[Feature] Add Explicit "Select Mode" to Prevent Accidental Asset Selection

[smileBeda]

I have searched the existing feature requests, both open and closed, to make sure this is not a duplicate request.

• Yes

The feature

The current long(not so long)-press-to-select interaction on the Immich mobile app creates a persistent usability problem. When browsing normally, it is very easy to hold a finger slightly too long on an asset (you scroll, look, keep finger on device to keep scrolling...), which almost immediately triggers selection mode.
Once this happens, continuing to scroll often results in unintentionally selecting dozens of assets. This behavior interrupts normal navigation and forces the user to repeatedly deselect (the x on top)

A more robust interaction model - similar to Apple Photos - would eliminate this issue. Specifically, introduce an explicit Select button or toggle. When the user taps Select, the UI enters selection mode and multi-selection becomes active. Outside of that mode, long-press should not trigger automatic selection, maximally a "peek".

This adjustment would clearly separate browsing from batch-selection behavior, prevent accidental selections, and align the app with common UX patterns in at least Apple's photo libraries (never used an android, but it would surprise me if that weren't like that there too).

Requested changes:

1. Add a visible "Select" button to the top bar of an album or timeline view.
2. Disable long-press auto-selection when not in Select mode, or make it an optional setting.
3. Ensure scrolling/holding finger on screen cannot cause multi-selection unless the user intentionally entered Select mode.

The existing implementation is overly sensitive and leads to frequent accidental selections during normal scrolling. An explicit selection mode would resolve this and significantly improve day-to-day usability.

Platform

• Server
• Web
• Mobile

[bo0tzz]

#14932