Does Immich Have a Default SSH Username and Password?

If you are installing Immich and wondering, “What is the default SSH username and password?”, you are asking a very common question. It sounds simple. It also sounds like there should be a magic login. But the answer is a little different from what many people expect.

So, Does Immich Have a Default SSH Login?

No. Immich does not come with a default SSH username. It also does not come with a default SSH password.

There is no secret Immich login like this:

• Username: immich
• Password: immich
• Username: admin
• Password: password

That would be scary. Very scary. Like leaving your front door open with a sign that says, “Free family photos inside.”

Immich is a self-hosted photo and video backup app. It runs on a server. It is often installed with Docker. It gives you a web page and mobile apps. It helps you back up and browse your photos.

But it does not control your server’s SSH login.

What Is SSH Anyway?

SSH means Secure Shell. That sounds fancy. It is basically a safe way to open a command line on another computer.

Imagine your server is a little robot in another room. SSH lets you talk to the robot by typing commands. You can say things like:

• Start this service.
• Stop that container.
• Show me the logs.
• Update the system.

SSH is not part of Immich itself. It is part of the operating system or device running Immich.

So if Immich is running on Ubuntu, the SSH login is an Ubuntu login. If it is running on a Raspberry Pi, the SSH login is for the Raspberry Pi. If it is running on a NAS, the SSH login is for the NAS.

Immich Login vs SSH Login

This is where people get mixed up. There are two different doors.

Door one: the Immich web login.

This is where you open Immich in a browser. You go to something like:

• http://your-server-ip:2283
• https://photos.yourdomain.com

You sign in with your Immich account. This account is used for photos, albums, users, and backups.

Door two: the SSH login.

This is where you connect to the machine itself. You may type something like:

• ssh alex@192.168.1.50
• ssh admin@my-nas.local

That login belongs to the server. It is not the Immich login.

Think of Immich as a photo library inside a building. SSH is the staff entrance to the whole building. Different door. Different keys.

Does Immich Have a Default Web Username and Password?

Usually, no. Immich does not normally ship with a default web username and password either.

When you first open a new Immich install, you are expected to create the first admin account. That first account becomes the administrator. It is like naming the captain of a brand-new spaceship.

You choose the email. You choose the password. Immich does not hand you a universal default password.

This is good. Default passwords are dangerous. Hackers love default passwords. They collect them like trading cards.

Why People Think There Is a Default SSH Password

This question appears a lot because many self-hosted apps are installed on servers that do have default logins.

For example, you might be using:

• A Raspberry Pi image.
• A prebuilt virtual machine.
• A NAS system.
• A cloud server.
• A one-click app template.

Some of these systems may have their own default usernames. That does not mean Immich made them.

For example, a Raspberry Pi used to commonly use the username pi. Some NAS devices use usernames like admin. A cloud server might use root, ubuntu, or another account.

But again, those are device or operating system accounts. They are not Immich accounts.

Where Do You Find the Right SSH Username?

Start with the thing that runs Immich.

Ask yourself one question:

Where did I install Immich?

Then check that system.

• Ubuntu server: use the user you created during Ubuntu setup.
• Debian server: use your Debian user account.
• Raspberry Pi: use the account created in Raspberry Pi Imager or setup.
• Synology NAS: use your Synology account, if SSH is enabled.
• TrueNAS: use the proper TrueNAS shell or admin account.
• Cloud VPS: check your provider’s dashboard or setup email.

If you did not create the server, ask the person who did. If a guide gave you a virtual machine image, read that guide carefully. The login belongs to the image maker, not Immich.

What If You Installed Immich with Docker?

Most Immich installs use Docker Compose. Docker runs Immich in containers. Containers are like neat little boxes for apps.

But SSH still connects to the host machine. Not to Immich.

Your setup may include containers like:

• immich_server
• immich_machine_learning
• postgres
• redis

These containers may have internal users. They may also have database passwords in an .env file. But that is not SSH.

