Immich•5mo ago

Help setting up Immich on External Drive on Mac OS.

I was able to get Immich setup (with Tailscale) installing on the internal drive. But whenever I try to install on my external drive (1TB Samsung, exFAT), it fails. Can anyone help me ? Its a Mac Mini M4 256GB desktop using Docker Desktop (Docker Compose via CLI to build and run Immich). Yaml is below and my external for Immich is at /Volumes/T7/Immich.

services:
  ts-immich:
    image: tailscale/tailscale:latest
    container_name: ts-immich
    hostname: immich
    environment:
     - TS_AUTHKEY= *********
     - TS_STATE_DIR=/var/lib/tailscale
     - TS_SERVE_CONFIG=/config/immich.json
    volumes:
     - ${PWD}/ts-immich/state:/var/lib/tailscale
     - ${PWD}/ts/config:/config
     - /dev/net/tun:/dev/net/tun
    cap_add:
     - net_admin
     - sys_module
    restart: unless-stopped
  immich-server:
    container_name: immich-server
    image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-server:${IMMICH_VERSION:-release}
    volumes:
     - ${UPLOAD_LOCATION}:/Volumes/T7/Immich
     - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
    env_file:
     - .env
    network_mode: service:ts-immich
    depends_on:
     - redis
     - database
    restart: always
  immich-machine-learning:
    container_name: immich_machine_learning
    image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-machine-learning:${IMMICH_VERSION:-release}
    volumes:
     - model-cache:/cache
    restart: always
    ports:
     - 3003:3003
  redis:
    container_name: immich-redis
    image: docker.io/redis:6.2-alpine@sha256:2d1463258f2764328496376f5d965f20c6a67f66ea2b06dc42af351f75248792
    restart: always
  database:
    container_name: immich-postgres
    image: docker.io/tensorchord/pgvecto-rs:pg14-v0.2.0@sha256:90724186f0a3517cf6914295b5ab410db9ce23190a2d9d0b9dd6463e3fa298f0
    environment:
     POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${DB_PASSWORD}
     POSTGRES_USER: ${DB_USERNAME}
     POSTGRES_DB: ${DB_DATABASE_NAME}
    volumes:
     - ${DB_DATA_LOCATION}:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: always
volumes:
   model-cache:
   ts-immich:

services:
  ts-immich:
    image: tailscale/tailscale:latest
    container_name: ts-immich
    hostname: immich
    environment:
     - TS_AUTHKEY= *********
     - TS_STATE_DIR=/var/lib/tailscale
     - TS_SERVE_CONFIG=/config/immich.json
    volumes:
     - ${PWD}/ts-immich/state:/var/lib/tailscale
     - ${PWD}/ts/config:/config
     - /dev/net/tun:/dev/net/tun
    cap_add:
     - net_admin
     - sys_module
    restart: unless-stopped
  immich-server:
    container_name: immich-server
    image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-server:${IMMICH_VERSION:-release}
    volumes:
     - ${UPLOAD_LOCATION}:/Volumes/T7/Immich
     - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
    env_file:
     - .env
    network_mode: service:ts-immich
    depends_on:
     - redis
     - database
    restart: always
  immich-machine-learning:
    container_name: immich_machine_learning
    image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-machine-learning:${IMMICH_VERSION:-release}
    volumes:
     - model-cache:/cache
    restart: always
    ports:
     - 3003:3003
  redis:
    container_name: immich-redis
    image: docker.io/redis:6.2-alpine@sha256:2d1463258f2764328496376f5d965f20c6a67f66ea2b06dc42af351f75248792
    restart: always
  database:
    container_name: immich-postgres
    image: docker.io/tensorchord/pgvecto-rs:pg14-v0.2.0@sha256:90724186f0a3517cf6914295b5ab410db9ce23190a2d9d0b9dd6463e3fa298f0
    environment:
     POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${DB_PASSWORD}
     POSTGRES_USER: ${DB_USERNAME}
     POSTGRES_DB: ${DB_DATABASE_NAME}
    volumes:
     - ${DB_DATA_LOCATION}:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: always
volumes:
   model-cache:
   ts-immich:

services:
  ts-immich:
    image: tailscale/tailscale:latest
    container_name: ts-immich
    hostname: immich
    environment:
     - TS_AUTHKEY= *********
     - TS_STATE_DIR=/var/lib/tailscale
     - TS_SERVE_CONFIG=/config/immich.json
    volumes:
     - ${PWD}/ts-immich/state:/var/lib/tailscale
     - ${PWD}/ts/config:/config
     - /dev/net/tun:/dev/net/tun
    cap_add:
     - net_admin
     - sys_module
    restart: unless-stopped
  immich-server:
    container_name: immich-server
    image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-server:${IMMICH_VERSION:-release}
    volumes:
     - ${UPLOAD_LOCATION}:/Volumes/T7/Immich
     - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
    env_file:
     - .env
    network_mode: service:ts-immich
    depends_on:
     - redis
     - database
    restart: always
  immich-machine-learning:
    container_name: immich_machine_learning
    image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-machine-learning:${IMMICH_VERSION:-release}
    volumes:
     - model-cache:/cache
    restart: always
    ports:
     - 3003:3003
  redis:
    container_name: immich-redis
    image: docker.io/redis:6.2-alpine@sha256:2d1463258f2764328496376f5d965f20c6a67f66ea2b06dc42af351f75248792
    restart: always
  database:
    container_name: immich-postgres
    image: docker.io/tensorchord/pgvecto-rs:pg14-v0.2.0@sha256:90724186f0a3517cf6914295b5ab410db9ce23190a2d9d0b9dd6463e3fa298f0
    environment:
     POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${DB_PASSWORD}
     POSTGRES_USER: ${DB_USERNAME}
     POSTGRES_DB: ${DB_DATABASE_NAME}
    volumes:
     - ${DB_DATA_LOCATION}:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: always
volumes:
   model-cache:
   ts-immich:

