Community Solution

Move Immich Photo Storage to a NAS or Larger Disk on ZimaOS

A Marchโ€“April 2025 Immich storage thread where an IceWhale reply pointed users to Docker path mapping and a community member documented the exact host-side volume changes needed to move database, model cache, uploads, and selected media paths to larger storage.

Immich can consume a large amount of storage, so leaving its uploads, database, and machine-learning cache on the ZimaOS system disk is rarely ideal for a growing photo library.

This 2025 thread documents a manual way to move Immich onto another ZimaOS storage location by editing host-side volume mappings. Current ZimaOS now also provides more direct storage-location and migration controls, so the manual screenshots are best treated as an explanation of how the container paths fit together.

Open Immich Settings Before Changing Volumes

ZimaOS Immich app menu with the Settings option highlighted before changing storage volumes
The community workflow began by opening the installed Immich application's settings rather than moving folders blindly in Files.

Move the Database Host Path, Not the Container Path

Immich database volume mapping with a host path on /media/Main and the PostgreSQL container path left unchanged
The working community setup changed the ZimaOS side of the database mapping while leaving the PostgreSQL container destination intact.

This host-versus-container distinction is critical. The application expects specific paths inside its containers; changing both sides without understanding the stack can break startup or make existing data appear missing.

The Machine-Learning Cache Can Live on Larger Storage Too

Immich machine-learning volume mapping with the model cache stored under a larger /media path on ZimaOS
The community example moved the host-side model-cache folder while retaining the container's expected cache destination.

The immich-server Tab Requires More Care

Immich server volume mappings showing the upload path and selected media folders redirected to storage under /media
The source author emphasized that some immich-server mappings should change while others must remain exactly as the application expects.

The source post was community-tested, not an IceWhale guarantee for every Immich version. Immich's stack has changed substantially over time, so do not recreate this exact 2025 volume table on a newer package without comparing the current app definition.

Current ZimaOS Provides a More Direct Storage Workflow

Current ZimaOS Immich instructions allow users to change storage-file locations and describe moving Immich data to another disk through Data Migration or a controlled manual copy.

For a current installation, start with the current Immich storage and migration controls before rebuilding volume mappings from a 2025 screenshot.

If You Move Files Manually, Stop Immich First

Current ZimaOS guidance says to disable Immich before manually copying its Gallery data, then update the relevant host-side path and restart the application. Stopping writes during the move reduces the risk of copying an inconsistent photo library.

Immich Storage on ZimaOS FAQ

Can Immich store photos on a larger disk instead of ZimaOS-HD?

Yes. Both the 2025 community example and current ZimaOS Immich workflow support using another storage location.

Should I change the container-side PostgreSQL path?

Not in the source workflow. The host-side storage path changed while the application container path remained the expected PostgreSQL location.

Do I need to follow all four 2025 tabs exactly?

No. Treat them as historical examples of the container layout. Compare them with the current Immich package before changing anything.

Is there now a built-in migration option?

Current ZimaOS Immich guidance describes both Data Migration and a controlled manual move for Immich data.