The database password is for the database. The Immich web password is for Immich. The SSH password or key is for the server.

Three keys. Three locks. Do not mix them up, or the little server robot gets confused.

What About the Password in the .env File?

When you install Immich with Docker Compose, you may see an .env file. This file can include settings like database names, usernames, and passwords.

For example, it may include a PostgreSQL password.

That password is used by Immich to talk to its database. It is not used to log in with SSH. You cannot usually do this:

ssh postgres@your-server-ip

Well, you can type it. The computer will not be impressed.

Keep your .env file private. Do not post it online. Do not paste it into public chats. It can contain secrets.

What If SSH Asks for a Password?

If SSH asks for a password, it wants the password for the server user.

For example:

ssh sam@192.168.1.50

Here, SSH wants the password for the server user named sam. It does not want your Immich password unless you made both passwords the same.

And please do not make them the same. That is like using one key for your house, car, diary, cookie jar, and dragon cave.

Use different passwords. Use a password manager. Your future self will clap.

Can You SSH Into an Immich Container?

Usually, no. Not with normal SSH.

Docker containers are not full servers. They are small app environments. You usually enter them with Docker commands, not SSH.

For example, you might use:

docker exec -it immich_server sh

or:

docker exec -it immich_server bash

This opens a shell inside the container, if the shell exists. But this is not the same as SSH. It is Docker letting you step into the container for maintenance.

Most users do not need to do this often. If Immich is working, let the containers be happy little boxes.

Safe SSH Tips for Immich Servers

If your server holds your photos, treat it kindly. Photos are personal. They are memories. They are birthdays, pets, vacations, memes, and possibly 900 pictures of one sandwich.

Here are simple SSH safety tips:

• Use SSH keys instead of passwords when possible.
• Use strong passwords if password login is enabled.
• Disable root SSH login unless you really need it.
• Keep your server updated.
• Do not expose SSH to the internet unless you understand the risks.
• Use a firewall to limit access.
• Back up your Immich library and database.

Image not found in postmeta

What If You Forgot Your Server SSH Login?

Do not panic. Panic is bad at typing passwords.

Try these steps:

• Check your server setup notes.
• Check your password manager.
• Look at the installation guide you followed.
• Check your cloud provider dashboard.
• For a NAS, check its user and SSH settings.
• If you have physical access, use local recovery options.

If you can still access Immich in the browser, that does not mean you can access SSH. Remember, different doors.

If you can access the server desktop or console, you may be able to reset the password there. The method depends on the operating system.

What If You Forgot Your Immich Admin Password?

That is a different problem. It is not an SSH problem.

If you forgot the Immich web admin password, check the current Immich documentation. Immich changes quickly. The proper recovery method may depend on your version and install type.

You may need to use server commands or database tools. Be careful. Make a backup first. Databases are powerful. They are also very good at punishing random clicking.

Important: Do Not Guess Random Default Passwords

Do not keep trying random usernames and passwords from the internet.

Why?

• You may lock yourself out.
• You may trigger security tools.
• You may waste time.
• You may follow bad advice.

Also, if a website claims “Immich default SSH password,” be careful. It may be confused. It may be talking about a virtual machine image. It may be outdated. It may be plain wrong.

The safe answer remains simple:

Immich does not provide a default SSH username or password.

Quick Cheat Sheet

• Need to log in to Immich? Use your Immich web account.
• Need SSH? Use your server account.
• Need database access? Check your Docker and database settings.
• Need container access? Use Docker commands.
• Need a default Immich SSH password? There is none.

Final Answer

Immich does not have a default SSH username and password. It is a photo and video app. It is not the owner of your server login.

Your SSH credentials come from the machine running Immich. That could be Ubuntu, Debian, a Raspberry Pi, a NAS, or a cloud server. Look there first.

Your Immich web account is separate. Your database password is separate. Your SSH login is separate.

Keep those doors clear in your mind, and life gets much easier. Your photos stay safer too. And your server robot can keep doing its job without wearing a tiny security helmet.