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How to Self-Host Immich on a VPS (Google Photos Alternative, 2026)

By VPS.app ·Updated May 31, 2026 ·2 min read

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Self-hosted photo library

Immich is the closest thing to a self-hosted Google Photos: automatic phone backup, a fast timeline, albums, sharing, plus AI-powered search and face grouping. It’s heavier than something like Vaultwarden, so size the VPS accordingly.

Prerequisites

  • A VPS with 4 GB RAM or more and disk to match your library (options).
  • A domain, e.g. photos.yourdomain.com (point it at the VPS).
  • Docker + Docker Compose, plus a reverse proxy for HTTPS.

Step 1 — Use the official Compose

Immich pins specific image versions and a special vector-enabled database, so start from their official files rather than improvising:

mkdir immich && cd immich
wget -O docker-compose.yml https://github.com/immich-app/immich/releases/latest/download/docker-compose.yml
wget -O .env https://github.com/immich-app/immich/releases/latest/download/example.env

Step 2 — Configure .env

Edit .env and set at least:

  • UPLOAD_LOCATION — where photos are stored on the host (e.g. ./library)
  • DB_PASSWORD — a strong database password

Step 3 — Start it

docker compose up -d

The first start pulls several images and the ML model, so give it a few minutes.

Step 4 — HTTPS + mobile app

Put Nginx Proxy Manager in front, map photos.yourdomain.com to the Immich server container, and issue a Let’s Encrypt cert (guide). Then install the Immich app, point it at your URL, and enable automatic backup.

Which VPS to run it on

Immich is the case where you should not buy the cheapest box — the ML features want RAM. A 4 GB+ instance is the sweet spot. Hetzner gives the most RAM per dollar if you’ll manage it yourself; Cloudways is the managed option. Compare in Best VPS for Self-Hosting.

Frequently asked questions

What VPS specs does Immich need?

More than most self-hosted apps, because of the machine-learning features (search, faces). Aim for 4 GB RAM or more, and plenty of disk for your photo library. 2 GB can work if you disable ML.

Does Immich really replace Google Photos?

For backup, timeline, albums, sharing, AI search and face grouping — yes, very closely, with mobile apps for iOS and Android. You trade Google's convenience for full ownership.

Should I use the official Immich compose file?

Yes. Immich moves fast and pins specific image tags and a special database image, so always start from their official docker-compose.yml and .env rather than a hand-written one.

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