How to install the Lightroom Immich Plugin (Windows & macOS)
Install the free Lightroom Immich Plugin in Lightroom Classic on Windows or macOS, connect it to your Immich server with an API key, and upload your first photos.
This is the quickest path from “I have Lightroom Classic and an Immich server” to “my photos are uploading.” The Lightroom Immich Plugin is free and open source and works on both Windows and macOS.
1. Download the plugin
Grab the latest release from GitHub:
Unzip it somewhere permanent — for example your Documents folder. Don’t run it from a temporary or Downloads folder you’ll later clear out, or Lightroom will lose the plugin.
2. Add it in Lightroom Classic
- Open Lightroom Classic.
- Go to File → Plug-in Manager.
- Click Add, browse to the unzipped plugin folder, and select it.
- The Immich plugin now appears in the list as enabled.
3. Get an Immich API key
In Immich, open Account Settings → API Keys and create a key. The plugin needs permissions for uploading, reading and managing assets and albums. The full list of required scopes is on the plugin page — granting all of them is the simplest path. (See the Immich docs on obtaining an API key.)
4. Connect the plugin to Immich
You enter your connection details where you’ll actually use the plugin:
- For exports: in the Export dialog, choose the Immich plugin and fill in your server URL and API key.
- For publishing: when you create an Immich Publish Service, enter the same URL and key.
5. Upload your first photos
- Export a few photos to push them once (with duplicate detection so re-runs are safe), or
- Create a publish service for a collection that should stay in sync with an Immich album.
Optionally pick or create a destination album during export, and enable stacking to group raw + edited versions.
Troubleshooting installation
- Plugin won’t load / disappears: make sure the folder lives in a permanent location and re-add it in the Plug-in Manager.
- Upload errors: open the Plug-in Manager, select the Immich plugin, enable debug logging, click Show log file, and check what the plugin reported. Most issues are a wrong server URL or missing API-key permission.
- Still stuck? Open an issue on GitHub with the log.
That’s the whole setup. From here, see how to back up your Lightroom library to Immich or sync albums with a publish service.
Frequently asked questions
Does the plugin work on macOS?
Yes, the Lightroom Immich Plugin works on both Windows and macOS with Adobe Lightroom Classic.
Where do I find my Immich API key?
In Immich, go to Account Settings → API Keys and create a new key. The plugin needs permissions including asset.upload, album.read, album.create, stack.create, and related scopes — the full list is on the plugin page.
Why does the plugin disappear from Lightroom after a restart?
Lightroom loses plugins stored in temporary locations like Downloads. Move the plugin folder to a permanent place (e.g. Documents) and re-add it in File → Plug-in Manager.
Is the Lightroom Immich Plugin free?
Yes — it is free and open source. Download the latest release from GitHub.
What does duplicate detection do?
The plugin checks whether an image already exists in Immich by matching the Lightroom catalog ID, or by date and filename — so re-running an export or publish will not create duplicate copies.