[Feature] Externally Edited Photos

[maldoinc]

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

• Yes

The feature

Support attaching an externally edited image to a photo as its edited version, preserving the original under the same photo rather than creating two separate photos.

The edited version would appear by default, with the original available to view, download, or restore.

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Google Photos migration is one example. A Google Takeout export can contain both the original photo and an edited copy. An uploader can identify that relationship, but currently has to upload them as separate photos, optionally grouped in a stack.

Stacks serve a different purpose: they group separate photos. An original and its edit represent the same photo and should share album, favorites, descriptions, and other metadata.

This would also support images edited in external applications. Immich would not need Google Photos-specific logic or knowledge of how the edit was produced.

The uploader would be responsible for identifying original/edit pairs and explicitly linking them. No similarity detection or automatic grouping would be required.

This request is about preserving an externally rendered edit, not importing editing instructions or making those edits adjustable in Immich’s editor.

Platform

• Server
• Web
• Mobile

[bo0tzz]

I don't understand how this would be different from the stacking that you can already do?