"
+
+### === Optional: Custom Ports ===
 
-# port of the frontend http server
 # HTTP_PORT=8080
-
-# port of the backend api server
 # BACKEND_PORT=5005
-
-# port of the redis server, not exposed by default
 # REDIS_PORT=6379
-
-# port of the mongodb server, not exposed by default
 # MONGO_PORT=27017