CookieDuster
Level 1 (26 points)

Q: Cannot sync photos "iPhoto library is not yet available"

When syncing iPhone 5s to iMac running Yosemite and get the following error:

 

"iTunes cannot sync photos to the iPhone "iPhone" because your iPhoto library is not yet available. Please try again later."

 

This phone has been syncing with iPhoto for some time now. This is a new one to me.

 

Tried rebooting the phone and the desktop machine, same result.

 

Interestingly, in iTunes when selecting the "photos" page all I get is the spinning circle for the iPhone, the other selections, Summary, Apps, etc., all load fine.

The same situation is true for the iPad mini, the photo page never loads. I have not attempted to sync the iPad since this error appeared.

 

Anyone familiar with this error?

 

This mac has had the "iPod" cache folder deleted in past months to clear another sync error, but had been syncing fine since then.

 

iTunes version 12.1.050

 

Thanks!

 

Cross posted following no replies on iTunes community.

iPhone 5s, iOS 8.1.3

Posted on Feb 14, 2015 2:49 PM

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CookieDuster

Q: Cannot sync photos "iPhoto library is not yet available"

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  • by wilkie.joissaint,

    wilkie.joissaint wilkie.joissaint Feb 14, 2015 3:02 PM in response to CookieDuster
    Level 2 (170 points)
    Feb 14, 2015 3:02 PM in response to CookieDuster

    @CookieDuster Try rebooting your iPhone and Mac, then synch just one event.  If successful, then selected All Photos.

     

    You are welcome to view the link provided below for more fixes

     

    iTunes: Unable to sync photos - Apple Support

  • by CookieDuster,

    CookieDuster CookieDuster Feb 14, 2015 3:04 PM in response to wilkie.joissaint
    Level 1 (26 points)
    Feb 14, 2015 3:04 PM in response to wilkie.joissaint

    Thanks Wilkie.

     

    I would try that but the "Photos" window where I would select what photos to sync never becomes available. I just see spinning wheel animation. And that was after rebooting both the desktop and the phone.

     

    Any other clues out there?

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Feb 14, 2015 3:08 PM in response to CookieDuster
    Level 8 (39,758 points)
    Feb 14, 2015 3:08 PM in response to CookieDuster

    Settings > iCloud > Photos > iCloud Photo Library (Beta) = "Off"

  • by CookieDuster,

    CookieDuster CookieDuster Feb 14, 2015 3:34 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (26 points)
    Feb 14, 2015 3:34 PM in response to sberman

    "Settings > iCloud > Photos > iCloud Photo Library (Beta) = "Off""

     

    If you are suggesting to turn off iCloud Photo Library (beta) it has always been off. That has never been turned on on that device.

     

    But thanks!

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Feb 14, 2015 3:44 PM in response to CookieDuster
    Level 8 (39,758 points)
    Feb 14, 2015 3:44 PM in response to CookieDuster

    Yes, I was suggesting you turn off iCloud Photo Library.  I believe it is "On" by default.  Glad you have it off!

     

    Are you running the current version of iPhoto on your Mac (9.6)?  Does it display your photos correctly?  In other words, does the current version locate your iPhoto library without any issues?

     

    If you don't have the current version, you should get it (from the Mac's App Store).  If you have the current version but it cannot locate your iPhoto library, hold the option key down while opening iPhoto from the dock and you will be able to specify the library's location.

  • by wilkie.joissaint,

    wilkie.joissaint wilkie.joissaint Feb 14, 2015 3:55 PM in response to CookieDuster
    Level 2 (170 points)
    Feb 14, 2015 3:55 PM in response to CookieDuster

    @CookieDuster

     

    We going to run a test and see if if this solution works.  Lets try

     

    On your super cool imac:

     

    1. go to system preferences>users & group>create a new account and name it test (make sure you set it as an admin account)
    2. get an external hd and plug it in
    3. next go to finder>pictures>and copy iphoto library that is located there and put in the external hd

    Screen Shot 2015-02-14 at 6.49.11 PM.png

    1. now log into the test account
    2. transfer the iphoto library from external to pictures folder.  if you see the same file there, do not worry you are just overwriting it.
    3. once that complete, I would like for you to test your iphone and see if it syncs over.