services:
  ts-immich:
    image: tailscale/tailscale:latest
    container_name: ts-immich
    hostname: immich
    environment:
     - TS_AUTHKEY= *********
     - TS_STATE_DIR=/var/lib/tailscale
     - TS_SERVE_CONFIG=/config/immich.json
    volumes:
     - ${PWD}/ts-immich/state:/var/lib/tailscale
     - ${PWD}/ts/config:/config
     - /dev/net/tun:/dev/net/tun
    cap_add:
     - net_admin
     - sys_module
    restart: unless-stopped
  immich-server:
    container_name: immich-server
    image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-server:${IMMICH_VERSION:-release}
    volumes:
     - ${UPLOAD_LOCATION}:/Volumes/T7/Immich
     - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
    env_file:
     - .env
    network_mode: service:ts-immich
    depends_on:
     - redis
     - database
    restart: always
  immich-machine-learning:
    container_name: immich_machine_learning
    image: ghcr.io/immich-app/immich-machine-learning:${IMMICH_VERSION:-release}
    volumes:
     - model-cache:/cache
    restart: always
    ports:
     - 3003:3003
  redis:
    container_name: immich-redis
    image: docker.io/redis:6.2-alpine@sha256:2d1463258f2764328496376f5d965f20c6a67f66ea2b06dc42af351f75248792
    restart: always
  database:
    container_name: immich-postgres
    image: docker.io/tensorchord/pgvecto-rs:pg14-v0.2.0@sha256:90724186f0a3517cf6914295b5ab410db9ce23190a2d9d0b9dd6463e3fa298f0
    environment:
     POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${DB_PASSWORD}
     POSTGRES_USER: ${DB_USERNAME}
     POSTGRES_DB: ${DB_DATABASE_NAME}
    volumes:
     - ${DB_DATA_LOCATION}:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: always
volumes:
   model-cache:
   ts-immich:

Immich•8/11/25, 2:24 AM

:wave: Hey @dano9258,

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•8/11/25, 2:24 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•8/11/25, 2:28 AM

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

Finn•8/11/25, 2:29 AM

Did you read the comments in the docker compose before removing them? They say something about the mountpoint

# Do not edit the next line. If you want to change the media storage location on your system, edit the value of UPLOAD_LOCATION in the .env file

# Do not edit the next line. If you want to change the media storage location on your system, edit the value of UPLOAD_LOCATION in the .env file

dano9258OP•8/11/25, 2:33 AM

@Finn So if i use the .env and change that line to /Volumes/T7/Immich, it should work? Here is my env file for which i couldnt initially post due to the discord character limit:

# You can find documentation for all the supported env variables at https://immich.app/docs/install/environment-variables

# The location where your uploaded files are stored
UPLOAD_LOCATION=./Volumes/T7/Immich

# The location where your database files are stored. Network shares are not supported for the database
DB_DATA_LOCATION=./postgres

# To set a timezone, uncomment the next line and change Etc/UTC to a TZ identifier from this list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tz_database_time_zones#List
# TZ=PST

# The Immich version to use. You can pin this to a specific version like "v1.71.0"
IMMICH_VERSION=release

# Connection secret for postgres. You should change it to a random password
# Please use only the characters `A-Za-z0-9`, without special characters or spaces
DB_PASSWORD=*********

# The values below this line do not need to be changed
###################################################################################
DB_USERNAME=postgres
DB_DATABASE_NAME=immich

# You can find documentation for all the supported env variables at https://immich.app/docs/install/environment-variables

# The location where your uploaded files are stored
UPLOAD_LOCATION=./Volumes/T7/Immich

# The location where your database files are stored. Network shares are not supported for the database
DB_DATA_LOCATION=./postgres

# To set a timezone, uncomment the next line and change Etc/UTC to a TZ identifier from this list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tz_database_time_zones#List
# TZ=PST

# The Immich version to use. You can pin this to a specific version like "v1.71.0"
IMMICH_VERSION=release

# Connection secret for postgres. You should change it to a random password
# Please use only the characters `A-Za-z0-9`, without special characters or spaces
DB_PASSWORD=*********

# The values below this line do not need to be changed
###################################################################################
DB_USERNAME=postgres
DB_DATABASE_NAME=immich

Finn•8/11/25, 2:34 AM

Remove the dot in front of the path. That would make it relative to the location of the compose file. Doing that + setting the path in the compose back to the default should do the trick.

dano9258OP•8/11/25, 2:35 AM

@Finn OK i will give it a shot and report back. Thank you. Everything else in the compose file looks good?

Finn•8/11/25, 2:35 AM

Nothing that catches my eye from quickly looking over it

Finn•8/11/25, 2:38 AM

Images are looking a bit out of date. Might be good to update them. Current ones are
redis:
image: docker.io/valkey/valkey:8-bookworm@sha256:facc1d2c3462975c34e10fccb167bfa92b0e0dbd992fc282c29a61c3243afb11

database:
image: ghcr.io/immich-app/postgres:14-vectorchord0.4.3-pgvectors0.2.0@sha256:32324a2f41df5de9efe1af166b7008c3f55646f8d0e00d9550c16c9822366b4a

dano9258OP•8/11/25, 2:48 AM

Okay, it appears to have worked so far. Although the storage space a the bottom left is off (its a 1tb drive) and it shows 20.4TB of 57.1TB used

Help setting up Immich on External Drive on Mac OS.

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