HT204487: How Photos displays Smart Albums from iPhoto or Aperture

Learn about How Photos displays Smart Albums from iPhoto or Aperture
safromgranite bay

Q: Anyone else have problem with smart albums displaying on Photos for OS X 10.10.3, but not on IOS 8.3?

Anyone else have problem with smart albums displaying on Photos for OS X 10.10.3, but not on IOS 8.3?  Also, how do you delete a smart album from Photos for Mac OSX?  Thanks.

MacBook Pro (17-inch Early 2009), OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on May 19, 2015 10:53 AM

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Q: Anyone else have problem with smart albums displaying on Photos for OS X 10.10.3, but not on IOS 8.3?

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  • by Glenn Leblanc,Solvedanswer

    Glenn Leblanc Glenn Leblanc May 19, 2015 11:04 AM in response to safromgranite bay
    Level 6 (11,016 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 19, 2015 11:04 AM in response to safromgranite bay

    If you are using the iCloud Photo Library, my understanding is that smart albums will not sync and won't show on other devices.

     

    To delete any album, right-click or control-click on it and choose delete album.

  • by safromgranite bay,

    safromgranite bay safromgranite bay May 19, 2015 12:05 PM in response to Glenn Leblanc
    Level 1 (2 points)
    May 19, 2015 12:05 PM in response to Glenn Leblanc

    Thanks for the info Glenn.  Glad to know how to delete the smart albums with control-click.  Does it make sense that my smart albums do display as empty folders on icloud.com photos?  Just curious.

     

    Best Regards.

  • by Glenn Leblanc,Helpful

    Glenn Leblanc Glenn Leblanc May 19, 2015 12:24 PM in response to safromgranite bay
    Level 6 (11,016 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 19, 2015 12:24 PM in response to safromgranite bay

    I'm not sure. I don't think it will display on iOS devices from what i've read, but may appear on other macs. I've seen conflicting reports here. From an apple article, smart albums should sync, but it only says it will show up on other Macs.

    This is the latest from Apple:

    Use Photos and iCloud Photo Library on multiple Mac computers - Apple Support

     

    Another article not from Apple says they don't sync:

    http://www.imore.com/how-use-smart-albums-photos-os-x

     

    So, I'd say they should sync between macs, however I don't know for sure. The iPhone doesn't have smart albums. Smart albums work by criteria, so you wouldn't be able to change the criteria or delete a photo from it on an iOS device. That may be why it appears as an empty folder. If you had another computer, you could see how it works on it.

     

    As I stated before, it's my understanding. I don't use iCloud Photo Library. So, there is some unknown factors here.