Google Photos Alternative: Setting Up Immich
Replace Google Photos with Immich on your own server: the multi-container architecture explained, deployment tips and warnings before you pull updates.
Taking Back Your Memories
Immich is arguably the single most used application on my server. I am meticulous about keeping my images and videos organized, and Immich’s album system is top-tier. It looks and feels exactly like Google Photos, but everything lives on my 1TB hard drive.
Deployment Tips
Immich requires multiple containers to run (a database, a Redis cache, a machine learning container for facial recognition, and the main server).
- Always use the official
docker-compose.ymlprovided by the Immich developers.
Warning
Immich updates frequently and sometimes introduces breaking changes. Always read their release notes before running docker compose pull.
Tip
Family photos are irreplaceable. Before you move your whole library, set up a real backup strategy for home servers.
