[Feature] Two-way Sync

[partnerinflight]

The feature

This has been requested in various forms, but wanted to generalize a bit. I'd love to see a way to indicate the type of sync Immich performs. Specifically:

• Default one-way sync: assets sync from Photos to Immich only.
• One-way smart sync: assets deleted from Immich aren't re-synced from cloud.
• Two-way sync: assets deleted in Photos are deleted from Immich. Assets deleted from Immich are deleted in Photos.

I would at least ask for the one-way smart sync; without that, Immich's usability as a primary photo browsing destination is limited, as I frequently find things synced to Immich I actually want to delete. If they're just going to resync again, that would be useless.

Platform

• Server
• Web
• Mobile

[dgsardina]

I think there are two main cases here. Photos that want be deleted in both server and mobile due to being discarded, and photos that want to be kept in the server but deleted in the mobile to save space in the latter. And both are required in a normal usage (we all take bad pics and have limited storage in the mobile devices).

[mckennajones]

I agree with this. My main use case is that I still want to use the default iPhone Photos app to manage my photos, so it would be great if photos deleted there are also deleted from Immich. Although this feels like maybe it shouldn't be the default behavior, and instead toggled on/off via a setting.

[Kieranwest]

I think it would also be great for a cloud only option. Have files deleted locally once they're synced to Immich. Similar to how ES File Explorer works when you import photos. It prompts for the deletion of the synced files.

[andrewdcaudle]

I'm specifically looking for two-way sync.

[Havouza15]

I sometime want to keep photos on the phone even if I delete them on Immich so that possibility must exist like now.

[markelarrasate]

Hi, I add a new proposal for a new option for this sync feature.

"Free up space" option

Description: Add a "Free up space" option in the Immich mobile app that allows users to delete photos and videos from their device while retaining them in Immich storage.

Details:

• Accessibility: Include in the main menu or settings.
• Functionality: Users select items to delete from the device, keeping them in Immich cloud storage.
• Confirmation: Show a warning to confirm the action, clarifying that items will only be removed from the device.
• Notifications: Inform users when items are successfully deleted from the device.

Benefits:

• Space optimization: Frees up device storage.
• Data security: Ensures items remain safe in Immich.
• Ease of use: Simplifies storage management on mobile devices.

[bo0tzz]

#165

[Lyessi78]

I think we can add at this scope adding and modifying.

Two way sync : add in the cloud if photo is added in album from mobile and download in the mobile if photo is added from web or another phone
One way sync (mobile -> cloud): add in the cloud if photo is added in album from mobile
One way sync (sync -> mobile): add in the mobile all the new photo that are added in the cloud

The photo is download in the mobile in the same folder that the album concerned and must works with shared album.

[aloxyz]

I second this. Deleting everything twice is painful

[H4usi]

I agree with this. There needs to be a way to manage the pictures more easily.

I like to manage my pictures in the iCloud or on the Immich website. But this means that they are either not deleted on the mobile phone/iCloud or on the Immich server and I have to do everything twice. Which is just no fun.

Maybe we can meet in the middle, if a two-way-sync is not planned, maybe also for technical reasons, it might be possible to add a filter to the gallery of Immich on the mobile phone.

One that only shows you the pictures that are on your mobile phone but not on Immich and one that shows you pictures that are only on Immich but not on your mobile phone. This would allow you to quickly compensate for the asynchrony.

[timaschew]

I agree, deleting twice isn't fun.
The reason for this is, that sometimes it's easier to manage the fotos (including deletion) from the browser than from the phone, right?

I have another idea, which is probably much easer to implement. Let me try to explain:

1. User is deleting lot of photos via the immich web app (assets are moved to trash only, cloud trash).
2. User is swtiching to the mobile app and enabling a new filter type (show assets in cloud-trash)
3. User can select some or all assets which are in the cloud trash and decide then to click a button to remove them from the local device)

The whole mechanism could be user also to filter asses which are already in the cloud. The user could then free up space from the device without moving them to the cloud trash.

[dffvb]

I really need this…. Flying by plane, going through my 30k pictures, deleting them and have it synced

[panzeyu2013]

I am doing the same!

[panzeyu2013]

I think it is an easier but also functional way to automatically create two folders. One that users can select important images that stores permanently. Another one filters out those stored on the cloud but not on the local device to help users quickly identify remove these photos.

[Demian98]

I'm currently using nextcloud in combination with the FolderSync Android App to two-way sync my photos.

On the phone this is working very well, especially with the native gallery, but the Nextcloud photos App is very crappy.

Can't wait to switch all of this to Immich😊 But two-way sync is a must-have feature for me, hope to see it soon 👍

[XDelta778]

Is there anyone working on this feature. I think it wouild be very useful for us all !

(Just installed immich within hours thinking it was already up.....)

[majorsl]

I came here looking for this feature too. Having to manage individual photos across multiple devices/apps seems like a recipe to lose things. If I don't want it, I don't want it - anywhere.

Even if trashed on the phone, it could be in Immich's Trash which offers a recovery path for an "oops."

Agreed - is this being worked on?

[Demian98]

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