[Feature]: Webdav support (import/export)

[matthinc]

Feature detail

It would be nice to have support for import/export of assets from/to platforms supporting webdav (for example Nextcloud).

I don't see this as a high priority feature, just something to consider in the future.

Platform

Server

[stokito]

The WebDAV would be nice because users may install Lighttpd + DAV module on their OpenWrt router and have a "cloud" for free.

[Majestic7979]

I see this absolutely as a high priority thing because exposing the library as a folder to any OS that supports WebDAV or any service (like Nextcloud) avoids duplication of potentially terabytes of data. It also cuts the need for a dedicated per-OS desktop sync client. This should 1000000% be treated as a priority. One of the reasons I am moving away from GP is being tired of having to maintain two sets of data which aren't for backup purposes. I also hate that GP lowers video quality when doing a TakeOut operation. Immich with WebDAV would be a killer combo.

[AngelaDMerkel]

@Majestic7979 Off topic, but does takeout alter the original video quality on export?

[Majestic7979]

Yes, it compresses the file until it basically becomes unusable junk. Google is evil.

[Happyfeet01]

Hello,

The discussion is not yet so lively. I would like to transfer my pictures either via the Windows computer or from my Nextcloud. But I see my options there.

The import from the storage path doesn't seem to work at the moment.

[sanderdam]

Hi,

For me this also is a missing feature of Immich.

My family who most are Windows users are used to organize their photos in folders just in Windows Explorer.
When Immich supports webdav, I can create a Network Connection to Immich so that they can organize photos using Explorer.
But, then the photos are still in Immich and so we can use all those features for sharing.

[AngelaDMerkel]

This would also have the positive side effect of enabling an application like Lightroom to publish directly to these directories and maintain the images in them. This would reduce the risk of out of date versions or duplicates which are not hash-identical

[mayeths]

Agreed. Supporting WebDAV is an elegant way to share photos inside the family, where they can view photos as normal files.

[Happyfeet01]

Maybe an Windows Client would helpful in the feature

[Majestic7979]

No. Please do not start diluting a clear request with OS specific stuff. WebDAV is platform-agnostic. IT JUST WORKS. This isn't about a desktop app, it's about WebDAV, it's clear in the title.

[aisbergde]

I agree. Web works fine on Windows. Web works even on mobile, some features of the web client are even better, than the mobile client. I would even prefer a well working web version on mobile over a feature limited mobile app.

[nirmal-mewada]

This functionality appears to offer significant value, especially when syncing local albums to immich using tools such as rclone.

[AngelaDMerkel]

This wouldn't really be necessary given rsync can offer the same functionality between two systems. I currently use rsync to do exactly this

[nirmal-mewada]

That does with file system, you still need to schedule library scans and also can not manage albums with your folder structure. see https://rclone.org/googlephotos/
This would be more robust then doing that with rsync "outside" on file system.

[EuleMitKeule]

I also would love this feature. In an ideal world I could use Nextcloud to sync my media files between my devices to store them at a central location and Immich would recognize them and allow me to view, edit and delete the files stored in Nextcloud.

[brianonymous]

Here to add support. I'm running photoprism in parallel for the webdav endpoint. It is probably the only aspect remaining before I delete the photoprism container. I could probably implement a standalone webdav endpoint, but I only use it for photo sync, so it makes sense to me to keep it in my primary photo manager.

[outpoints]

That's exactly my stack as well. If the Immich app would upload my library correctly in the background this wouldn't be as much of an issue :p

[johnmmcgee]

I also would love to see this feature implemented.

[johnnyq]

Yeah same here I would love to have WebDAV Support for my parents and myself

[ruskrava]

Присоединяюсь. Это было бы очень полезно для интеграции например с Nextcloud. Думаю это важно.

[barrybecker4]

I would also like to see WebDAV support in Immich. I just set it up with PhotoPrism and it works great.
I haven't tried it yet, but maybe a workaround is to use the WebDAV integration in NextCloud, then point Immich to the directory in NextCloud. I am using Umbrel Home.

[kthornbloom]

Definitely interested as well! I spent considerable time setting up Immich once, but it seemed to be geared towards new galleries. Adding a pre-existing one was painful (at least at the time), and even then it had to import everything. Just reading from webdav would be great.

[kasparlov]

I would also love to have webdav support, similar to photoprism. I'm using a hosted nextcloud and it would be so nice to just link immich to the photo folder.

[omayhemo]

I came looking for WebDav support, so I can integrate with NextCloud

[AlexSat]

I'm really looking forward to this feature in the context of external libraries

[cooligula]

Yes, please. This would, I believe, be one of the most useful features altogether. People with Nextcloud, Infomaniak kDrive or similar would have a MUCH better time using this software. It would also enable people without the ability of selfhosting to use this amazing app. Thanks in advance!

[CiNcH83]

Second that. Coming from PhotoPrism and the only thing missing is WebDAV support.

[justin13888]

I'm interested in WebDAV not for backup but rather being able to upload my photos, videos, etc. onto Immich before using it directly in my photo and video editing workflows.

Features I'd like is being able to mount a read-only WebDAV for my desktop apps to use or better yet, allow strictly adding new files (e.g. DxO Photolab directly writes your edits into the same folder with option to upload directly).

Personally, based on the current architecture however, I feel like we need to carefully analyze the scope of all the features and assess what is needed in terms of components and technologies to implement this. (Please no subpar webdav implementations.)

[Atomique]

I am also interested into an upload option via WebDAV. That would enable me to use PhotoSync on iOS to transfer my stuff to the server.

[CiNcH83]

You can also create a SAMBA share and upload to that. PhotoSync supports that. This is how I do it after having switched from PhotoPrism. You can even create multiple shares for multiple users.

[PersistentCloud]

I have created a python app for it. Now I can use my iOS tablet and the Pixette app again.

https://github.com/PersistentCloud/immich-webdav-wrapper

Contributions are welcome.

[m00nwtchr]

+1, I'd love this in order to be able to use rclone to mount Immich for desktop access without opening the web ui.

[Demian98]

Just to clarify—Is this request about WebDAV support for external storages (e.g., Immich accessing data from something like Nextcloud)?

What I would personally love to see is WebDAV support where Immich acts as the backend. This would allow users to sync photos using the best WebDAV-compatible client for their operating system.

For example, I'm currently using Nextcloud to sync my Android gallery (30k+ photos) via the FolderSync Pro app, which works very reliably. Unfortunately, the built-in Immich sync hasn’t been reliable for me and is missing features like two-way sync.

It would be fantastic to use Immich with any WebDAV-compatible sync app, making the sync process more flexible and platform-independent.

I’m still new to Immich, so I’d love to hear your thoughts on this idea!

[FasteryXD]

WebDAV for example for Nextcloud would be very heavy👍

[argoyal]

Any decision taken by the owners to configure external library which is a webdav server?

[MacroMars]

Having WebDav as a server (access with compatible clients) would be very good. Having WebDav as a client (Nextcloud as an external library) would be even better. I agree that this is the only thing that PhotoPrism still has over Immich.

[Demian98]

I developed a solution (#20522) to get this working. Would love to get your feedback to this

[morbloe]

This seems to be very nice (didn't try) but it ain't a solution to this feature request. I see one major disadvantage in your approach. If I understand your setup correctly you will end up with the same file two time on your server. (1x in immich, 1x on your sftp-target).

[Demian98]

No data is actually stored on the SFTP container. Every access goes live to the Immich API in the background.

Thank you for pointing out on this, I have updated this information as well into the original post.