[Feature] Feature request: Folder-oriented library view with a navigable directory tree

[Shaderz]

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

• Yes

The feature

Hi,

I would like to propose an optional folder-oriented browsing mode for External Libraries.

Immich already provides Folder View, but navigating a large archive with a deeply nested directory structure could be more convenient if the web interface offered a dedicated folder-browser layout.

The goal is to let users browse an existing photo archive in a way similar to a file manager, while retaining Immich's photo management, search, metadata, and album functionality.

1. Two-panel layout

Ideally, the new view would provide two main panels.

Left panel: Folder tree

• Display the actual directory hierarchy of the external library.
• Expand and collapse directories.
• Navigate directly to any directory.
• Clearly indicate the currently selected directory.
• Support large directory trees without loading every subdirectory at once.

Main panel: Folder contents

• Display the contents of the selected directory as a grid of photo and video thumbnails.
• Optionally display subdirectories as folder tiles with preview thumbnails.
• Allow users to open folders and navigate deeper into the hierarchy.
• Provide breadcrumb navigation for quick access to parent directories.
• Offer folder actions such as creating an album from the selected directory.

2. Folder-based browsing independent of albums

The directory tree should represent the actual filesystem hierarchy, not the generated album hierarchy.

Users should be able to navigate the archive even when automatic folder-to-album synchronization is disabled.

When synchronization is enabled, the main panel could optionally display the album associated with the selected directory.

This would keep filesystem navigation and album organization connected without making them dependent on each other.

3. Integration with folder-to-album synchronization

The folder browser should work seamlessly with configurable folder-to-album mapping.

Depending on the selected synchronization mode, a directory could correspond to:

• An album containing only the media directly inside that directory.
• An album containing media from the directory and all descendants.
• An album whose name includes selected parent directory names.
• No album at all, while remaining accessible in the folder tree.

It should also be possible to create an album manually from the currently selected folder and optionally include its descendants.

4. User experience

The new layout should be optional, allowing users to switch between the existing Immich views and the folder-oriented browser.

The selected directory and navigation state should ideally be preserved when opening an asset and returning to the folder browser.

The layout should remain usable on smaller screens, where the folder tree could be collapsible or displayed as a navigation drawer.

Expected outcome

This feature would make Immich much more convenient for browsing large, carefully organized photo archives, particularly external libraries stored on network shares or mounted filesystems.

It would be especially valuable for users who prefer navigating their archives by directory structure rather than relying exclusively on the timeline or manually curated albums.

Thank you for considering this improvement!

Platform

• Server
• Web
• Mobile

[github-actions[bot]]

This discussion has automatically been closed as it is likely a duplicate. We get a lot of duplicate threads each day, which is why we ask you in the template to confirm that you searched for duplicates before opening one. If you're sure this is not a duplicate, please leave a comment and we will reopen the thread if necessary.