     

    Thanks!

  • by CookieDuster,

    CookieDuster CookieDuster Feb 14, 2015 10:28 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (26 points)
    Feb 14, 2015 10:28 PM in response to sberman

    Yes  running iPhoto 9.6

     

    The library acts normally in other actions. Also, iphoto is able to download pictures from the phone.

  • by CookieDuster,

    CookieDuster CookieDuster Feb 14, 2015 11:07 PM in response to wilkie.joissaint
    Level 1 (26 points)
    Feb 14, 2015 11:07 PM in response to wilkie.joissaint

    No external HD on hand to try this right now.

     

    Interesting idea though to see if the library works with different user account or not.

     

    I'll scrounge one up.

  • by CookieDuster,

    CookieDuster CookieDuster Feb 16, 2015 9:36 PM in response to CookieDuster
    Level 1 (26 points)
    Feb 16, 2015 9:36 PM in response to CookieDuster

    Solution:

     

    Rebuilt iPhoto database. Restarted iMac, rebooted phone. Photo tab in iTunes became available again after plugging in phone. Made selections of which albums to sync, clicked apply and the selections went away. Remade selections then Apply became available, clicked it and iTunes warned me it would replace existing photos on phone.  Proceeded and then got error -50.

     

    Rebooted the the phone once more and the next sync completed.

     

    So far so good.

  • by wilkie.joissaint,

    wilkie.joissaint wilkie.joissaint Feb 16, 2015 9:44 PM in response to CookieDuster
    Level 2 (170 points)
    Feb 16, 2015 9:44 PM in response to CookieDuster

    Good Job!  I am glad you was able to move forward.

  • by CookieDuster,

    CookieDuster CookieDuster Feb 16, 2015 9:50 PM in response to wilkie.joissaint
    Level 1 (26 points)
    Feb 16, 2015 9:50 PM in response to wilkie.joissaint

    Incidently, in iPhoto first tried repair permissions, and then repair database, with no good results.

     

    I've disliked iPhoto for some time, can only cross my fingers that the new app will be an improvemen!

  • by wilkie.joissaint,

    wilkie.joissaint wilkie.joissaint Feb 16, 2015 9:53 PM in response to CookieDuster
    Level 2 (170 points)
    Feb 16, 2015 9:53 PM in response to CookieDuster

    Hopefully

  • by Lovebloomingroses,

    Lovebloomingroses Lovebloomingroses Mar 1, 2015 10:22 PM in response to CookieDuster
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 1, 2015 10:22 PM in response to CookieDuster

    CookieDuster...

     

    I am having the EXACT same issue but I am not very tech literate and the steps you went through sound like a foreign language at times.  It scares me to do something like "rebuild" some element of my system as I have this horrible fear I will loose everything that includes 14 years of pictures.  I am frustrated...but so far have not "lost" pictures, just cannot get them back on my phone.

     

    Any additional hits or words of wisdom would be very helpful.

     

    Thanks!

  • by CharlesY,Helpful

    CharlesY CharlesY Mar 2, 2015 8:05 PM in response to Lovebloomingroses
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Mar 2, 2015 8:05 PM in response to Lovebloomingroses

    OK - take a nice deep breath. This is going to be easy.

     

    First, make sure you have a backup - both of your computer and your phone. For the computer, use TimeMachine. For the Phone look at the Phone's summary page in iTunes. It will tell you when the last backup was.

     

    Then follow the instructions in the Apple Suoort Document: iTunes: Unable to sync photos - Apple Support

     

    You'll definitely want to do the bit about removing the iPod Cache.

     

    Take things slowly, make sure you've got a backup and all will be fine.

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