Q: I can't find my iphoto library

Try launching iPhoto while holding down the Option (alt) key. You should be presented with a window prompting you to select your library - unless you created a library in a particular place other than the default, select the libary offered. Hopefully this will re-establish the link to your library.

Here's a link to an Apple iPhoto support document that may be useful when trouble-shooting iPhoto:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2638?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Mmm, strange. If you've been adding photos to iPhoto they have hopefully been saved in the iPhoto library.

Have a look in this location and tell us if this file exists and what size it is (if it's got lots of photos in it it should be large-ish):

Click on the desktop and do Command+N to open a new Finder window. Click on your Home folder (the House) and then, to the right of the window double click on the Pictures folder to open it. Is there a file called 'iPhoto Library' and what size is it. As I say, if it's got some pics in it it will likely be quite a large file and would indicate that your pictures are there.

Re-launch iPhoto holding down the Option key as I mentioned in my first post and click on the 'Other Library' and navigate your way to this 'iPhoto Library' file located in your Pictures folder. Select the 'iPhoto Library' file and hopefully you'll be back in business.

Apologies if I've put it in simple terms, but you said you're new to Mac .

72gb sounds big to me. I have got about 4,500 pics and my library size is just under 12gb.

The only other thing I can suggest is that you click on the link in my first post about re-building the library, and try holding Command+Option when you launch iPhoto, although I've just checked on my Mac and the dialogue box I'm presented with has changed since the article I linked to. It seems you get to attempt fixes one choice at a time.

It does recommend that you have back-up before attempting repairs.

I'm afraid other than that I'm stuck for other ideas - maybe someone else will spot this and chime in.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Are you certain you are pressing Command+Alt, the first two keys to the left of the space bar?

I'm afraid I'm stuck for other ideas. Maybe you could re-post in the iPhoto forum where you may get more advice:

https://discussions.apple.com/community/ilife/iphoto

Hi Paul-

I had this same problem with a disappearing iPhoto Library.  However, your fix (holding the down the Option [alt] Key while starting up iPhoto) worked like a gem and helped me get my iPhoto pointed back at the right library and working again.  Thanks so much!

Cheers,

-Pete

Great - pleased it worked!

I have a similar problem. I used to have 2 iPhoto libraries, the usual internal one and an additional external one. I toggled between the two with the technique you described above. The other day I noted that the external library was the active one, but I could not toggle to the internal one. The external library was the only one listed. When I navigated to the internal library from my Home folder, it was empty. No files in the Pictures folder, no library listed, nothing. I thought perhaps Time Machine might help, how to do so, in simple terms. Do I highlight the empty Pictures folder and try to go back to a point where it is no longer empty? This is scary stuff. I am a newsletter editor and all of my graphics and related photos are lost.

Launch Time Machine and go back to the tiem you want - select the iPhoto library and click restore

details on TM are here - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

LN

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  I thought I had somehow lost all my photos.  You are awesome!

Carol