Immich•9mo ago

Change default upload drive in Windows

Hello, I have just started using immich, I'm very excited!

I am using Windows, I have installed immich using Docker Compose.

C: is an SSD and E: is a big HDD, so i want to upload my pictures to E:. Is there a simple way to do this?

I have read the docs about External Libraries, but i am not sure that's what I need. Here is what I have tried so far:

(1)
I have modified .env file to use:

- UPLOAD_LOCATION=/e/immich

- UPLOAD_LOCATION=/e/immich

- UPLOAD_LOCATION=/e/immich

- UPLOAD_LOCATION=/e/immich

- UPLOAD_LOCATION="E:/immich"

- UPLOAD_LOCATION="E:/immich"

- UPLOAD_LOCATION="E:/immich"

- UPLOAD_LOCATION="E:/immich"

But neither work. If i leave

UPLOAD_LOCATION=./library

UPLOAD_LOCATION=./library

UPLOAD_LOCATION=./library

UPLOAD_LOCATION=./library it works great. Any ideas?

(2)
ChatGPT said I should use this:

.env file:

UPLOAD_LOCATION=/immich/upload

UPLOAD_LOCATION=/immich/upload

UPLOAD_LOCATION=/immich/upload

UPLOAD_LOCATION=/immich/upload

docker-compose.yml:

  immich-server:
    ...
    volumes:
      - type: bind
        source: "E:/immich"
        target: /immich/upload

  immich-server:
    ...
    volumes:
      - type: bind
        source: "E:/immich"
        target: /immich/upload

  immich-server:
    ...
    volumes:
      - type: bind
        source: "E:/immich"
        target: /immich/upload

  immich-server:
    ...
    volumes:
      - type: bind
        source: "E:/immich"
        target: /immich/upload

But ofc it did not work

(3)
I also tried the External Libraries feature. But if I leave everything as default and just add the

- "E:/immich"

- "E:/immich"

- "E:/immich"

- "E:/immich" line:

  immich-server:
     ...
      - ${UPLOAD_LOCATION}:/usr/src/app/upload
      - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
      - "E:/immich"

  immich-server:
     ...
      - ${UPLOAD_LOCATION}:/usr/src/app/upload
      - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
      - "E:/immich"

  immich-server:
     ...
      - ${UPLOAD_LOCATION}:/usr/src/app/upload
      - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
      - "E:/immich"

  immich-server:
     ...
      - ${UPLOAD_LOCATION}:/usr/src/app/upload
      - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
      - "E:/immich"

Then it gives this error when doing

docker compose up -d

docker compose up -d

Error response from daemon: invalid mount config for type "volume": invalid mount path: 'E:/immich' mount path must be absolute

Error response from daemon: invalid mount config for type "volume": invalid mount path: 'E:/immich' mount path must be absolute

Error response from daemon: invalid mount config for type "volume": invalid mount path: 'E:/immich' mount path must be absolute

Error response from daemon: invalid mount config for type "volume": invalid mount path: 'E:/immich' mount path must be absolute

Immich•4/23/25, 10:59 AM

:wave: Hey @alex,

Thanks for reaching out to us. Please carefully read this message and follow the recommended actions. This will help us be more effective in our support effort and leave more time for building Immich :immich:.

References

Container Logs:
```
docker compose logs
```
```
docker compose logs
```
docs
Container Status:
```
docker ps -a
```
```
docker ps -a
```
docs
Reverse Proxy: https://immich.app/docs/administration/reverse-proxy
Code Formatting https://support.discord.com/hc/en-us/articles/210298617-Markdown-Text-101-Chat-Formatting-Bold-Italic-Underline#h_01GY0DAKGXDEHE263BCAYEGFJA

Immich•4/23/25, 10:59 AM

Checklist

I have...

:ballot_box_with_check: verified I'm on the latest release(note that mobile app releases may take some time).
:ballot_box_with_check: read applicable release notes.
:ballot_box_with_check: reviewed the FAQs for known issues.
:ballot_box_with_check: reviewed Github for known issues.
:ballot_box_with_check: tried accessing Immich via local ip (without a custom reverse proxy).
:ballot_box_with_check: uploaded the relevant information (see below).
:ballot_box_with_check: tried an incognito window, disabled extensions, cleared mobile app cache, logged out and back in, different browsers, etc. as applicable

(an item can be marked as "complete" by reacting with the appropriate number)

Information

In order to be able to effectively help you, we need you to provide clear information to show what the problem is. The exact details needed vary per case, but here is a list of things to consider:

Your docker-compose.yml and .env files.
Logs from all the containers and their status (see above).
All the troubleshooting steps you've tried so far.
Any recent changes you've made to Immich or your system.
Details about your system (both software/OS and hardware).
Details about your storage (filesystems, type of disks, output of commands like
```
fdisk -l
```
```
fdisk -l
```
and
```
df -h
```
```
df -h
```
).
The version of the Immich server, mobile app, and other relevant pieces.
Any other information that you think might be relevant.

