D: 📸 Tired of entrusting your precious memories to big tech companies? Want full control over your personal photo collection? Meet Immich – the self-hosted, privacy-focused alternative to Google Photos!
🔍 What is Immich?
Immich is an open-source photo gallery application designed for personal use with these killer features:
- Self-hosted (your data stays with you)
- AI-powered face recognition 👶→👨
- Timeline view like traditional photo apps
- Multi-user support for families
- Mobile app for automatic backups
🛠️ Installation Made Easy
Here’s how to get started with Docker (the easiest method):
docker run -d \
--name immich \
-p 2283:2283 \
-v /path/to/your/photos:/usr/src/app/upload \
-v immich_db:/var/lib/postgresql/data \
immich/immich:latestPro tip: For production use, check out their official docker-compose.yml with proper database configuration!
📱 Mobile App Setup
- Download the Immich app from GitHub
- Point it to your server address (e.g., http://your-domain:2283)
- Enable auto-upload in settings ⚙️
🌟 Key Features Deep Dive
-
Face Recognition 🤖👦
- Automatically groups photos by people
- Name your loved ones for easy searching (“Show me all pics of Mom”)
-
Map View 🗺️
- Visualize your travels if photos have GPS data
- Privacy-first: Only stores location data you choose to keep
-
Shared Albums 👨👩👧👦
- Create family albums without needing accounts
- Generate shareable links with expiration dates
🔒 Why Choose Immich Over Google Photos?
| Feature | Immich | Google Photos |
|---|---|---|
| Data Control | ✅ Yours | ❌ Google’s |
| Cost | Free (self-hosted) | Paid after 15GB |
| AI Features | ✅ On-device | ✅ Cloud-based |
| Customization | Unlimited | Limited |
💡 Pro Tips for New Users
- Start with a small test library before migrating everything
- Use reverse proxy (Nginx) for HTTPS security 🔐
- Schedule regular backups of your Immich database
- Explore the CLI tools for bulk operations
🚀 Advanced Configuration
For power users:
# Sample docker-compose.yml
services:
immich:
image: immich/immich:latest
environment:
- NODE_ENV=production
- DB_HOSTNAME=immich_db
volumes:
- ./upload:/usr/src/app/upload❓ Common Questions
Q: Can I import from Google Photos? A: Yes! Use Google Takeout, then the Immich CLI importer.
Q: Is there facial recognition on mobile? A: Currently server-side only to save battery 🔋
Q: How’s the video support? A: Full playback support with thumbnails, but no AI video analysis yet.
🌈 Final Thoughts
Immich represents the perfect balance between modern photo management and digital sovereignty. While it requires more setup than commercial options, the payoff is complete control over your digital memories.
Ready to take the plunge? Your photos deserve a home that respects your privacy! 🏡✨
🔗 Helpful Resources:
- Official Documentation: immich.app
- GitHub Repository: github.com/immich-app
- Community Support: Discord channel available on their GitHub