web/src/lib/components/sidebar/RightSidebar.svelte

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 	import { isAuthenticated } from '$lib/stores/session.svelte';
 	import { push as pushUndo } from '$lib/stores/undo.svelte';
 	import { thumbUrl } from '$lib/stores/session.svelte';
+	import { getMetadataSectionOpen, setMetadataSection } from '$lib/stores/view.svelte';
 	import { primaryFile, type PpPhoto } from '$lib/types/photoprism';
 
 	interface Props {
@@ -522,8 +523,16 @@
 		</div>
 	{/if}
 
-	<!-- GPS detail (collapsed by default) -->
-	<details class="rounded border border-border" open={Boolean(photo.Lat || photo.Lng)}>
+	<!-- GPS detail. Static default (closed); user's expand/collapse
+	     choice persists across photo switches via the view store.
+	     Avoid data-driven defaults here — they make the `open` attr
+	     change between photos, which fires a programmatic `toggle`
+	     event and would silently overwrite the user's preference. -->
+	<details
+		class="rounded border border-border"
+		open={getMetadataSectionOpen('gps', false)}
+		ontoggle={(e) => setMetadataSection('gps', e.currentTarget.open)}
+	>
 		<summary
 			class="cursor-pointer px-2 py-1 text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground"
 		>
@@ -564,10 +573,11 @@
 		</div>
 	</details>
 
-	<!-- IPTC credits (collapsed unless something set) -->
+	<!-- IPTC credits. Static default (closed); user's choice persists. -->
 	<details
 		class="rounded border border-border"
-		open={Boolean(subject || artist || copyright || license || notes)}
+		open={getMetadataSectionOpen('credits', false)}
+		ontoggle={(e) => setMetadataSection('credits', e.currentTarget.open)}
 	>
 		<summary
 			class="cursor-pointer px-2 py-1 text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground"
@@ -623,8 +633,12 @@
 		</div>
 	</details>
 
-	<!-- File (collapsed by default) -->
-	<details class="rounded border border-border">
+	<!-- File metadata. Closed by default; persists once opened. -->
+	<details
+		class="rounded border border-border"
+		open={getMetadataSectionOpen('file', false)}
+		ontoggle={(e) => setMetadataSection('file', e.currentTarget.open)}
+	>
 		<summary
 			class="cursor-pointer px-2 py-1 text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground"
 		>

web/src/lib/stores/view.svelte.ts

@@ -24,6 +24,13 @@ interface Persisted {
 	thumbnailSize?: ThumbnailSize;
 	leftSidebarWidth?: number;
 	rightSidebarWidth?: number;
+	/**
+	 * Per-section expanded state for the right-sidebar metadata panel
+	 * (GPS, Credits, File). Keyed by section id; missing entries use a
+	 * static default supplied by the component, so the user's chosen
+	 * collapse state stays put as they navigate between photos.
+	 */
+	metadataSections?: Record<string, boolean>;
 }
 
 export const MIN_LEFT_WIDTH = 180;
@@ -62,6 +69,7 @@ export const view = $state<{
 	thumbnailSize: ThumbnailSize;
 	leftSidebarWidth: number;
 	rightSidebarWidth: number;
+	metadataSections: Record<string, boolean>;
 }>({
 	rightSidebarCollapsed: initial.rightSidebarCollapsed ?? false,
 	leftSidebarCollapsed: initial.leftSidebarCollapsed ?? false,
@@ -77,7 +85,11 @@ export const view = $state<{
 		typeof initial.rightSidebarWidth === 'number' ? initial.rightSidebarWidth : DEFAULT_RIGHT_WIDTH,
 		MIN_RIGHT_WIDTH,
 		MAX_RIGHT_WIDTH
-	)
+	),
+	metadataSections:
+		initial.metadataSections && typeof initial.metadataSections === 'object'
+			? { ...initial.metadataSections }
+			: {}
 });
 
 function persist(): void {
@@ -87,7 +99,8 @@ function persist(): void {
 		leftSidebarCollapsed: view.leftSidebarCollapsed,
 		thumbnailSize: view.thumbnailSize,
 		leftSidebarWidth: view.leftSidebarWidth,
-		rightSidebarWidth: view.rightSidebarWidth
+		rightSidebarWidth: view.rightSidebarWidth,
+		metadataSections: view.metadataSections
 	};
 	localStorage.setItem(STORAGE_KEY, JSON.stringify(payload));
 }
@@ -121,3 +134,24 @@ export function toggleLeftSidebar(): void {
 	view.leftSidebarCollapsed = !view.leftSidebarCollapsed;
 	persist();
 }
+
+/**
+ * Read the persisted expanded state for a right-sidebar metadata
+ * section, falling back to `defaultOpen` when the user has never
+ * toggled it. `defaultOpen` should be a *static* value — using a
+ * per-photo data-driven default would change between photos, fire a
+ * programmatic `toggle` event, and silently overwrite the user's
+ * preference.
+ */
+export function getMetadataSectionOpen(id: string, defaultOpen: boolean): boolean {
+	const v = view.metadataSections[id];
+	return typeof v === 'boolean' ? v : defaultOpen;
+}
+
+/** Record the user's explicit collapse/expand choice for a metadata
+ *  section. Persists immediately so a reload keeps the layout the
+ *  user picked. */
+export function setMetadataSection(id: string, open: boolean): void {
+	view.metadataSections[id] = open;
+	persist();
+}