Immich emerges as a robust open-source solution for managing photos and videos, offering users the ability to self-host their media on personal servers. This tool prioritizes user privacy and incorporates AI-driven functionalities, all while maintaining an intuitive interface that simplifies the organization and accessibility of your media files. In this guide, we will explore how to effectively self-host your media collection using Immich.
Why Choose Immich Over Google Photos?
Immich serves as an excellent self-hosted alternative to Google Photos, allowing you to retain complete control over your data by storing it on your own server instead of utilizing cloud storage. It enables seamless uploads from mobile devices, effortless organization into albums, and remote access to your media. With these features, Immich stands out as a secure option that emphasizes privacy.
Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Immich
To begin, navigate to Immich’s GitHub repository, where you’ll download essential files such as “example.env” and “docker-compose.yml”.These files are critical for deploying Immich on your server:
Rename the “example.env”file to “.env”since this designation is required for Immich’s Docker setup to properly load the necessary configurations:
Access your terminal or command prompt to navigate to the directory housing the “.env” and “docker-compose.yml” files:
cd Downloads
Execute the command below to initiate the Immich server:
docker compose up -d
Accessing Your Immich Dashboard
Launch your web browser and enter http://localhost:2283 to access the Immich web interface:
To set up your account, click on Sign Up and provide your email, a desired password, and your name:
Once registered, log in using your credentials to access the Immich dashboard:
Finalize Your Initial Setup
Follow the setup wizard that pops up upon your first login, titled “Let’s get your instance set up with some common settings”:
During setup, you’ll be prompted to select your preferred theme (light or dark):
Next, choose your desired language for the Immich interface:
Configure server privacy options to define access levels for your media:
Adjust user privacy settings according to your preferences:
You can opt to enable or retain the default settings for the storage template engine:
Finally, configure automatic backups to safeguard your data:
Organize Your Media with Immich
To upload photos and videos, simply drag and drop them into the Immich web app or click on the Upload button:
Refresh the Photos tab to check that your media files have uploaded successfully:
Explore your media collection by navigating to the Explore tab:
Use the Map tab to visualize photos organized by location based on the embedded GPS data:
For enhanced organization, create albums and manage sharing options under the Sharing section, enabling you to generate shared links for specific media without granting full access to your library:
Additionally, utilize the Library feature to curate your favorites, albums, archives, and locked folders for private media, ensuring everything is systematically organized:
Customize and Maintain Your Account
Switch between light and dark themes easily for optimal viewing comfort:
Click on your profile icon to manage your account settings, update your profile, and handle any administrative tasks:
Accessing Immich on Mobile Devices
For those on the go, Immich provides mobile applications available for both Android and iOS platforms, facilitating direct photo and video management right from your smartphone or tablet. To get started, head to the Google Play Store for Android or the Apple App Store for iOS, search for Immich, and download the official app.
Once installed, open the app and input your Immich server address, which typically consists of the IP address or domain name followed by the port number (e.g., http://your-server-ip:2283):
Then, enter the username and password you created during the web setup to link your mobile device with your self-hosted Immich instance:
Head over to the app settings and activate Auto-Upload to automatically back up new photos and videos from your device to Immich. You can select between two modes: Foreground Upload and Background Upload. The Foreground Upload option will only upload when the app is active, while Background Upload allows for continuous uploads even when the app is closed:
Finally, leverage the mobile app to search and browse your complete media library on your Immich server, view items by albums, dates, or locations, manage favorites, and delete unwanted files right from your device:
Conclusion
While setting up Immich may seem daunting at first, the effort pays off with the control, privacy, and freedom it offers in managing your photo and video library. Enjoy the benefits of self-hosting, knowing that your media is secure and accessible only to you.
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