Immich 3.0 has been released as a major update to the self-hosted photo and video management platform, introducing several breaking changes that primarily affect API endpoints and third-party integrations.
A key feature in Immich 3.0 is mobile non-destructive editing, which now more closely matches the web version, following earlier web-based image-editing support. Users can now crop, rotate, and adjust photos in the mobile app without modifying the original file. Edits are reversible and can be modified later, including from the web interface.
Some previous features, such as recoloring, live photo editing, and local asset editing, have been temporarily removed, with plans to restore them in future updates.
Workflows, accessible in the web interface under Utilities, introduced as a preview feature, bring automation to Immich through triggers, filters, and actions. Users can now create rules to manage tasks within their media library. The editor offers both a visual interface and a JSON editor for manual creation or sharing of configurations.
Backup functionality has also been improved. On Android, background backup is now more reliable, with a new periodic task scheduler that enables background uploads of the entire library.
On top of that, the Android app now warns users if battery optimization or notification settings may disrupt backups. On iOS, background refresh runs sync and upload tasks in parallel, improving upload reliability within the system’s time constraints.
Additionally, Immich 3.0 introduces a Recently Added page on web and mobile, sorting assets by their import date rather than capture date.
For server maintenance, Immich now offers integrity checks. The system scans storage directories and compares files on disk with database records, reporting untracked or missing files and checksum mismatches.
Video handling has advanced with the introduction of HLS and real-time video transcoding as a preview feature, enabling on-the-fly transcoding. The feature is experimental, available only in the web app, and requires a powerful server for maximum performance. Hardware acceleration is recommended but not mandatory.
The web app now features a custom video player with a consistent Immich-style interface across devices. It includes basic controls like playback speed adjustment and resolves layout issues on iOS where native controls previously conflicted with the navigation bar.
On mobile, Immich 3.0 introduces slideshow support, enabling users to play photos and videos directly in the app. Android users can also open media from other apps in Immich as a gallery viewer, with options to share or upload files to the library.
Moreover, OCR is now available in the mobile app. The asset viewer includes a toggle to highlight recognized text, allowing users to select and copy text from images. Users can also upload local photos directly to an album and select image size when sharing.
Finally, the timeline now offers improved performance for smoother browsing through months with large numbers of assets. Developers note this should prevent browser tabs from freezing when working on extensive monthly collections.
For additional details, see the changelog.
To upgrade from Immich 2.x, users need to update the IMMICH_VERSION value in the .env file from v2 to v3, then run the standard Docker Compose pull and restart commands. The full migration guide is here. Additionally, users who rely on third-party tools or API integrations should review the migration notes before updating.
