How to back up your Lightroom Classic photos to Immich

If you edit in Adobe Lightroom Classic and self-host your photos with Immich, you can keep a full, automatic backup of your library in Immich without leaving Lightroom. This guide shows you how, using the free, open-source Lightroom Immich Plugin.

Why back up Lightroom to Immich?

Lightroom Classic stores your originals on local disk and your edits in a catalog. Immich gives you a self-hosted, Google-Photos-style archive with deduplication, mobile apps and sharing. Pushing your Lightroom photos into Immich gives you an off-Lightroom copy you fully control — no subscription, no cloud lock-in.

What you need

• Adobe Lightroom Classic (Windows or macOS)
• A running Immich server you can reach over the network
• An Immich API key (Account Settings → API Keys in Immich)
• The Lightroom Immich Plugin

Step 1 — Install the plugin

Download the latest release and add it in Lightroom’s File → Plug-in Manager → Add. Point it at the unzipped plugin folder. See the installation instructions for details.

Step 2 — Connect to your Immich server

In an export preset or when creating a publish service, enter your Immich server URL and API key. The key needs upload, album and read permissions — the plugin page lists the exact scopes.

Step 3 — Choose backup vs. living sync

There are two ways to get photos into Immich, and they suit different goals:

• Export — a one-shot push. Great for archiving a finished shoot. The plugin offers duplicate detection (by Lightroom catalog ID, or by date and filename) so re-running an export won’t create copies.
• Publish — a living backup. The published collection stays linked: add, edit or remove a photo in Lightroom and the next publish updates Immich to match, including creating and renaming albums.

For a true ongoing backup, use a Publish Service so your Immich copy tracks your catalog over time.

Step 4 — Keep your timeline tidy with stacking

If you keep raw + edited versions, enable stacking. On upload the plugin groups related assets into Immich stacks with a primary image, so your Immich timeline mirrors how you organize in Lightroom instead of doubling up.

That’s it

Once connected, backing up is just hitting Export or Publish. Your Lightroom edits land in Immich, deduplicated and organized.

Questions or a feature idea? Open an issue or discussion on GitHub.

Frequently asked questions

Does the plugin prevent duplicate uploads?

Yes. The plugin detects duplicates by Lightroom catalog ID, or by date and filename — re-running an export or publish will not create copies.

What is the difference between Export and Publish for backup?

Export is a one-time push, ideal for archiving a finished shoot. Publish creates a live link: add, edit, or remove photos in Lightroom and the next publish updates Immich to match, including creating and renaming albums. For true ongoing backup, use Publish.

Does the plugin work with raw files?

Yes. The plugin uploads files from your Lightroom catalog, including raws. Enable stacking to group raw and edited versions under a primary image in Immich.

Can I back up to a self-hosted Immich server?

Yes. The plugin connects to any Immich instance via its URL and API key — including self-hosted servers on a home network or reachable over VPN.

What do I need to get started?

Adobe Lightroom Classic (Windows or macOS), a running Immich server, an Immich API key, and the Lightroom Immich Plugin (free and open source).