Unable To Open Mac Photos Library
Aug 02, 2012 I downloaded the most recent iPhot 11 from the Mac app store on 7 August, installed it. Tried to open iPhoto, got the message: iPhoto needs to upgrade you library. I clicked upgrade I got a message saying it was unable to open library and only option was to quit. I tried many support forums suggestions but what did it for me was this. Jan 12, 2020 You can access the hidden Library folder without using Terminal, which has the side effect of revealing every hidden file on your Mac. This method will only make the Library folder visible, and only for as long as you keep the Finder window for the Library folder open. Photos attempted to repair the library. MacOS Photos.app tutorial 2015-12-30 11. How to fix Photos has attempted to repair the library Photos Library.photoslibrary, but is unable to open. The library could not be opened—here's the fix. Dec 17, 2015 One thing you could try is to create a new library, then right click and say Show Package Contents. Then do that for your original library also, and move it's folders into the new libraries folders. When you open the new library again, it will say there are inconsistencies and will need to rebuild, but maybe it might complete the task this time. I'm running MacOS X Catalina 10.15.2 (19C57) and have a large Photos library on a NAS. When I attempt to open Photos, I get: 'The library could not be opened.' 'Photos was unable to open the libra. Oct 29, 2019 Myself and others who experienced this issue have been successful in deleting the current library and replacing it with a backup. I was able to restore a version from Time Machine and Photos was able to open and upgrade it properly without issue.
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“Library is not working in photos in macOS Catalina. Recently I updated to macOS Catalina but after the update, photos are not working. I am getting library could not be opened error. How can I recover from it?” – From Apple Discussion.
The library not working is one of the most famous macOS issues. So, the users have faced it numerous times and it mostly occurs after an update. Although it is a well-known error, when this error occurs, there are also several associated issues like;
- the library could not be opened
- Photos app crashes on launch in Catalina
- photos are missing after Cataina
- updating library is not working in photos
So, this needs to get fixed immediately in order to enjoy the much-awaited advanced features of macOS Catalina. Just read the article below and you will get your answers.
- Part 1: Fix Library is Not Working in Photos in macOS Catalina
Part 1: Fix Library is Not Working in Photos in macOS Catalina
There are multiple ways to fix photos library could not be opened. These procedures are effective. So, follow the details provided below, carefully.
Solution 1: Use Mac Built-in Photos Library Repair Tool
If Mac photos the library could not be opened or it is showing unexpected errors, then Photos Library Repair Tool is one of the best ways to fix it. This is a built-in repair tool, comes with macOS and it is pretty easy to use.
Step 1: Press and hold the “Option” and “Command” keys while photos are opened on your Mac.
Step 2: Then, a dialog box will appear, click on “Repair” to proceed.
You will be asked to provide a password for your user account. The tool will analyze the library database at the beginning. Depending on the size of the library, the repair could take a while.
Solution 2: Update Photos App If It is Not Up to Date
It is possible that Photos app on your Mac has not been updated in a while. As you have just updated to Catalina, the latest version of macOS. It is possible that macOS Catalina is interfering with the older version of Photos app.
So, if you just update the Photos app to its latest version, the issue may get fixed.
Solution 3: Force Quit Photos then Re-launch to Fix Library is Not Working in Photos in macOS Catalina
It is also possible that you are facing a temporary glitch with the app. So, force-quit the Photos app and launch it again.
Possibly the library issue may get fixed.
Solution 4: Disable Autoplay Videos Setting in Photos
This is a very simple fix. Here’s how to do it;
Step 1: Click Launchpad from your mac desktop and open Photos app.
Step 2: Go to Photos > Preferences and you will find the option Autoplay Videos and Live Photos.
Now, simply uncheck the feature.
Solution 5: Reinstall macOS Catalina to Fix Library is Not Working in Photos in macOS Catalina
You should also try re-installing macOS Catalina if the error still hasn’t disappeared. But the proper way to re-install macOS Catalina is to use Mac’s Recovery Mode. Here’s how to repair photo library Mac:
Step 1: So, restart your Mac. While the device is starting, you need to hold “Command and R” keys together in order to enter Recovery Mode.
