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How to Set Up an External Library on Immich for Synology and UGREEN NAS: Access Old Photo Libraries Instantly, No Re-upload Needed! 📸
Learn how to set up an External Library in Immich on Synology and UGREEN NAS to access existing photo and video collections directly on your device without re-uploading files, making photo library management more convenient.
📌 Key Highlights:
- Immich is a highly popular self-hosted photo and video management platform with an External Library feature for directly displaying existing photos on your NAS.
- Setup requires modifying the Docker Compose Stack via Portainer to map your photo folder volume into the Immich container.
- After modifying the Stack, you will need to go into Immich's Administration page to add a new Library and initiate a full file scan.
Immich has become one of the most trending self-hosted photo and video management platforms currently, offering an interface and user experience similar to Google Photos, but giving you complete control over all your data on your own NAS. One of its most powerful features is the External Library, which allows you to instantly use existing photo and video folders on your storage without having to re-upload all files to Immich's internal library, thus saving space and time.
For those who have already installed Immich on Synology NAS or UGREEN NAS via Docker, this guide will walk you through the simple, step-by-step process of setting up an External Library, enabling you to quickly connect your old photo collection to Immich.
⚙️ Setup Steps via Portainer
Start by opening Portainer and navigating to the Stack menu. Then, select your active Immich Stack, click on the Editor tab, and scroll down to the `immich-server` service section. Locate the `volumes:` key, and add the path of the photo folder you wish to connect.
For example, if your photos are stored at `/volume1/Photos`, add the following line under `volumes:`:
- `/volume1/Photos:/usr/src/app/external:ro`
Here, `/volume1/Photos` is the actual path on your NAS, while `/usr/src/app/external` is the path inside the container. `:ro` signifies Read-Only permissions for security, preventing Immich from modifying or deleting your original files. Afterward, click the `Update the stack` button to save the changes.
🖥️ In-Application Immich Setup
Once the Stack update is complete, open the Immich web interface. Click on the profile icon in the top-right corner and select `Administration`. Then, navigate to the `External Libraries` menu on the left. Click the `+` icon to create a new Library, select the Owner of this Library, and click `Create`.
On the next page, click the `+` icon again under the `Folders` heading. In the `Path` field, type `/usr/src/app/external` and click `Add`. The final step is to return to the `External Libraries` page. You will see the newly created Library. Click the three-dot menu and select `Scan` to have Immich begin scanning and indexing all files in the folder. The duration will depend on the number and size of all files you have. Once complete, photos and videos from your external folder will appear in Immich, ready for use.
💬 Who among you is using Immich to manage your photo library on your own NAS? Which features do you like the most? Share with us!