this post was submitted on 27 Dec 2024
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Hi,

I’m trying to find a way to have my iPhone’s photos be automatically (or even manually) backed up/synced with my home server.

I heard about photo prism here and got it up and running, however I could not find a free app that lets you sync. Photo sync is their main recommendation and it puts high quality photo backup behind premium.

Is there any solution that lets you backup your photos through home wifi?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: thanks to the suggestions, I found this handy chart listing many and comparing them: https://meichthys.github.io/foss_photo_libraries/

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[–] [email protected] 98 points 1 week ago (5 children)
[–] gedaliyah 19 points 1 week ago

Absolutely phenomenal. Great app, hosting, and development community.

It's a good reason to start self hosting.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

This is amazing, exactly what I was looking for!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

This. Its excellent. Cross platform. AI search. Location tagging. Everythibg u want.

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[–] [email protected] 45 points 1 week ago

Immich. Come for the photo backup, stay for everything else because it's awesome.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 week ago (7 children)

Like everyone is saying, Immich.

But keep an eye on updates because it is under active development so breaking changes tend to happen every once in a while.

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I use syncthing to keep all my documents and pictures synced between my devices.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Yeah this.

I don't keep all my photos in sync though. Only the last few months.

I'm using photoprism to browse photos on my server but I've been meaning to look at other options because it's not that great IMO.

[–] surewhynotlem 3 points 1 week ago

I swapped out photoprism for immich and I'm much happier.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 week ago

Immich has a setting that does automatic photo backup over WiFi, I use the android app as a Google photos replacement. You can choose however many folders on your phone as you want (I just do camera roll) and enable only backup over WiFi and it backs up all the photos in original quality. I self-host the server on my Synology with a reverse proxy (can't forward ports at my current place due to cgnat) so I can access it from anywhere.

I believe the app is cross platform so the iPhone version should be identical to the android one.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 week ago

I use Immich, and I love it.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Nextcloud's instant upload feature?
Whenever I take a picture or screenshot it's uploaded there.

Nextcloud might be overkill if that's the only feature you need. I've never used the more involved stuff like chat or document editing, just sync.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

You can use the Nextcloud app with the much simpler KaraDAV backend. Works fine for photo backups.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

That feature kinda works, but it's incredibly fragile. It has caused so many annoyances for me over the last year or so that I'm finally done with the thing. Just go with immich instead, less headache.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (9 children)

Nextcloud has so many bugs when you store a lot of files, and photos on a phone accumulate to a big number. Both their Android app and server doesn't deal with a few years' worth of photos.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Immich has completely replaced Google Photos for me, love it!

My only bugbear is that it is updated very frequently (what a nice problem to have!) which in my case requires a manual once-over of my docker-compose file every time in case there are breaking changes.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I go the other way, auto-update and fix the file if it goes down lol

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

As a developer myself I'm not sure if I would trust any application to safely handle a configuration that has become invalid due to a breaking change, especially not an app that is still under active development! Better safe than sorry.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

It's docker compose changes (at least the ones in the last 2 years have been), so it's not really config related with a worry about breaking stuff from that.

But also multiple backups are in place anyways, so worst case I restore from that.

[–] surph_ninja 12 points 1 week ago

Nextcloud. Works super well.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago (5 children)

I think right now it is a throwdown between:

  • Nextcloud Photos
  • Immich
  • Ente Photos
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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I've been using folder sync pro for ages and ages https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dk.tacit.android.foldersync.full

It basically syncs a folder from your phone to a folder on your home servers share.

I think it was paid.... But it's been years so I couldn't tell you.

[–] cobysev 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I think it was paid.... But it's been years so I couldn't tell you.

It's currently $3.99 in the Play Store for me, with a crossed-out list price of $6.49. Not a bad deal.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Yeah I've definitely gotten that out of it.

It backs up my entire phone to my server.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

I have all my photos synced to iCloud and have Apple Photos running on my Mac with the option to “always download originals” enabled. Then, I run a daily backup of my Mac’s photo library to my NAS. For this, I’m using CCC at the moment but I’m planning to switch to restic.

[–] dogma11 2 points 1 week ago (6 children)

I've been using Ente Photos, and PhotoPrism and I've been liking Ente pretty well. Little bit more work to get things setup and going but I've been enjoying it for the last few months

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