Connecting via WebDAV

WebDAV-compatible apps and clients such as PhotoSync, Microsoft's Windows Explorer, and Apple's Finder can connect directly to PhotoPrism.

This mounts the originals and/or import folder as a network drive, allowing you to open, edit, and delete files from a remote device as if they were local.

After files have been transferred, you can index or import them as usual. By default, indexing and importing start automatically after a safety delay when files have been uploaded using WebDAV.

You can disable WebDAV in the advanced settings. Since it requires authentication, the built-in WebDAV server is automatically disabled when running in public mode.

It is also possible to sync files with external WebDAV servers such as ownCloud or other PhotoPrism instances.

Server URL

The originals folder URL for a server exposed to the public Internet is:

https://[email protected]/originals/

On Windows, you can enter the following resource in the connection dialog instead:

\\example.com@SSL\originals\

Please make sure to replace example.com with your actual domain and note that the slash at the end is important and cannot be omitted.

You can find your server url on the account page in settings.

When connecting, you'll have to authenticate using your regular password. It will also change when you update it in Settings. The username is admin.

You can also connect to the import folder by replacing originals/ with import/ in the URL.

For users running their instance locally on the default port 2342, the originals folder URL is:

http://admin@localhost:2342/originals/

On Windows, you can enter the following resource in the connection dialog instead:

\\localhost:2342\originals\

The URL or resource to use changes accordingly if you have modified the server hostname, port, or protocol in your configuration.

Never use WebDAV without HTTPS outside your local, private network as your password would be transmitted, in clear text, over the Internet. Backup tools and file sync apps like FolderSync may refuse to connect as well.

Connect to a WebDAV Server

macOSWindows

1. In the Finder on your Mac, choose Go > Connect to Server
2. Enter the URL as shown above in the Server Address field
3. Click Connect

If you cannot connect to your instance via WebDAV using these instructions:

• You do not have sufficient user rights (try as admin)
• You are experiencing a general authentication problem
• Your instance or reverse proxy uses an invalid HTTPS certificate
• You are trying to connect to the wrong network or server

1. Open Windows File Explorer
2. Right click This PC

3. From the dropdown, select Map network drive...

   

4. Enter the drive letter and folder you want to map your WebDAV connection to

5. Check the boxes Reconnect at sign-in and Connect using different credentials

6. Click the Connect to a Web site that you can use to store your documents and pictures link

   

7. Click Next

   

8. Click Choose a custom network location and then click Next

   

9. In the Internet or network address field, enter the URL as shown above and click Next

   

10. Enter your username and password and click Ok

    

11. Enter a name for the network location and click Next

    

12. Click Finish

    

The originals folder appears as a mapped drive in Windows Explorer, and you can immediately add, edit, or delete files and directories using the Windows File Explorer.

If you cannot connect to your instance via WebDAV using these instructions:

• You may need to change the basic authentication level in the registry
• You do not have sufficient user rights (try as admin)
• You are experiencing a general authentication problem
• Your instance or reverse proxy uses an invalid HTTPS certificate
• You are trying to connect to the wrong network or server