Immich Error Loading Image: A Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Introduction

If you’ve invested time in setting up Immich as your self-hosted photo management solution, encountering the dreaded “Error Loading Image” message can be incredibly frustrating. This comprehensive guide will walk you through understanding, troubleshooting, and permanently resolving this common issue.

As self-hosting enthusiasts ourselves, we’ve experienced and overcome these issues firsthand. Our goal is to save you hours of troubleshooting and get your photo library back to perfect working order, regardless of your technical expertise level.

Understanding the “Immich Error Loading Image” Problem

The Immich Error Loading Image issue typically manifests as broken image thumbnails in your Immich web interface or mobile application. Instead of seeing your cherished photos, you’re greeted with error icons or placeholder images. Behind the scenes, this usually indicates Immich can’t locate or process the image files properly.

This error doesn’t necessarily mean your original photos are lost. In most cases, it’s a configuration issue, broken reference path, or processing problem that can be fixed without data loss. Let’s dive into what typically causes this problem.

Common Causes of Immich Image Loading Errors

1. File Path Misconfigurations

One of the most frequent causes of image loading errors is incorrect file paths. This often happens when:

• You’ve moved your storage location without updating Immich’s configuration
• Your docker-compose.yml or .env file contains outdated or incorrect path references
• Volume mounts aren’t properly configured between your host system and containers

2. Thumbnail Generation Failures

Immich relies on thumbnails to efficiently display your photo library. Issues with this process often lead to loading errors:

• Incomplete thumbnail generation jobs after importing large libraries
• Insufficient disk space for thumbnail storage
• Permission issues preventing the thumbnail generator from accessing your photos
• Corrupted thumbnail files from interrupted processes

3. Version Compatibility Issues

Certain Immich versions have known issues with image processing:

• Version v1.113.0 has been widely reported to cause thumbnail generation problems
• Mismatched versions between Immich components (server, microservices, machine-learning)
• Dependency conflicts with Redis or PostgreSQL versions

4. Storage and File Integrity Problems

Physical storage issues can also trigger these errors:

• Partially uploaded or corrupted image files
• Network storage disconnections for NAS or remote storage implementations
• Insufficient permissions on file systems
• Storage quota limitations

5. Container Configuration Problems

Docker-related misconfigurations frequently contribute:

• Orphaned or deprecated containers running alongside newer versions
• Resource constraints (memory, CPU) preventing proper image processing
• Network isolation preventing container communication
• Outdated cache or volume data

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Let’s resolve your Immich “Error Loading Image” issues with this systematic approach:

1. Verify Your Storage Paths

First, check that your configuration correctly points to your image storage:

1. Locate your Immich .env file and examine these critical settings: UPLOAD_LOCATION=/path/to/your/photos THUMB_LOCATION=/path/to/your/thumbnails
2. Verify these directories exist and contain the expected files: ls -la /path/to/your/photos ls -la /path/to/your/thumbnails
3. Ensure proper permissions are set: sudo chown -R 1000:1000 /path/to/your/photos sudo chown -R 1000:1000 /path/to/your/thumbnails

2. Regenerate Thumbnails

The fastest fix for many image loading issues is to regenerate all thumbnails:

1. Log in to your Immich web interface
2. Navigate to Administration > Jobs
3. Find and run the “Generate Thumbnails” job
4. Monitor progress and wait for completion (this may take time for large libraries)

Alternatively, you can trigger this via the CLI:

docker exec -it immich_server npm run cli -- job add-all generateThumbnails

3. Restart and Rebuild Your Immich Stack

A complete rebuild can resolve many container-related issues:

cd /path/to/your/immich
docker-compose down
docker-compose pull
docker-compose up -d --remove-orphans

The --remove-orphans flag is particularly important as it removes any lingering containers from previous setups that might be causing conflicts.

4. Check and Update Immich Version

If you’re experiencing issues after an update, version compatibility might be the culprit:

1. Check your current version: grep IMMICH_VERSION .env
2. If you’re on a problematic version (like v1.113.0), try rolling back: # Edit your .env file IMMICH_VERSION=1.112.1 # Or another stable version # Rebuild your stack docker-compose down docker-compose up -d
3. After rollback, regenerate your thumbnails again.

