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Is Immich a backup tool?
Immich is self-hosted photo and video management software with a mobile upload feature. In the app, you can select albums to upload to your server. That is useful for moving phone media onto storage you control, but it does not create an independent safety copy of the server’s data.
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Think of the phone upload and the server backup as two different jobs: the app transfers selected media to Immich, while you must separately protect the server’s files and database from drive failure, accidental deletion, or another loss. Immich’s Quick start guide covers setup and uploads; its Backup and Restore guide explains what to preserve.
What must an Immich server backup include?
A restorable backup needs both the original photo and video files and the PostgreSQL database. The files contain the media; the database contains records such as file paths and metadata that Immich uses to organize and display it. Immich does not scan the library folder to recreate missing database records, so saving only the media files is not a complete recovery plan. Conversely, a database backup cannot restore the actual photos and videos if those files are lost.
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- Original media: preserve the uploaded photo and video files.
- PostgreSQL database: preserve Immich’s records and metadata alongside the files.
Thumbnails and transcoded video are generated content and can be regenerated, although doing so takes time and processing. Immich identifies the original assets as critical; do not treat generated files as a substitute for backing up originals.
How do I back up my Immich server?
Immich recommends the 3-2-1 strategy: keep at least two local copies and one offsite copy in cold storage. The project does not perform the actual filesystem backup for you, so choose and maintain a separate process that covers both the media directory and the database.
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- Choose separate backup destinations. Keep more than one copy, and ensure one copy is offsite. An external hard drive can add a local copy, but by itself it does not provide an offsite copy or guarantee the database is included.
- Back up both components. Include the original media files and PostgreSQL database in the plan; a copy of just one is insufficient for a full restore.
- Keep the backup consistent. If possible, stop the Immich server while making the backup. If you cannot stop it, Immich advises backing up the database first and the filesystem second. That order reduces the chance that the restored database refers to files missing from the filesystem copy.
- Check that recovery is possible. Keep the database and matching media copies together, and periodically confirm that your backup process has captured both.
For the project’s current details on file locations and consistency, follow the official backup and restore instructions rather than relying on a one-time copy of a folder.
How much storage does Immich need?
Plan for the size of your original library plus room for generated content and the database. Immich says thumbnails and transcoded video can increase the photo library’s size by 10–20% on average. That is a project estimate, not a guarantee for every library; actual needs depend on the media and processing performed.
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Immich’s current requirements documentation says the PostgreSQL database is typically 1–3 GB. It recommends putting the database on local SSD storage, not a network share. The media library and its backup still need capacity of their own, including space for separate copies if you follow the 3-2-1 approach.
What does running Immich require?
Immich’s current requirements recommend a 64-bit Linux or other Unix-like operating system, Docker with the Docker Compose plugin, at least 6 GB of RAM (8 GB recommended), and at least two CPU cores (four recommended). These are Immich’s project recommendations, not universal performance benchmarks. The project is under active development, so consult its current requirements before installing.
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The requirements also call for a Unix-compatible filesystem that supports ownership and permissions. Immich’s Docker Compose guide identifies Compose as its recommended production deployment method. Setup involves administering a server, choosing storage locations, and maintaining backups; mobile album upload does not remove those responsibilities.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens if my Immich server dies?
If the server fails but you have a usable, consistent backup of both the media and database, you can restore those components to replacement storage and resume using Immich. If you saved only the media, Immich cannot reconstruct the missing database records by scanning the library folder. If you saved only the database, the files it refers to may be unavailable. With no separate backup, the phone upload to the server does not protect against loss of that server copy.
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For that reason, set up and maintain the backup before treating Immich as the home for your library. Its official guidance and requirements are the best place to check current paths and recovery details as the software changes.
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