HJDS

Q: Where are my iphotos stored on my iMac?

I have iphoto 8.1.2 running on an imac with OSX 10.9. I am looking for where my photos and videos in iphoto are stored on my computer.  Finder doesn't find them unless they are also saved in the "documents", "downloads" or "pictures" folders.

 

Other threads say to click in iphoto on "file" and then on "reveal location", but it doesn't appear in my dropdown. Any advice?

 

HJDS

iPhoto '08, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Dec 13, 2013 12:17 PM

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Q: Where are my iphotos stored on my iMac?

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  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Dec 13, 2013 12:26 PM in response to HJDS
    Level 10 (139,475 points)
    iLife
    Dec 13, 2013 12:26 PM in response to HJDS

    By default, they are stored in your iPhoto Library, and that will be in your Pictures Folder, unless you moved it.

     

    Some FYI:

     

    For help accessing your photos in iPhoto see this user tip:

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4491

     

    Most Simple Back Up:

    Drag the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to another Disk. This will make a copy on that disk.

     

    Slightly more complex: Use an app that will do incremental back ups. This is a very good way to work. The first time you run the back up the app will make a complete copy of the Library. Thereafter it will update the back up with the changes you have made. That makes subsequent back ups much faster. Many of these apps also have scheduling capabilities: So set it up and it will do the back up automatically.

     

    Example of such apps: Chronosync - but there are many others. Search on MacUpdate or the App Store

     

    For more on iPhoto and file management see this User Tip:

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6361

     

    As you're using iPhoto 08 the Reveal command is on the Contextual Menu.

  • by Alec S.,Helpful

    Alec S. Alec S. Mar 19, 2014 8:26 PM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 3 (604 points)
    Applications
    Mar 19, 2014 8:26 PM in response to Terence Devlin

    I have the same question as the initial one in this thread. When I looked in the pictures folder, all it had were pictures from Photo Booth. I don't recall moving my iPhoto pictures (but it seems I must have since the folder isn't in the Pictures folder). Is there a way I can track down where my iPhoto pictures/videos are stored and move that folder back into the Pictures folder where it's supposed to be?

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Mar 19, 2014 8:33 PM in response to Alec S.
    Level 10 (84,105 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 19, 2014 8:33 PM in response to Alec S.

    See TD's answer above

     

    Is iPhoto working correctly? If so do not move any photos anywhere

     

    LN

  • by Alec S.,

    Alec S. Alec S. Mar 19, 2014 9:08 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 3 (604 points)
    Applications
    Mar 19, 2014 9:08 PM in response to LarryHN

    I tried his suggestion to right click a photo in iPhoto and choose 'show file'. I found my iPhoto pictures as they came up in this pathway...MacHD>Users>My Name>Library>iPhoto Library>Modified.....however, when I tried to follow this same path starting from the Finder>MacHD>Users>My Name>Library>iPhoto Library...instead of seeing a folder named 'Modified' where all my pictures were, it's just an icon of iPhoto and no  folders. This is why I was getting confused and couldn't find my iPhoto pictures.

     

    Now that I've found them, my questions are:

     

    1) Why is there a folder called 'Modified' when I right click a picture in iPhoto and choose 'show file' but there's no folder when I access the iPhoto Library folder from the Finder?

     

    2) Would it be possible to move the 'Modified' folder back to the iPhoto Library folder where (I'm assuming) it belonged in the first place?

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Mar 19, 2014 9:17 PM in response to Alec S.
    Level 10 (84,105 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 19, 2014 9:17 PM in response to Alec S.

    Is iPhoto working correctly? If so do not move any photos anywhere

    YOu NEVER go into youyr iPhoto library for any reason unless specifically directed by an expert - there are no user servicable parts in it

     

    What are you trying to accomplish?

     

    LN

  • by Alec S.,

    Alec S. Alec S. Mar 19, 2014 10:41 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 3 (604 points)
    Applications
    Mar 19, 2014 10:41 PM in response to LarryHN

    I'm just curious as to why the pictures folder isn't in my iPhoto Library folder. Yes, my iPhoto works just fine, but shouldn't the pictures folder be in the iPhoto Library folder?