5. Inspect for Corrupted Files

File corruption can cause persistent issues:

1. Check for partial or zero-byte images: find /path/to/your/photos -type f -size 0 -print
2. Remove any identified corrupted files, or restore them from backups.
3. Check thumbnail integrity: find /path/to/your/thumbnails -type f -size 0 -print

6. Remove Deprecated Containers

If your Immich setup has evolved through several versions, legacy containers might be causing issues:

# List all containers including stopped ones
docker ps -a | grep immich

# Remove any deprecated containers like immich_microservices if present
docker rm -f immich_microservices

Advanced Solutions for Persistent Issues

If the above steps haven’t resolved your issue, try these more advanced approaches:

Complete Thumbnail Regeneration

Sometimes a clean slate is needed for thumbnails:

# Stop Immich
docker-compose down

# Backup existing thumbnails (optional)
cp -r /path/to/your/thumbnails /path/to/backup

# Remove all thumbnails
rm -rf /path/to/your/thumbnails/*

# Restart and regenerate
docker-compose up -d

Then trigger a complete thumbnail regeneration through the admin interface.

Database Consistency Check

Immich’s database might contain references to missing files:

1. Access the PostgreSQL container: docker exec -it immich_postgres bash
2. Connect to the database: psql -U postgres -d immich
3. Run a query to identify potential orphaned records: SELECT id, original_path FROM assets WHERE NOT exists (SELECT 1 FROM asset_has_exif WHERE asset_id = assets.id);
4. Exit the PostgreSQL shell: \q exit
5. Re-index your library through Admin > Jobs > “Extract EXIF”

External Storage Solutions

If you’re using network storage (NAS, SMB, etc.), verify connectivity:

# Test if the storage is accessible
docker exec -it immich_server ls -la /usr/src/app/upload

# Check mount status
docker exec -it immich_server mount | grep immich

For NFS mounts, ensure proper options in your docker-compose.yml:

volumes:
  - type: nfs
    source: /your/nfs/path
    target: /usr/src/app/upload
    options:
      o: "addr=192.168.1.x,rw,nolock"

Prevention Strategies: Keeping Your Immich Library Healthy

Prevent future “Error Loading Image” issues with these best practices:

1. Implement Regular Backups

Protect your photo library with comprehensive backups:

• Back up your UPLOAD_LOCATION directory containing original photos
• Include your THUMB_LOCATION for faster recovery
• Export your database regularly: docker exec immich_postgres pg_dump -U postgres -d immich > immich_backup_$(date +%Y%m%d).sql
• Consider automated backup solutions like restic, borg, or rclone

2. Monitor System Resources

Ensure your Immich instance has adequate resources:

• Check disk space regularly: df -h /path/to/your/photos /path/to/your/thumbnails
• Monitor container resource usage: docker stats immich_server immich_machine_learning immich_postgres immich_redis
• Set up alerts for low disk space or high resource utilization

3. Implement Immich Update Strategy

Approach updates methodically:

• Always check release notes before updating
• Wait a few days after major releases to avoid potential bugs
• Back up before any version change
• Test updates on a staging instance if possible
• Join the Immich Discord community to stay informed about version issues

4. Regular Maintenance Jobs

Schedule routine maintenance:

• Run the “Clean Database” job monthly
• Execute “Generate Thumbnails” after large imports
• Perform “Extract EXIF” to maintain metadata consistency
• Use “Storage Template” to organize your library structure

Real-World Case Studies

Case Study 1: Resolving Post-Migration Errors

After migrating from a Raspberry Pi to a more powerful server, Steve encountered widespread “Error Loading Image” issues. The problem stemmed from file ownership changes during the migration. By running:

sudo find /path/to/photos -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;
sudo find /path/to/photos -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
sudo chown -R 1000:1000 /path/to/photos

And regenerating thumbnails, his library was restored to perfect condition.

Case Study 2: Fixing Docker Volume Issues

Maria’s Immich instance showed loading errors for recently added photos. Investigation revealed her docker-compose.yml was using relative paths:

volumes:
  - ./upload:/usr/src/app/upload

After changing to absolute paths:

volumes:
  - /home/maria/immich/upload:/usr/src/app/upload

And rebuilding the containers, the issue was resolved.

Case Study 3: Overcoming Version-Specific Bugs

A community user found every image failing after updating to v1.113.0. Rollback to v1.112.1 immediately resolved the issue while waiting for an official fix in the next release.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Troubleshooting the “Error Loading Image” issue in Immich doesn’t have to be a frustrating experience. By systematically working through the potential causes—from file paths and thumbnails to container configurations—you can restore your self-hosted photo library to perfect working condition.

Remember that maintaining a healthy Immich instance requires regular backups, careful updates, and periodic maintenance. With these practices in place, you can enjoy a reliable, private photo management solution that keeps your memories safe and accessible.

Have you successfully resolved Immich image loading issues using our guide? Share your experience in the comments below or reach out if you need additional help with your specific setup.