Transitioning from Google Photos to a Free, Self-Hosted Solution

In recent years, I've been on a mission to reduce my reliance on Google services. Slowly but surely, I've discovered numerous alternatives. The real challenge is setting them up and ensuring they function seamlessly.

After exploring various options, including which was quite effective, I found an intriguing application called Immich. Immich facilitates the self-hosting of media management, enabling you to store, organize, and secure your photos on a personal server. This app ensures privacy while allowing you to catalog and search through your images without external interference.

Although setting up Immich can be somewhat complex as it isn't just a simple install, if you are comfortable executing some command-line instructions, the process should be manageable.

Prerequisites for Immich Installation

To set up Immich, you'll need a computer or server that supports Docker installations (compatible with Linux, MacOS, or Windows). For Linux, ensure you have a user with the ability to execute superuser commands. A stable internet connection and a few hours of your time are also necessary, perhaps as a weekend project.

I’ll be providing a demonstration using . For those utilizing MacOS or Windows, the installation of Docker is straightforward and largely point-and-click. Successfully setting up Docker means you’re well on your way. Let's continue to the installation steps.

Installing Docker on Ubuntu

Begin by opening your terminal or accessing your server remotely. Get ready to enter some vital commands.

Step 1: Prepare Your System

Initiate the process by updating your package list and installing essential certificates and tools using:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install ca-certificates curl

Step 2: Incorporate Docker’s GPG Key

Next, secure the official Docker GPG key by executing:

sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings && sudo curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc && sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc

Step 3: Add the Docker Repository

Proceed to add Docker’s repository and update your package resources list with:

Replace this placeholder with the appropriate command once the repository is specified.

Step 4: Install Docker

You're ready to install Docker via:

sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin git -y

Step 5: User Group Configuration

To operate Docker securely without constantly requiring elevated privileges, include your user in the Docker group using:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Afterward, log out and back in for these changes to take effect.

Setting Up Immich

1. Directory Setup

Return to your terminal to create essential directories:

mkdir ~/immich-app && mkdir ~/immich-library && cd ~/immich-app

2. Acquire Setup Files

Retrieve necessary setup files using these commands:

curl -o docker-compose.yml https://raw.githubusercontent.com/immich-app/immich/main/docker/docker-compose.yml && curl -o .env https://raw.githubusercontent.com/immich-app/immich/main/docker/example.env

3. Update Configuration

Edit the .env file for your environment variables as follows. Begin with:

Identify the line containing UPLOAD_LOCATION=./library and amend it to:

UPLOAD_LOCATION=/home/USERNAME/immich-library

Replace USERNAME with your actual username and save the changes.

4. Launch Immich

Deploy the Immich application through Docker. Input the command and allow time for the deployment process to conclude.

5. Navigate Immich Interface

Post-deployment, wait for the service to stabilize. Then, direct your browser to http://SERVER:2283 (substitute SERVER with your server's IP). You'll see a welcome window prompting the creation of a new admin account. Fill in your details and initiate the setup wizard.

Ensure your smartphone app is synced with the Immich server using the format http://SERVER:2283 where necessary. Now you're all set with your private cloud solution, an alternative to Google Photos.