> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.kombify.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Back up photos from your phone > Connect your phone to your photo server, from the first app start to your first uploaded photo. export const PhotoGuideSummary = ({children, ...props}) => { const Tag = "summary"; return {children}; }; export const PhotoGuideStrong = ({children, ...props}) => { const Tag = "strong"; return {children}; }; export const PhotoGuideFooter = ({children, ...props}) => { const Tag = "footer"; return {children}; }; export const PhotoGuideFigure = ({children, ...props}) => { const Tag = "figure"; return {children}; }; export const PhotoGuideFigcaption = ({children, ...props}) => { const Tag = "figcaption"; return {children}; }; export const PhotoGuideDialog = ({children, ...props}) => { const Tag = "dialog"; return {children}; }; export const PhotoGuideDetails = ({children, ...props}) => { const Tag = "details"; return {children}; }; export const PhotoGuideAside = ({children, ...props}) => { const Tag = "aside"; return {children}; }; export const PhotoGuideArticle = ({children, ...props}) => { const Tag = "article"; return {children}; }; export const PhotoGuideIcon = ({name}) => { const icons = { icon0: , icon1: , icon2: , icon3: , icon4: , icon5: , icon6: , icon7: , icon8: , icon9: , icon10: , icon11: , icon12: , icon13: , icon14: , icon15: , icon16: , icon17: , icon18: , icon19: }; return icons[name] || null; }; export const PhotoGuide = ({children}) => { const rootRef = useRef(null); useEffect(() => { const root = rootRef.current; if (!root) return; const $ = (selector, scope = root) => scope.querySelector(selector); const $$ = (selector, scope = root) => Array.from(scope.querySelectorAll(selector)); const byId = id => $('[id="' + id + '"]'); const abort = new AbortController(); const listen = (node, event, handler) => node && node.addEventListener(event, handler, { signal: abort.signal }); const storageKey = 'kombify-photo-guide-v3'; let current = 0; let completed = [false, false, false, false]; let verified = [false, false, false]; let toastTimer; try { const saved = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(storageKey) || 'null'); if (Array.isArray(saved?.completed) && saved.completed.length === 4) completed = saved.completed.map(Boolean); if (Array.isArray(saved?.verified) && saved.verified.length === 3) verified = saved.verified.map(Boolean); } catch (_) {} if (!verified.every(Boolean)) completed[3] = false; const save = () => { try { localStorage.setItem(storageKey, JSON.stringify({ completed, verified })); } catch (_) {} }; const toast = text => { const node = $('#kpg-toast'); node.textContent = text; node.hidden = false; clearTimeout(toastTimer); toastTimer = setTimeout(() => { node.hidden = true; }, 3800); }; const updateProgress = () => { $('#kpg-progress-label').textContent = `${completed.filter(Boolean).length} of 4 steps done`; $$('.progress-meter span').forEach((node, i) => node.classList.toggle('done', completed[i])); $$('.step-tab').forEach((node, i) => { node.classList.toggle('done', completed[i]); $('.step-dot', node).textContent = completed[i] ? '✓' : String(i + 1); }); $('#kpg-done-message').hidden = !completed[3]; }; const selectStep = (index, focus = false) => { current = Math.max(0, Math.min(3, index)); $$('.step-tab').forEach((node, i) => { node.setAttribute('aria-selected', String(i === current)); node.tabIndex = i === current ? 0 : -1; }); $$('.guide-panel').forEach((node, i) => { node.hidden = i !== current; }); $('#kpg-prev').disabled = current === 0; $('#kpg-next span').textContent = current === 3 ? completed[3] ? 'More topics' : 'Finish check' : 'Done · next'; if (focus) $('[data-step="' + current + '"]').focus(); }; $$('[data-step]').forEach(node => listen(node, 'click', () => selectStep(Number(node.dataset.step)))); listen($('.step-tabs'), 'keydown', event => { if (!['ArrowRight', 'ArrowLeft', 'Home', 'End'].includes(event.key)) return; event.preventDefault(); selectStep(event.key === 'Home' ? 0 : event.key === 'End' ? 3 : (current + (event.key === 'ArrowRight' ? 1 : 3)) % 4, true); }); listen($('#kpg-prev'), 'click', () => selectStep(current - 1)); listen($('#kpg-next'), 'click', () => { if (current < 3) { completed[current] = true; save(); updateProgress(); selectStep(current + 1, true); } else if (completed[3]) { $('#kpg-more').scrollIntoView({ block: 'start' }); $('.more-card').focus({ preventScroll: true }); } else if (verified.every(Boolean)) { completed[3] = true; save(); updateProgress(); selectStep(3); toast('Your check is marked as done in this browser.'); } else { toast('Check the three points on your photo server first.'); $('#kpg-verify-' + verified.indexOf(false)).focus(); } }); $$('.verify-list input').forEach((node, i) => { node.checked = verified[i]; listen(node, 'change', () => { verified[i] = node.checked; if (!verified.every(Boolean)) completed[3] = false; save(); updateProgress(); selectStep(current); }); }); listen($('#kpg-reset-progress'), 'click', () => { completed = [false, false, false, false]; verified = [false, false, false]; $$('.verify-list input').forEach(node => { node.checked = false; }); save(); updateProgress(); selectStep(0); toast('Your progress in this browser was reset.'); }); listen($('#kpg-print'), 'click', () => window.print()); const openDialog = id => { const dialog = byId(id); if (dialog && !dialog.open) dialog.showModal(); }; $$('[data-open]').forEach(node => listen(node, 'click', event => { event.preventDefault(); openDialog(node.dataset.open); })); $$('[data-close]').forEach(node => listen(node, 'click', () => node.closest('dialog').close())); $$('dialog').forEach(dialog => listen(dialog, 'click', event => { if (event.target !== dialog) return; const rect = dialog.getBoundingClientRect(); if (event.clientX < rect.left || event.clientX > rect.right || event.clientY < rect.top || event.clientY > rect.bottom) dialog.close(); })); $$('[data-zoom]').forEach(node => listen(node, 'click', () => { const image = $('img', node.closest('figure')); $('#kpg-zoom-image').src = image.currentSrc || image.src; $('#kpg-zoom-image').alt = image.alt; $('#kpg-zoom-source').href = image.src; openDialog('kpg-zoom-dialog'); })); $$('[data-reveal]').forEach(node => listen(node, 'click', () => { const details = byId(node.dataset.reveal); if (details) details.open = true; })); const checkImage = image => image.closest('.screen-figure').classList.toggle('image-unavailable', !image.complete || !image.naturalWidth); $$('.screen-image > img').forEach(image => { listen(image, 'load', () => checkImage(image)); listen(image, 'error', () => checkImage(image)); if (image.complete) checkImage(image); }); const imageTimer = setTimeout(() => $$('.screen-image > img').forEach(checkImage), 7000); updateProgress(); selectStep(0); return () => { abort.abort(); clearTimeout(toastTimer); clearTimeout(imageTimer); $$('dialog[open]').forEach(dialog => dialog.close()); }; }, []); return
{children}
; };
iPhone, iPad & Android 4 short steps No prior knowledge needed
What you need A running Immich server Your photo server address and accountNot set up yet?

