Immich Folder Watch is a folder watcher and uploader designed to automatically ingest new media files into Immich via its HTTP API. It enables seamless integration between file imports on Windows or Linux systems and your Immich instance, eliminating the need for manual uploads.
Key Features:
Watches one or more local folders for newly created or modified media files.
Waits until files are fully written before uploading to avoid partial transfers.
Configurable batch uploads to optimize performance and reduce API load.
Optional per-source album placement in Immich, with automatic album creation if needed.
Retries failed uploads automatically, with configurable delay and maximum attempts.
Audience & Benefit:
Ideal for users who want automated, real-time media import into Immich without manual intervention. This tool is perfect for photographers, families, or anyone managing large volumes of photos and videos, saving time and ensuring a centralized, organized media repository. It can be installed via winget on Windows systems.
README
Immich Folder Watch
Immich Folder Watch is a Windows desktop app that watches local folders and uploads newly created media to Immich automatically.
It runs as a per-user tray app — no Windows service, no elevation on every change. If screenshots, camera imports, scanner output, or synced files land on a Windows machine before they land in Immich, this fills that gap without writing directly into Immich storage.
Use Cases
Automatically upload screenshots into an Immich album
Watch a DSLR or SD-card import folder and send new photos to Immich
Ingest scanner output into a family archive
Pick up files dropped by another tool into a staging folder
Run a small always-on system that feeds Immich in the background
Separate sources by album, for example Screenshots, Camera Imports, or Receipts
Solution
immich-folder-watch watches one or more folders, waits until files are fully written, and uploads them through the normal Immich HTTP API.
That gives you a clean, low-maintenance ingestion path:
Windows-first setup with a desktop GUI and tray icon
Per-user operation — each Windows user runs their own configuration
Autostart on login (toggleable in the GUI)
Optional per-folder album placement in Immich
API-based uploads instead of storage hacks
Each watched folder has its own sync mode: upload only new files that appear during runtime (the default, preserving prior behavior), upload everything the folder already contains, or keep the folder bidirectionally in sync with its Immich album (additive — local files missing in the album are uploaded and album assets missing locally are downloaded). Deletions are never mirrored — the app does not remove files locally or remotely, and it does not write directly into Immich's storage folders.
Upgrading from an older service-based install: the legacy service is stopped and removed, and the existing C:\ProgramData\Immich Folder Watch\config.yaml is migrated into the installing user's %LOCALAPPDATA%.
The Windows GUI now keeps these per-source watch options collapsed by default and only shows Excluded Directories when Include subdirectories is enabled.
