Immich•7mo ago

Setting up Immich on a flashdrive in Windows 10

Hi, I'm new to Immich and fairly new to Linux systems in general, and I'm having trouble with setup. I've installed Docker Destop with defaults, then I created immich-app on my flashdrive (G:) and placed .env and docker-compose.yml inside immich-app. My .env is:

UPLOAD_LOCATION="G:/immich-app/library"
DB_DATA_LOCATION="G:/immich-app/postgres"
IMMICH_VERSION=release
DB_PASSWORD=<alphanumeric password i chose>
#########################
DB_USERNAME=postgres
DB_DATABASE_NAME=immich

UPLOAD_LOCATION="G:/immich-app/library"
DB_DATA_LOCATION="G:/immich-app/postgres"
IMMICH_VERSION=release
DB_PASSWORD=<alphanumeric password i chose>
#########################
DB_USERNAME=postgres
DB_DATABASE_NAME=immich

UPLOAD_LOCATION="G:/immich-app/library"
DB_DATA_LOCATION="G:/immich-app/postgres"
IMMICH_VERSION=release
DB_PASSWORD=<alphanumeric password i chose>
#########################
DB_USERNAME=postgres
DB_DATABASE_NAME=immich

UPLOAD_LOCATION="G:/immich-app/library"
DB_DATA_LOCATION="G:/immich-app/postgres"
IMMICH_VERSION=release
DB_PASSWORD=<alphanumeric password i chose>
#########################
DB_USERNAME=postgres
DB_DATABASE_NAME=immich

The compose file is default, I haven't changed it at all. Immich starts normal, and I can set it up from a browser, upload, and interface with the photos without issue. But the files aren't being stored on the G: drive when I upload them. Instead, they are put in \wsl.localhost/docker-desktop/mnt/host/g/immich-app. I'm not sure how to change this so they are stored just on my flashdrive, not taking up space on my main C: drive.

Immich•6/12/25, 7:34 PM

:wave: Hey @Minispark,

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•6/12/25, 7:34 PM

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.

MinisparkOP•6/12/25, 7:53 PM

env1KB

df_-h_output.txt247B

docker-compose.yml2.73KB

immich_machine_learning_logs.txt640B

immich_postgres_logs.txt2.6KB

immich_redis_logs.txt960B

immich_server.txt30.66KB

bo0tzz•6/12/25, 7:54 PM

You shouldn't put things on a flash drive if you can help it

bo0tzz•6/12/25, 7:54 PM

It'll be horribly slow

MinisparkOP•6/12/25, 7:54 PM

I don't really have the space on my C: drive

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

ImmichAPP•6/12/25, 7:54 PM

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

Mraedis•6/12/25, 8:41 PM

wsl.localhost/docker-desktop/mnt/host/g/wsl.localhost/docker-desktop/mnt/host/g/ is the WSL equivalent of G:

MMraedis `wsl.localhost/docker-desktop/mnt/host/g/` is the WSL equivalent of G:

MinisparkOP•6/12/25, 8:44 PM

Ok, I kind of parsed that, but I guess my question still is, does that mean when I upload photos, are they actually being stored on G:? Or are they taking up space on my C: drive?

Mraedis•6/12/25, 8:45 PM

Have you considered just navigating to G: and checking it out?

MinisparkOP•6/12/25, 8:47 PM

Right, checking there was what had me concerned in the first place. The compose creates both the library and postgres folders in G:, but nothing is inside

Mraedis•6/12/25, 8:52 PM

and if you move up a folder and into upload

MinisparkOP•6/12/25, 9:06 PM

moving a folder up just goes into immich-app, which I have in the root of my G: drive

Mraedis•6/12/25, 9:06 PM

That means it wasn't mounted properly to the docker container (which is like with usb drives)

Mraedis•6/12/25, 9:07 PM

So yes, right now they are stored on your C: drive

MinisparkOP•6/12/25, 9:45 PM

Got it. Is there a tutorial somewhere I can follow to mount it?

Mraedis•6/12/25, 9:47 PM

You're doing everything correctly, it's just that USB sticks + Windows = unreliable

Mraedis•6/12/25, 9:47 PM

There are good reasons we strongly recommend a linux host and this is one of them

MinisparkOP•6/12/25, 10:06 PM

Alright, I have a shitty windows laptop with a half terabyte drive I left around somewhere. I’ll find it and put Linux and immich on that. Does immich work with Ubuntu server well?

Mraedis•6/12/25, 10:08 PM

Sure! Any modern unix OS works fine

MinisparkOP•6/12/25, 10:08 PM

Thanks for all the help, I’ll close the ticket

Mraedis•6/12/25, 10:08 PM

Just be sure to follow the docker guidelines to install it, and not just blindly apt install docker

Mraedis•6/12/25, 10:08 PM

https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/ubuntu/

ImmichAPP•6/12/25, 10:09 PM

This thread has been closed. To re-open, use the button below.

Setting up Immich on a flashdrive in Windows 10

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