First, get the right app.

Straight from Immich
iPhone & iPadImmich for iOSOpen in the App Store AndroidImmich for AndroidOpen in Google Play No photo server yet?For the operatorSet up a server

The steps below use an iPhone or iPad. Android notes · The app alone does not replace a server.

Connect step by step.

iPhone / iPad
STEP 01 / 04

Enter your
photo address.

Open the Immich app. It first asks which server you want to connect to.

  1. 1Enter your own Immich address in Server Endpoint URL.
  2. 2Tap Next and sign in with your Immich account.
The address in the picture is only an example. Use the address you open your photo server with in a browser.
Where do I get the address and account?

From the person who set up your photo server. If a kombify setup already runs it, open the photo service from your Node Hub. Your Immich account is not automatically your kombify account.
Next, you see your photo overview.
0 of 4 steps done

Reference images from Immich · English menus · No kombify test captures. Image sources and date

Your photos are uploaded. That is not a backup yet.

Also back up the photo files and the Immich database to a separate place. See what to back up. Keep your originals for now.

What comes next.

Stuck?

I don't have an Immich server yet.
The app connects to an existing Immich installation. You can deploy the photo service with a kombify StackKit or set up the server manually. Start with kombify · Official manual installation .
 My photo address does not open.
Test the same address in a browser first. If your server runs only on your home network, connect your phone to that Wi-Fi or to the private access you set up. Check the spelling and whether the server is reachable. Do not bypass certificate warnings. Notes for the operator .
 Photos upload only while the app is open.
On the iPhone, open Settings → General → Background App Refresh. Allow the feature and turn it on for Immich. iOS still decides when background tasks run and for how long. Keep the app open for the first large upload. Vendor guide .
 My app looks different from the pictures.
The pictures come from the English Immich documentation. Language, operating system and app version change what you see. Check which server and app versions belong together instead of updating the server blindly. Current app guide · Upgrade notes .
Immich is the photo app. kombify helps you deploy and use it.
kombify does not make Immich. Vendor · Documentation · AGPLv3 license
Image sources, checked links and date

Reference images · September 16, 2026. The step images are real reference views from the official Immich documentation. They are not recreated app screens and not results of a kombify rollout. This guide added the thin violet markers.

The vendor images do not state their exact app version. Language, operating system and app version can differ. Captures from kombify rollout tests are not included yet.

Your progress is stored only in this browser. The guide connects no accounts, asks for no passwords and runs no uploads. The embedded vendor images need an internet connection.
Guide by kombify · Images and trademarks belong to their respective owners.

What belongs in your backup?

A phone upload does not protect you from a hardware failure or data loss on your photo server.

  1. Back up the photo and video files. Not just the thumbnails.
  2. Back up the Immich database too. It holds album assignments and other metadata. The automatic database export contains no photos.
  3. Keep the copy separate and test a restore. Another directory on the same disk is not enough.
Back up with kombify StackKits

Running Immich yourself? Official Immich backup guide . The vendor guide opens in a new tab.

Your photos, with or without AI.

Without AI analysis. This guide covers uploads, the photo view and albums. They work without smart search and face recognition.

With AI analysis. Immich can, for example, find pictures by search terms and group people. You configure these features in the server administration.

Your installation decides whether and where this processing runs. Turning off new analysis does not delete existing analysis results.

Search and options in Immich

Face recognition · Turn off AI . This guide changes no settings.

Vendor screenshot

Open the original from the vendor