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Mar 19, 2014 10:51 PM in response to Alec S.
    Level 10 (84,105 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 19, 2014 10:51 PM in response to Alec S.

    No

     

    By default (and recommended normally) the Pictures folder contains your iPhoto library, your Photo booth library and maybe some other Pictures type things

     

    LN

  • by Alec S.,

    Alec S. Alec S. Mar 19, 2014 11:03 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 3 (604 points)
    Applications
    Mar 19, 2014 11:03 PM in response to LarryHN

    Sorry, my mistake. I meant to say that my Pictures folder should contain my iPhoto pictures. I guess so long as my iPhoto works, it really doesn't matter where the photos are housed.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Mar 19, 2014 11:05 PM in response to Alec S.
    Level 10 (84,105 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 19, 2014 11:05 PM in response to Alec S.

    By default (and strongly recommended your pictures are in your iPhoto library - you access them using iPhoto and the methods described in the user tip on accessing your file in iPhoto

     

    LN

  • by Alec S.,

    Alec S. Alec S. Mar 19, 2014 11:11 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 3 (604 points)
    Applications
    Mar 19, 2014 11:11 PM in response to LarryHN

    But that's why I asked the question in the first place...my pictures aren't in my iPhoto Library and I have no idea where they are. If you say the pictures should be in my iPhoto Library by default and strongly recommended, I would like them to be there but I have no idea where they are. So I'm trying to find out where they are and how I can put them back in the iPhoto Library folder.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Mar 19, 2014 11:17 PM in response to Alec S.
    Level 10 (84,105 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 19, 2014 11:17 PM in response to Alec S.

    They probably are in your iPhjoto library - and no matter where they are if iPhoto is working you MUST not mess with them - iPhoto is a SQLite database you if you move anything that is needs it will lose track of it and you may lose things -

     

    this shows that you photos are in fact in your iPhoto library as they should be

     

    I found my iPhoto pictures as they came up in this pathway...MacHD>Users>My Name>Library>iPhoto Library>Modified...
    Again you do not directly access them there - you use the provided tools as referenced above

     

    Never muck around in the iPhoto library - it can only cause problems and data loss

     

    LN

  • by akarelis,

    akarelis akarelis Mar 25, 2014 6:54 AM in response to Alec S.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 25, 2014 6:54 AM in response to Alec S.

    I have two libraries kicking around. I'm not sure how the second one got created, but it has about a thousand pictures in it as opposed to the first (the default), which has about ten thousand, and it pops up every now and again.. You might want to look around your computer--I'm sure all of the posters here know far more than I about where a second library might be hiding.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Mar 25, 2014 7:29 AM in response to akarelis
    Level 10 (84,105 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 25, 2014 7:29 AM in response to akarelis

    No one here has any idea where anyone's library is - by default the iPhoto library is in the pictures folder but anyone can move it anywhere - no way for anyon ebut them to know what they have done or where it is

     

    LN

  • by dttd,

    dttd dttd Aug 5, 2014 7:23 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 5, 2014 7:23 PM in response to LarryHN

    @LarryHN, I understand the importance with keeping the integrity of the iPhoto library, but why not empower Users rather than keep them in the dark...

     

    LarryHN wrote:

     

    ...iPhoto is a SQLite database you if you move anything that is needs it will lose track of it and you may lose things...

     

    Direct from my Terminal:

    [computerName]:Pictures [user]$ sqlite3 iPhoto\ Library/

    Error: unable to open database "iPhoto Library/": unable to open database file

    But you can then cd through...

    Example:

    [computerName]:Pictures [user]$ cd iPhoto\ Library/Masters

    You can then go through the remaining directories, which do contain the files.

     

    As LarryHN did mention you can move these files as needed, AND it can get complicated. You will need to do your homework though and become familiar with your Mac Terminal. Also note that Mac files are dependent on metadata, and altering these can make iPhoto Library unresponsive or unusable.

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