diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/library/import.vue b/frontend/src/pages/library/import.vue
index 32f3df4d1..cc547bad8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/library/import.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/library/import.vue
@@ -1,19 +1,25 @@
 <template>
     <div class="p-tab p-tab-import">
         <v-form ref="form" class="p-photo-import" lazy-validation @submit.prevent="submit" dense>
-            <input type="file" ref="upload" multiple @change.stop="upload()" class="d-none">
-
             <v-container fluid>
-                <h3 class="subheading">Only available using the command-line interface at the moment</h3>
-                <p class="body-1 mt-2">
-                    Issues labeled <a href="https://github.com/photoprism/photoprism/labels/help%20wanted">help
-                    wanted</a> /
-                    <a href="https://github.com/photoprism/photoprism/labels/easy">easy</a> can be good (first)
-                    contributions.
-                    Our <a href="https://github.com/photoprism/photoprism/wiki">Developer Guide</a> contains all
-                    information
-                    necessary to get you started.
+                <p class="subheading">
+                    <span v-if="busy">Importing files from directory...</span>
+                    <span v-else-if="completed">Done.</span>
+                    <span v-else>Press button to import photos from directory...</span>
                 </p>
+
+                <v-progress-linear color="blue-grey" :value="completed" :indeterminate="busy"></v-progress-linear>
+
+                <v-btn
+                        :disabled="busy"
+                        color="blue-grey"
+                        class="white--text ml-0"
+                        depressed
+                        @click.stop="startImport()"
+                >
+                    Import
+                    <v-icon right dark>create_new_folder</v-icon>
+                </v-btn>
             </v-container>
         </v-form>
     </div>
@@ -27,9 +33,34 @@
         name: 'p-tab-import',
         data() {
             return {
+                started: false,
+                busy: false,
+                completed: 0,
             }
         },
         methods: {
+            submit() {
+                console.log("SUBMIT");
+            },
+            startImport() {
+                this.started = Date.now();
+                this.busy = true;
+                this.completed = 0;
+
+                this.$alert.info("Importing photos...");
+
+                const ctx = this;
+
+                axios.post('/api/v1/import').then(function () {
+                    Event.publish("alert.success", "Import complete");
+                    ctx.busy = false;
+                    ctx.completed = 100;
+                }).catch(function () {
+                    Event.publish("alert.error", "Import failed");
+                    ctx.busy = false;
+                    ctx.completed = 0;
+                });
+            },
         }
     };
 </script>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/library/index.vue b/frontend/src/pages/library/index.vue
index 59e630b25..25cbfe400 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/library/index.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/library/index.vue
@@ -1,19 +1,25 @@
 <template>
     <div class="p-tab p-tab-index">
         <v-form ref="form" class="p-photo-index" lazy-validation @submit.prevent="submit" dense>
-            <input type="file" ref="upload" multiple @change.stop="upload()" class="d-none">
-
             <v-container fluid>
-                <h3 class="subheading">Only available using the command-line interface at the moment</h3>
-                <p class="body-1 mt-2">
-                    Issues labeled <a href="https://github.com/photoprism/photoprism/labels/help%20wanted">help
-                    wanted</a> /
-                    <a href="https://github.com/photoprism/photoprism/labels/easy">easy</a> can be good (first)
-                    contributions.
-                    Our <a href="https://github.com/photoprism/photoprism/wiki">Developer Guide</a> contains all
-                    information
-                    necessary to get you started.
+                <p class="subheading">
+                    <span v-if="busy">Re-indexing existing files and photos...</span>
+                    <span v-else-if="completed">Done.</span>
+                    <span v-else>Press button to re-index existing files and photos...</span>
                 </p>
+
+                <v-progress-linear color="blue-grey" :value="completed" :indeterminate="busy"></v-progress-linear>
+
+                <v-btn
+                        :disabled="busy"
+                        color="blue-grey"
+                        class="white--text ml-0"
+                        depressed
+                        @click.stop="startIndexing()"
+                >
+                    Index
+                    <v-icon right dark>update</v-icon>
+                </v-btn>
             </v-container>
         </v-form>
     </div>
@@ -27,9 +33,34 @@
         name: 'p-tab-index',
         data() {
             return {
+                started: false,
+                busy: false,
+                completed: 0,
             }
         },
         methods: {
+            submit() {
+                console.log("SUBMIT");
+            },
+            startIndexing() {
+                this.started = Date.now();
+                this.busy = true;
+                this.completed = 0;
+
+                this.$alert.info("Indexing photos...");
+
+                const ctx = this;
+
+                axios.post('/api/v1/index').then(function () {
+                    Event.publish("alert.success", "Indexing complete");
+                    ctx.busy = false;
+                    ctx.completed = 100;
+                }).catch(function () {
+                    Event.publish("alert.error", "Indexing failed");
+                    ctx.busy = false;
+                    ctx.completed = 0;
+                });
+            },
         }
     };
 </script>
diff --git a/internal/api/import.go b/internal/api/import.go
index 3fd6c97a7..1b9dd6642 100644
--- a/internal/api/import.go
+++ b/internal/api/import.go
@@ -19,9 +19,7 @@ func initImporter(conf *config.Config) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	tensorFlow := photoprism.NewTensorFlow(conf)
-
-	indexer := photoprism.NewIndexer(conf, tensorFlow)
+	initIndexer(conf)
 
 	converter := photoprism.NewConverter(conf)
 
diff --git a/internal/api/index.go b/internal/api/index.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4ed22a6df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/api/index.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/photoprism/photoprism/internal/config"
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+
+	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
+	"github.com/photoprism/photoprism/internal/photoprism"
+)
+
+var indexer *photoprism.Indexer
+
+func initIndexer(conf *config.Config) {
+	if indexer != nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	tensorFlow := photoprism.NewTensorFlow(conf)
+
+	indexer = photoprism.NewIndexer(conf, tensorFlow)
+}
+
+// POST /api/v1/index
+func Index(router *gin.RouterGroup, conf *config.Config) {
+	router.POST("/index", func(c *gin.Context) {
+		start := time.Now()
+		path := conf.OriginalsPath()
+
+		log.Infof("indexing photos in %s", path)
+
+		initIndexer(conf)
+
+		indexer.IndexAll()
+
+		elapsed := time.Since(start)
+
+		c.JSON(http.StatusOK, gin.H{"message": fmt.Sprintf("indexing completed in %s", elapsed)})
+	})
+}
diff --git a/internal/server/routes.go b/internal/server/routes.go
index 3c12734ce..c2ef91f3c 100644
--- a/internal/server/routes.go
+++ b/internal/server/routes.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ func registerRoutes(router *gin.Engine, conf *config.Config) {
 
 		api.Upload(v1, conf)
 		api.Import(v1, conf)
+		api.Index(v1, conf)
 
 		api.BatchPhotosDelete(v1, conf)
 		api.BatchPhotosPrivate(v1, conf)