How process a upload for Album creation while retaining files in External Library?

[AttaInsularis]

Have many files that can’t always be stored inside the Immich container, so they remain in an external folder.

I like the idea of using upload‑from‑folder together with --folder‑as‑album=PATH/FOLDER. This helps me sort photos that are outside the platform’s takeout. Working manually through an unsorted pile of images on HDDs or old CD/DVD backups and uploading them with the command above.

However, this moves the assets into the Immich library, which isn’t always what is need.

Is there a way to create an album structure (--folder‑as‑album) without importing the assets, keeping the original files in their external location (i.e., an “External Library”)?

[simulot]

Hi, the short answer is no. The purpose of immich-go is to upload photos / video in the immich's library using the published API. And there are intentionally no ways to tell immich where to place the files.

Anyway, immich has a functionality named external library .

[AttaInsularis]

There is this discussion related to topic.

(Adding here as reference in case anyone will think/search for the same.)

Unfortunately External Library (+ folder view) is not that usable.