Please paste files and logs with proper code formatting, and especially avoid blurry screenshots.
Without the right information we can't work out what the problem is. Help us help you ;)

If this ticket can be closed you can use the

/close

/close

command, and re-open it later if needed.

IImmich ## Checklist I have... 1. :ballot_box_with_check: verified I'm on the latest rel...

ImmichAPP•4/23/25, 4:50 PM

Successfully submitted, a tag has been added to inform contributors. :white_check_mark:

Zeus•4/23/25, 5:00 PM

using external volumes in windows is never easy

Zeus•4/23/25, 5:01 PM

I would try E:\immich but windows and docker do not work well

Mraedis•4/23/25, 6:06 PM

I think using the /mnt/e/ directory from WSL might be easier

alexOP•5/16/25, 7:44 AM

i am stuck with this, i have tried everything i could think of (including both above) but cant make immich use E drive

Also tried to use StableBit DrivePool, with no luck.

Jimmy Chen•5/16/25, 9:07 AM

If you're trying to setup an external library then instead of just 'E:/immich' it should be something like "E:/immich:/mnt/media/immich:ro" and then when you go to the external libraries settings in admin, add the path /mnt/media/immich

Mraedis•5/16/25, 9:25 AM

He's not

NoMachine•5/16/25, 11:13 AM

in docker desktop you have to create volumes for it to work properly.

https://docs.docker.com/reference/cli/docker/volume/create/

https://www.devopsroles.com/docker-compose-volumes-a-comprehensive-guide/

don't ask chatgpt, it will just make it worse

Docker Documentation

docker volume create

DevopsRoles.comHuuPV

Docker Compose Volumes: A Comprehensive Guide - DevopsRoles.com Bet...

Learn how to use Docker Compose Volumes to manage data in containers effectively. A detailed guide with examples, FAQs, and best practices.

alexOP•5/18/25, 9:21 PM

thank you @NoMachine , i managed to do it using the second link!

I created the folders E:/immich/library and E:/immich/postgres and edited the dockerfile like this:

services:
  immich-server:
    image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-server:${IMMICH_VERSION:-release}
    volumes:
      - immich-uploads:/usr/src/app/upload
    # …

  database:
    image: docker.io/tensorchord/pgvecto-rs:pg14-v0.2.0@....
    volumes:
      - immich-db:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    # …

volumes:
  immich-uploads:
    driver: local
    driver_opts:
      type: none
      o: bind
      device: E:/immich/library
  immich-db:
    driver: local
    driver_opts:
      type: none
      o: bind
      device: E:/immich/postgres

services:
  immich-server:
    image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-server:${IMMICH_VERSION:-release}
    volumes:
      - immich-uploads:/usr/src/app/upload
    # …

  database:
    image: docker.io/tensorchord/pgvecto-rs:pg14-v0.2.0@....
    volumes:
      - immich-db:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    # …

volumes:
  immich-uploads:
    driver: local
    driver_opts:
      type: none
      o: bind
      device: E:/immich/library
  immich-db:
    driver: local
    driver_opts:
      type: none
      o: bind
      device: E:/immich/postgres

Mraedis•5/18/25, 9:22 PM

E:/immich/postgres

Mraedis•5/18/25, 9:22 PM

bad

Mraedis•5/18/25, 9:23 PM

When on Windows, please us a docker volume for the database or it will get corrupted

Mraedis•5/18/25, 9:23 PM

https://immich.app/docs/install/requirements/#special-requirements-for-windows-users

Mraedis•5/18/25, 9:24 PM

Wait you are using a volume but in a weird way

Mraedis•5/18/25, 9:24 PM

I'm fairly confident it will not work if you specifically bind a folder like this

Mraedis•5/18/25, 9:25 PM

(Will not corrupt I mean)

alexOP•5/18/25, 9:25 PM

so i am good to go? sorry i used the example in the second link under "Advanced Scenarios with Docker Compose Volumes"

Mraedis•5/18/25, 9:28 PM

For the database, I would advise simply doing:

volumes:
  immich-uploads:
    driver: local
    driver_opts:
      type: none
      o: bind
      device: E:/immich/library
  immich-db:

volumes:
  immich-uploads:
    driver: local
    driver_opts:
      type: none
      o: bind
      device: E:/immich/library
  immich-db:

This will create a docker volume with all the right settings, and more importantly, NOT on an NTFS drive

Mraedis•5/18/25, 9:29 PM

Yes the total lack of options underneath immich-db is intentional

Mraedis•5/18/25, 9:30 PM

The database does not take much space, a GB or a little more in very large libraries

alexOP•5/18/25, 9:37 PM

thank you @Mraedis! Only the upload is bind-mount now and it is working ok

Mraedis•5/18/25, 9:38 PM

NoMachine•5/18/25, 9:45 PM

make sure you have proper backup, hosting in windows is a risk

Change default upload drive in Windows

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