Step 2: As the follow-up window appears, click on “Reinstall macOS”. Then, click on “Continue”.
Step 3: Then, you have to agree to “Terms & Conditions”.
Step 4: Finally, select the drive where you want to install macOS Catalina and click “Install”.
Part 2: What If Your Photos are Lost after Fixing Library is Not Working in Photos in macOS Catalina
There is a possibility that photos from your photo library may get erased even after fixing the library. If that happens, you need to make a photo recovery Mac.
Although, the discussed solutions for the library fix are very effective but so many changes were made on the Mac system that lost photos are a possibility. Now, in order to recover lost photo on Mac, an effective data recovery program is required and it needs to be used immediately. As the longer you wait, the chances of photo recovery gets slimmer.
So, stop using the Mac and use Tenorshare UltData-Mac Data Recovery. UltData is a great software developed by Tenorshare, provides effective data recovery with precision and software is quite secure as well. Here are a few important features of the software:
- UltData is capable of recovery of any sort of lost files on Mac.
- May it be a deleted file of lost due to format, UltData will make the recovery anyway.
- Files can be restored from internal hard drive, as well as external drives.
- The data recovery rate is 100%.
- The program is also safe to use and very secure.
Now, the recovery of those lost photos will be very easy with UltData. Just follow the steps below:
Step 1: Download and install Tenorshare UltData for Mac on your computer and launch it.
Step 2: Choose the location of the lost photos and click “Scan” to proceed.
Step 3: It will take a while to complete the scan but upon its completion, the scan results will get displayed on the screen. You can click on them to preview the details.
Step 4: The lost files will be among the results. Just choose them and click “Recover” to restore them successfully.
Mac Photo Library Management
You also have to choose a path where the restored photos will be located. Don’t choose the same location from they were originally, erased. Doing it will cause permanent data loss.
Export Mac Photos Library
Part 3: Some New Features of Photos in macOS Catalina You Need to Know
The macOS Catalina is the newest addition to the macOS line up. It is brand new, better, faster and equipped with some amazing new features. Let’s have a look.
Photos View
All your photos and videos will be displayed on a grid. This is the new Photos View. You will be able to zoom in and get a larger view and additional details. The photos on the grid will be visible in a square format.
Live Photos and Videos
Live videos and photos are also included in the photo library. You just have to click “Auto-Play” when they are visible on the screen. It uses a dynamic display system.
Memory Movies
You will be able to view memory movies that you created on your iOS device. So, finally, memory movies came to Mac.
Machine Learning
Machine learning is included. It helps to realize the photos app, who is in the photo and what is going on. This helps users in many ways.
Manually copy your library to an external storage device: Drag the Photos library (by default in the Pictures folder on your Mac) to your storage device to create a copy. If you have more than one photo library, be sure to back them all up. Apr 01, 2020 Quit Photos. Hold down the Option key, then open Photos. One of the photo libraries is already designated as YourLibraryName (System Photo Library). Choose the library you want to designate as the System Photo Library. After Photos opens the library, choose Photos Preferences from the menu bar. Click the General tab. How to read old mac photo library. Now you will see a new folder with a lot of years. Click on a year, then a month, and you will see all the pictures from your iPhoto library from that month. You can then open the photos one by one, copy them, or do what you like with each picture. Dec 09, 2017 Support Communities / iLife / iPhoto for Mac. There is no app on Windows that can read and open an iPhoto Library. End of story. Dec 9, 2017 11:51 AM. You may be able to retrieve your original photos by going into the iPhoto library and copying the masters or originals folder out of it - it should contain your original photos. Dec 11, 2018 You’ll have to change the location from which the Photos app is reading. In the image below, I’ve got two Photos libraries, the default one, and a backup library. While you can access the backup library just by double-clicking it—which will open it in the Photos app—it’s better to switch Photos to use this one by default.
Conclusion
Hence, you will be able to repair photo library Mac and it will be easier if you just follow the detailed solution mentioned in the article, above. But as mentioned before, it is possible that you may lose some of your stored images from the library while fixing it. If it happens, you need to stop using the Mac immediately and use Tenorshare UltData for the fast and successful recovery of those photos.