Immich, a widely adopted self-hosted photo and video management solution often seen as an open-source alternative to cloud photo services, is nearing its final 3.0 release, with RC builds already available for what is set to be one of the project’s largest updates.
This is the first time the project has used release candidates, allowing users to test the new version and assist developers in spotting any remaining issues before the stable release.
A key addition is non-destructive photo editing on mobile. Previously introduced on the web in version 2.5, this feature now allows mobile users to crop, rotate, and adjust photos without modifying the original file. Edits can be revisited or reverted, and changes made on mobile can be further adjusted from the web interface.
Workflows, now available as a preview, introduce automation to Immich libraries using triggers, filters, and actions. Users can create workflows with a visual drag-and-drop editor or JSON definitions, enabling structured automation.
Background backup has been improved as well. On Android, Immich now uses a new periodic task scheduler that works more effectively with Android’s background execution limits. The app also alerts users if battery optimization or notification settings may disrupt backups.
On iOS, background refresh now runs sync and upload tasks in parallel, helping uploads start within the limited time window allowed by the system.
Immich 3.0 also features a Recently Added page on both web and mobile. Unlike the timeline, which organizes assets by capture date, this view sorts media by the date it was added to Immich, making it easier to locate newly imported files, especially in large libraries.
Moreover, the mobile app now supports slideshows, enabling continuous playback of photos and videos, similar to the web experience. Android users can also open photos and videos in Immich from other apps, allowing it to function as a gallery or image viewer.
On the video handling side, Immich 3.0 introduces experimental HLS and real-time transcoding, enabling on-the-fly transcoding rather than relying exclusively on pre-generated files. This feature is currently available in the web app, with mobile support in development. The project recommends hardware acceleration for optimal real-time transcoding performance.
The web app now features a custom video player, providing a consistent playback interface across devices. It includes basic controls such as playback speed adjustment and addresses issues found in native browser video controls, particularly on iOS.
Mobile now supports OCR in the asset viewer, letting users highlight, select, and copy recognized text from photos. The app also allows direct album uploads, so local photos can be added directly to an album without separate uploading and organizing steps.
Mobile sharing is more flexible than ever, with users being able to select the image size before sharing, making it easier to send smaller files via messaging apps while retaining the option to share full-quality images.
Performance improvements include enhanced timeline browsing for libraries with many assets in a single month, reducing instances of browser sluggishness or freezing.
As with any major release, Immich 3.0 includes breaking changes, mainly affecting API endpoints and third-party integrations. Most users can update as usual, but those using tools that integrate with Immich’s API should review the migration notes before upgrading.
For Docker installations, update the version variable from v2 to v3 before pulling new containers and restarting the stack.
For additional details, see the announcement.
