diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1f6d54c..f4cfc6a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ A FastAPI application with Docker and docker-compose support.
    BOXAPI_LOG_DIR=/app/logs/boxapi
    BOXAPI_LOG_LEVEL=all  # or "error" for production
    
-   # Redis for pagination (optional but recommended)
-   REDIS_URL=redis://localhost:6379/0
+       # Redis for pagination (optional but recommended)
+    REDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379/0  # Use 'redis' hostname in Docker
    ```
 
 2. **Build and start the application:**
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ The application uses environment variables for configuration. Copy `env.example`
 
 ### Redis Configuration (for pagination)
 - `REDIS_URL`: Redis connection URL (default: `redis://localhost:6379/0`)
+- **Note**: Redis is optional but recommended for pagination. If Redis is not available, the system will work without pagination (posts may be duplicated on subsequent calls).
 
 ### Database Configuration
 - `POSTGRES_DB`: Database name (default: `fastapi_db`)
@@ -290,6 +291,13 @@ The application includes health checks that can be accessed at:
    - Check if PostgreSQL container is running: `docker-compose ps`
    - Check database logs: `docker-compose logs postgres`
 
+5. **Redis connection issues:**
+   - Redis is optional - the system will work without it (posts may be duplicated)
+   - If you want Redis: `docker-compose up redis` to start Redis service
+   - Check Redis logs: `docker-compose logs redis`
+   - For Docker: use `REDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379/0`
+   - For local development: use `REDIS_URL=redis://localhost:6379/0`
+
 ## Contributing
 
 1. Fork the repository
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 2cd609a..34cea7f 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ services:
     depends_on:
       postgres:
         condition: service_healthy
+      redis:
+        condition: service_healthy
     healthcheck:
       test: ["CMD", "curl", "-f", "http://localhost:8000/health"]
       interval: 30s
@@ -45,9 +47,24 @@ services:
     networks:
       - fastapi-network
 
+  redis:
+    image: redis:7-alpine
+    ports:
+      - "6379:6379"
+    volumes:
+      - redis_data:/data
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD", "redis-cli", "ping"]
+      interval: 10s
+      timeout: 5s
+      retries: 5
+    networks:
+      - fastapi-network
+
 networks:
   fastapi-network:
     driver: bridge
 
 volumes:
-  postgres_data: 
\ No newline at end of file
+  postgres_data:
+  redis_data: 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/utils/seen_store.py b/utils/seen_store.py
index 0685584..7acfd57 100644
--- a/utils/seen_store.py
+++ b/utils/seen_store.py
@@ -1,22 +1,64 @@
 # utils/seen_store.py
 import os, redis
-from typing import Iterable
+from typing import Iterable, Optional
+import logging
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 REDIS_URL = os.environ.get("REDIS_URL", "redis://localhost:6379/0")
-r = redis.from_url(REDIS_URL, decode_responses=True)
+_redis_client: Optional[redis.Redis] = None
+
+def _get_redis_client() -> Optional[redis.Redis]:
+    """Get Redis client with error handling"""
+    global _redis_client
+    if _redis_client is not None:
+        return _redis_client
+    
+    try:
+        _redis_client = redis.from_url(REDIS_URL, decode_responses=True)
+        # Test the connection
+        _redis_client.ping()
+        logger.info("✅ Redis connection established")
+        return _redis_client
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning(f"⚠️ Redis connection failed: {e}")
+        logger.warning("📝 Pagination will be disabled - posts may be duplicated")
+        _redis_client = None
+        return None
 
 def seen_key(username: str) -> str:
     return f"ig:seen:{username}"
 
 def mark_seen(username: str, ids: Iterable[str]) -> None:
-    if not ids: return
-    r.sadd(seen_key(username), *ids)
+    """Mark posts as seen (Redis optional)"""
+    if not ids: 
+        return
+    
+    r = _get_redis_client()
+    if r is None:
+        return  # Skip if Redis is not available
+    
+    try:
+        r.sadd(seen_key(username), *ids)
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning(f"⚠️ Failed to mark posts as seen: {e}")
 
 def filter_unseen(username: str, ids: Iterable[str]) -> list[str]:
-    # pipeline for speed
-    key = seen_key(username)
-    pipe = r.pipeline()
-    for i in ids:
-        pipe.sismember(key, i)
-    flags = pipe.execute()
-    return [i for i, seen in zip(ids, flags) if not seen] 
\ No newline at end of file
+    """Filter out already seen posts (Redis optional)"""
+    r = _get_redis_client()
+    if r is None:
+        # If Redis is not available, return all IDs (no filtering)
+        return list(ids)
+    
+    try:
+        # pipeline for speed
+        key = seen_key(username)
+        pipe = r.pipeline()
+        for i in ids:
+            pipe.sismember(key, i)
+        flags = pipe.execute()
+        return [i for i, seen in zip(ids, flags) if not seen]
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning(f"⚠️ Failed to filter unseen posts: {e}")
+        # Fallback: return all IDs if Redis fails
+        return list(ids) 
\ No newline at end of file