immich-app/immich · error · Error

Failed to call host function

Error message

Failed to call host function "${String(name)}", received ${result.status} - ${JSON.stringify(result.message)}

What it means

In the Immich plugin SDK, plugin code invokes a host function (exposed by the app runtime over WASM) and the host returns a serialized HostFunctionResult with success=false. The SDK throws with the function name plus the host-provided status and message, telling the plugin author the host-side call failed (not the SDK call mechanics).

Solutions

1. Read result.status/message in the error text; it names the host-side cause (missing permission, bad argument, unknown function).
2. Align plugin SDK version with the host Immich version and rebuild the plugin.
3. Validate the arguments/DTO passed to the host function against the SDK types.
4. Confirm the plugin runs in the intended context (user session/admin) that grants the function.

Example fix

// before
await hostFunctions.getAssetById(id); // throws if host rejects
// after
try {
  await hostFunctions.getAssetById(id);
} catch (e) {
  log(`host call failed: ${e.message}`); // surface status + message from host
}

// pin matching SDK + host versions at build time
assert(pluginSdkVersion === hostImmichVersion, 'SDK/host version mismatch');

try {
  const res = await hostFunctions.someCall(args);
} catch (e) {
  const { status, message } = parseHostError(e.message);
  if (status === 403) requestPermissionAndRetry();
  else if (status === 404) disableFeature();
  else throw e;
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling any hostFunctions.* method from a plugin when the host rejects it: e.g. requesting a function not exposed by the current host version, passing arguments the host validates and rejects, or the host lacking permission/context for the operation.

Common situations: Running a plugin built against a newer SDK on an older Immich host, calling user-scoped functions without the required user session, or passing malformed DTOs to host functions like asset search.

Related errors

• errorMessage || error

AI-assisted analysis of immich-app/immich@e55ac299a4 (2026-09-15). Data as JSON: /api/errors/0e8a47f90434141f. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at packages/plugin-sdk/src/host-functions.ts:71

] as const;

export const hostFunctions = (authToken: string) => {
  const host = Host.getFunctions();
  type HostFunctionName = keyof typeof host;

  const call = <T, R>(name: HostFunctionName, authToken: string, args: T) => {
    const pointer1 = Memory.fromString(JSON.stringify({ authToken, args }));
    const fn = host[name];
    const handler = Memory.find(fn(pointer1.offset));

    try {
      const result = JSON.parse(handler.readString()) as HostFunctionResult<R>;

      if (result.success) {
        return result.response;
      }

      throw new Error(
        `Failed to call host function "${String(name)}", received ${result.status} - ${JSON.stringify(result.message)}`,
      );
    } finally {
      handler.free();
      pointer1.free();
    }
  };

  return {
    // album
    searchAlbums: (dto: AlbumSearchDto) =>
      call<[AlbumSearchDto], AlbumResponseDto[]>('searchAlbums', authToken, [
        dto,
      ]),
    createAlbum: (dto: CreateAlbumDto) =>
      call<[CreateAlbumDto], AlbumResponseDto>('createAlbum', authToken, [dto]),
    addAssetsToAlbum: (albumId: string, assetIds: string[]) =>
      call<[string, BulkIdsDto], BulkIdResponseDto[]>(

View on GitHub (pinned to e55ac299a4)