Once you have Immich running on your home server, the real value comes from automatic photo backup from your phone. Every photo and video you take gets quietly copied to your own server, giving you a self-hosted alternative to iCloud or Google Photos with no monthly subscription and no privacy trade-offs. This guide walks you through installing the Immich mobile app, connecting it to your server, and configuring backup so it runs reliably in the background on both iPhone and Android.
Installing the Immich App
The Immich mobile app is free on both platforms. On iPhone, open the App Store and search for Immich. On Android, open the Google Play Store and search for Immich, or look for the package name app.alextran.immich directly. Install the app and open it — you will be prompted to enter your server address before you can do anything else.
Connecting to Your Server
When the app opens, it asks for your server URL. If you are on the same local network as your server, enter http://[your-server-ip]:2283, replacing [your-server-ip] with your server’s local IP address (for example, http://192.168.1.100:2283). If you have set up a domain with a reverse proxy and SSL, you can use your domain instead, such as https://photos.yourdomain.com. Once the app connects, enter your Immich username and password to log in.
Accessing Immich Outside Your Home Network
If you want your phone to back up photos when you are away from home — on mobile data or a different Wi-Fi network — you need a way to reach your server from the internet. There are two practical options. The first is a reverse proxy with a valid SSL certificate, which exposes Immich at a public domain name. The second is a VPN such as Tailscale, which creates a private tunnel between your phone and your home network without opening any ports. Tailscale is the simpler option for most people, as it works without port forwarding and keeps your server entirely off the public internet.
Configuring Backup Settings
Before your first backup runs, it is worth reviewing the backup settings to make sure they match your preferences. In the app, go to Profile > Backup Settings.
Which Albums to Back Up
By default, Immich backs up all photos and videos on your device. You can restrict this to specific albums if you only want to back up your camera roll and not screenshots, downloads, or third-party app images. Tap Backup Albums and select which albums to include or exclude.
Wi-Fi Only vs. Mobile Data
For most people with a large photo library, it is strongly recommended to enable Wi-Fi only backup. Uploading thousands of photos over mobile data would eat through your data allowance quickly. You will find this toggle in the backup settings. Once enabled, the app will only upload when you are connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Video Backup
Video files are significantly larger than photos. If you take a lot of video, make sure the Back up videos toggle is enabled if you want them included — or disable it if you only want photos. Immich stores everything in its original format, including JPEG, HEIC, RAW, MP4, and MOV files, so you will not lose quality in the process.
Backup Modes: Foreground and Background
Immich supports two backup modes, and understanding the difference will save you frustration later.
Foreground backup runs whenever you have the app open on screen. This is the most reliable method and the one to use when you first set up Immich with a large existing library.
Background backup runs periodically when the app is not open. This is what makes Immich feel automatic — your phone uploads new photos without you needing to open the app. However, background backup behaves very differently on iOS and Android.
Background Backup on iPhone
On iOS, you must enable Background App Refresh for Immich. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh, scroll down to Immich, and make sure it is toggled on. Note that iOS controls exactly when background tasks run — Apple intentionally limits how often and for how long background apps can execute, so you cannot force Immich to upload continuously in the background. The app will back up opportunistically, typically when your phone is charging and connected to Wi-Fi. For reliable uploads, opening the app for a few minutes when you are at home is the most consistent approach.
Background Backup on Android
Android gives apps more background freedom than iOS, but many manufacturers undo this with aggressive battery optimisation. On devices from Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, and OnePlus in particular, background apps are routinely killed by the system to save battery, which will interrupt Immich uploads silently.
To fix this, you need to disable battery optimisation for Immich. On most Android devices, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Optimisation, find Immich in the list, and set it to Don’t optimise. The exact steps vary by manufacturer. The website dontkillmyapp.com has detailed, per-manufacturer instructions for every major Android brand — it is worth checking if your backups stop unexpectedly.
Your First Backup
The first time you run a backup, particularly if you have years of photos to upload, it will take a long time. Depending on your library size, network speed, and server hardware, the initial backup can take several hours or even days. This is completely normal. Keep the app open and your phone plugged in to get through the bulk of it as quickly as possible. You can monitor progress in the app — it shows how many assets have been uploaded and how many remain.
It is important to know that Immich does not delete photos from your phone. The app copies photos to your server — your originals stay exactly where they are on your device. Immich is a backup tool, not a sync tool that moves files.
After Backup: Finding Your Photos
Once photos have been uploaded, they appear in the Timeline view on the Immich web interface, sorted by date. You will also see them in the mobile app. New photos you take will appear in Immich once the next backup runs.
Library vs. Upload Folder
Immich separates content into two areas. The Upload folder is where mobile backups land — each user has their own upload folder, and photos backed up from the app go here automatically. The Library refers to external library sources, such as folders on your server that Immich watches and indexes (configured server-side). For most users, everything from their phone will be in their personal upload folder, accessible under Photos in the web interface.
Handling Duplicate Photos
Immich checks for duplicates using file hashes, so if you back up the same photo twice — for example after reinstalling the app — it will not create a second copy. If you do notice duplicates in your library, the Immich web interface includes a Duplicates tool under the Explore section that lets you review and remove them in bulk.
Troubleshooting Backup Issues
If your backup stops progressing, there are a few things to check. First, confirm the app can reach your server by opening it and checking whether the timeline loads. If you are on mobile data and have Wi-Fi only enabled, that is expected behaviour — connect to Wi-Fi and it will resume. On Android, revisit the battery optimisation settings and check dontkillmyapp.com for your device. On iPhone, check that Background App Refresh is still enabled, as iOS can disable it automatically when storage or battery is low. If the app shows an error, logging out and back in often resolves authentication issues after a server restart or IP address change.
Related Immich Guides
- Immich: The Complete Self-Hosted Google Photos Alternative
- What Is Immich? The Self-Hosted Google Photos Alternative
- How to Install Immich with Docker Compose
- Immich vs Google Photos: Is Self-Hosting Worth It?
- How to Run Immich on Proxmox: LXC Container Setup
- How to Put Immich Behind a Reverse Proxy with SSL
- Immich Hardware Requirements: Raspberry Pi, NUC, or NAS?
- Immich Face Recognition and Smart Search: How to Enable It
- How to Back Up Immich: Protecting Your Photo Library
- Immich vs PhotoPrism vs Piwigo: Best Self-Hosted Photo App?
