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Evidence state (2026-09-17, v0.35.0): Photos with Immich is unverified on v0.35.0, because the newest lifecycle run on this release failed in the apply phase. Photos was last verified on the public v0.33.3 archive, where a run on Ubuntu 24.04 amd64 (Basement Kit, standalone) passed install, init, generate, apply, owner setup, verify, backup, isolated restore, and restore activation. The application-level readback of the restored Photos data is pending. Cloud Kit is a preview with no automated lifecycle run yet.
Photos gives your household one library for photos and videos on a host you operate. Immich runs the library, and its mobile apps upload pictures from your phones. The release catalog calls this use case Photos and Memories and delivers it as the optional photos workload.

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Applications

Immich

The photo and video library behind Photos: released contract, selection and first use.

Back up photos from your phone

Connect the Immich app, choose albums and check your first upload.

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Choose the host

  • Use Basement Kit for local hardware and LAN-first access.
  • Use Cloud Kit for an existing VPS or cloud host with a domain you control.

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Plan storage and recovery

Photos and videos often become the largest data set in a homelab. Plan storage and backups before you import a family library.
  • Size primary and backup storage for photo and video growth.
  • Recovery needs both the original photos and videos and the Immich database. Either part alone is not a complete restore.
  • Practice a staged restore before the library is the only copy of your photos. See Back up and restore.

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Set it up

Select the workload and complete first use on the Immich page. Then connect each phone with Back up photos from your phone and check that a test photo arrives.