Immich 1.113 Unveils Folder View and Enhanced Tagging
Update for Self-Hosted Photo Backup
August 2024
PC Boss
Enhanced Folder View: A Game Changer for Organization
One of the most requested features has finally arrived—folder view. This addition allows users to browse their photos and videos in a familiar file explorer format, significantly improving the organization of media that doesn’t fit neatly into a chronological timeline. This feature is especially useful for scanned photos, older media files, or any assets that require a more structured approach to organization.
Comparison: Traditional cloud storage solutions like Google Photos and Apple iCloud often emphasize timeline-based organization, which can be limiting. Immich’s new folder view offers a flexible alternative that aligns with how many users prefer to manage their files, making it a standout feature in the realm of self-hosted solutions.
Hierarchical Tagging: Taking Asset Management to the Next Level
Another major improvement in Immich 1.113 is the introduction of hierarchical tags. This feature enhances the organization of assets by allowing tags to be structured in a parent-child relationship, providing more granular control over how media is categorized. Immich now reads existing tags from the TagList and Keywords EXIF properties and writes any changes to a sidecar file, ensuring that your tagging efforts are preserved and portable.
Comparison: Compared to other self-hosted platforms like Nextcloud, which offers basic tagging, Immich’s hierarchical tagging system provides a more advanced and user-friendly way to manage large collections of photos and videos.
Revamped Web Timeline: Smoother and More Efficient
The web timeline component has undergone a complete rewrite, enabling it to handle large volumes of assets more efficiently. This update is a significant improvement for users who manage extensive libraries, such as professional photographers who may upload hundreds of images daily. The new timeline offers smoother scrolling, fewer loading placeholders, and a more seamless browsing experience overall.
Comparison: This enhanced timeline performance puts Immich on par with mainstream photo management services, offering a user experience that is both fast and fluid, even with large libraries.
Improved Library Stability: Preventing Crashes During Refresh
One of the more technical, yet crucial, improvements in this release is the enhanced stability of the library refresh process. In previous versions, users with extensive libraries sometimes experienced crashes during refreshes if their system memory was insufficient. Immich 1.113 addresses this by queuing refresh jobs in batches, thereby reducing the strain on system resources and minimizing the risk of crashes.
Comparison: This update brings Immich closer to the reliability standards of enterprise-level backup solutions, making it a more viable option for users with large and complex media collections.
Mobile Sync: Streamlining the Backup Process
Immich 1.113 also introduces the ability to sync albums directly from mobile devices to the Immich server. This feature simplifies the backup process by automatically creating and organizing albums on the server to mirror those on the user’s device. This is a significant convenience for users who manage their photos and videos primarily on their phones but want a robust, server-based backup solution.
Comparison: While cloud services like Google Photos offer similar features, Immich’s self-hosted nature ensures that users retain full control over their data, making it an attractive alternative for privacy-conscious users.
Top 10 Q/A
What is Immich?
Immich is an open-source, self-hosted solution for backing up and organizing photos and videos.
What’s new in Immich 1.113?
The update includes folder views, enhanced tagging, a revamped web timeline, improved library stability, and mobile sync capabilities.
How does the folder view improve organization?
The folder view allows users to browse their media in a file explorer format, offering a more structured way to manage assets that don’t fit into a chronological timeline.
What are hierarchical tags?
Hierarchical tags allow tags to be organized in a parent-child structure, providing more granular control over media categorization.
How has the web timeline been improved?
The web timeline has been rewritten to handle large libraries more efficiently, offering smoother scrolling and fewer loading issues.
What improvements have been made to library stability?
The library refresh process has been optimized to queue jobs in batches, reducing the risk of crashes due to insufficient memory.
Can I sync albums from my mobile device to the server?
Yes, Immich 1.113 introduces a feature that allows users to sync albums directly from their mobile devices to the server.
What do I need to change in OAuth settings?
OAuth users need to update the Redirect URI in their provider settings from “app.immich:/” to “app.immich:///oauth-callback” to ensure seamless integration.
Is the storage template migration feature available on mobile?
Currently, the storage template migration feature is only available on the web interface, but mobile support is expected in future updates.
Where can I find detailed information about the update?
The changelog provides comprehensive details about all the new features and improvements in Immich 1.113.
BOSS LEVEL TIP: Future-Proofing Your Immich Setup
To avoid issues with future updates, regularly review the Immich changelog and follow any recommended changes to configuration settings, especially those related to OAuth and storage templates. Staying on top of these updates will ensure a seamless experience and prevent potential disruptions to your backup and sync processes.
Immich 1.113 has been released, bringing a wave of new features and improvements that solidify its position as a leading open-source, self-hosted photo, and video backup solution. This update is particularly exciting for users who value control over their digital assets and seek robust tools for organizing and syncing their media. From the introduction of folder views to enhanced tagging capabilities, Immich 1.113 is packed with enhancements that cater to both casual users and professional photographers.