HT204484: If Photos can’t copy or create a library

Learn about If Photos can’t copy or create a library
darleneripon
Level 1 (5 points)

Q: Will Photos app work if I keep my pictures on a portable hard drive?

I use a Macbook Air. Because the storage is limited I keep pictures on a portable hard drive. I recently downloaded the new Photos App. Why am I unable to see my iphoto library? Yes, the portable drive is plugged in. I did check it with Disk Utility to see if it was corrupted. It is fine.

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Apr 30, 2015 12:20 PM

by Old Toad,Apple recommended
Old Toad Old Toad
Level 10 (141,223 points)
Mac OS X
A:

You don't need the terminal.  Just set the drive to ignore ownership in its Info window:

ignoreownership.png

 

If all else fails try repartitioning, one for the whole drive, in Disk Utility and reformat. You will lose any files that are on it so back them up to another drive beforehand.

Disk Utility001.jpg

Then verify the ignore ownership.

OTsig.png 

Posted on Apr 30, 2015 1:14 PM

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darleneripon

Q: Will Photos app work if I keep my pictures on a portable hard drive?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Apr 30, 2015 12:22 PM in response to darleneripon
    Level 10 (313,156 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 30, 2015 12:22 PM in response to darleneripon

    Yes, if the drive is formatted as Mac OS Extended. Launch Photos with the Option key held down, click on Other Library if needed, and choose it; alternatively, drag the library to the Photos icon in the Dock.

     

    (126856)

  • by darleneripon,

    darleneripon darleneripon Apr 30, 2015 1:02 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 30, 2015 1:02 PM in response to Niel

    Thank you but this is not working. Either way I get the message about not having the necessary permissions. The external harddrive is properly formatted and I did the check to see if it is corrupted. It is not. The instructions to fix the "necessary permissions" error message do not appear to apply to external hard drives.

  • by Niel,

    Niel Niel Apr 30, 2015 1:04 PM in response to darleneripon
    Level 10 (313,156 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 30, 2015 1:04 PM in response to darleneripon

    Instead of typing out the path, drag the Photos library into the Terminal window.

     

    (126860)

  • by Old Toad,Apple recommended

    Old Toad Old Toad Apr 30, 2015 1:14 PM in response to darleneripon
    Level 10 (141,223 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 30, 2015 1:14 PM in response to darleneripon

    You don't need the terminal.  Just set the drive to ignore ownership in its Info window:

    ignoreownership.png

     

    If all else fails try repartitioning, one for the whole drive, in Disk Utility and reformat. You will lose any files that are on it so back them up to another drive beforehand.

    Disk Utility001.jpg

    Then verify the ignore ownership.

    OTsig.png 

  • by cxs,

    cxs cxs May 18, 2015 4:07 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 2 (215 points)
    May 18, 2015 4:07 PM in response to Old Toad

    Thank you Old Toad, your solution worked perfectly for me.