eddiericardo7
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Unable to import iPhoto library to Photos

My iPhoto library is 485GB and I am attempting to import that library into the Apple Photos program. When I attempt to import the iPhoto library from Photos using the import tool within the Photos application, the iPhoto library is greyed out and I am unable to select it for import.

 

If I browse to my iPhoto library file, right click it and choose open with Photos, I get the following error message:

 

Cannot open migrated library

"The content of the iPhoto library “iPhoto Library” has already been migrated to Photos.  Open Photos to view your library or use a compatible version of iPhoto to open this iPhoto library."

 

I am confused on why it thinks thats my iPhoto library has already been imported into Photos when it hasn't.

 

I have even deleted the default Photos library, reopened the Photos application and tried to browse to my iPhoto library, which was greyed out again. And after deleting my default Photos library if I browse to my iPhoto library file and right click it and choose open with Photos, I get the same error message.

 

In an attempt to troubleshoot, I rebooted the Mac into recovery mode and reset the permissions on my hard drive to be sure there were no permissions issues and this had no effect.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks!

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on May 31, 2015 3:52 PM

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eddiericardo7

Q: Unable to import iPhoto library to Photos

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  • by eddiericardo7,

    eddiericardo7 eddiericardo7 Jun 1, 2015 1:29 PM in response to eddiericardo7
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 1, 2015 1:29 PM in response to eddiericardo7

    Bump please.

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Jun 1, 2015 2:43 PM in response to eddiericardo7
    Level 10 (141,435 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 1, 2015 2:43 PM in response to eddiericardo7

    What is the extension of the library?  If it's not been migrated it will be .iphotolibrary.  There should also be a second library with the extension .migratedphotolibrary.


    If it's been migrated it will be .photoslibrary.


    Are you able to open the library with iPhotos?  If not what message do you get?

     

    OTsig.png

  • by eddiericardo7,

    eddiericardo7 eddiericardo7 Jun 2, 2015 6:43 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 2, 2015 6:43 AM in response to Old Toad

    It is showing to be migrated.. but I don't understand how.. I have none of my photos in Apple Photos.. if the library is migrated, where are the photos? OSX was updated so I no longer have iPhoto installed, I only have the new Photos program.

     

    How can I recover these pictures from this iPhoto library?

     

    Thank you.

    eddie.jpg

  • by Hans Gunnarsson,

    Hans Gunnarsson Hans Gunnarsson Jun 2, 2015 7:24 AM in response to eddiericardo7
    Level 2 (482 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 7:24 AM in response to eddiericardo7

    I have the same problem...

     

    Photos doesn't find my iPhoto library.

    If I drag the library onto that empty Photos window it tells me it is unable to import this type of files.

     

    And my iPhoto library is grayed out if I browse to it through the import option in Photos.

     

    It wasn't until after I double clicked the library that Photos opened and started the import process.

    In order for this to work though you need to make sure that it says "Photos.app" in the "Open with:" category

    I just hope it won't duplicate the library as the process will then run out of disk space.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Jun 2, 2015 8:08 AM in response to Hans Gunnarsson
    Level 10 (85,256 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 2, 2015 8:08 AM in response to Hans Gunnarsson

    it does not duplicate the library - it shares the photos using hard links - Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support

     

    LN

  • by RIFerrarr,Helpful

    RIFerrarr RIFerrarr Jun 2, 2015 8:16 AM in response to eddiericardo7
    Level 3 (857 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 8:16 AM in response to eddiericardo7

    Do you have the most recent version of iPhoto installed on your mac? iPhoto 9.6.1 is still in your Applications folder, if it is not there, or it is a different version you will need to redownload it from the Mac App Store. However, if it is a different version, you need to remove it from the Applications folder before it will be downloadable from the Purchased tab in the App Store.

  • by Hans Gunnarsson,

    Hans Gunnarsson Hans Gunnarsson Jun 2, 2015 8:32 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 2 (482 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 8:32 AM in response to LarryHN

    Thank you for the info.

    ===

    I think I would like to have iPhoto back and scrap this new application.

    Its interface is blend and hard on ones eyes and I'm no longer able to scroll through the images behind an event.

     

    The new adjustment controls are clunky

    And the graphs seem to be gone

    I thought "Get info" when right clicking on a photo taken with my iPhone didn't work - But it actually started working after I opened that window pressing the button on top.

     

    Who knows what else has been vandalized?

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Jun 2, 2015 8:35 AM in response to Hans Gunnarsson
    Level 10 (85,256 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 2, 2015 8:35 AM in response to Hans Gunnarsson

    You have it in your applications folder - if it is up to date use it

     

    LN

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Jun 2, 2015 10:29 AM in response to Hans Gunnarsson
    Level 10 (141,435 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 10:29 AM in response to Hans Gunnarsson

    In case you continue to use Photos here are all of the Adjust features.  They have to be added thru the Added button:

    Padjustmenu.jpg

     

    Pfulladjusttools2.png

    The tools can be hard to find. 

     

    If you can get iPhoto 9.6.1 reinstalled that would be the route to take IMO. 

  • by Hans Gunnarsson,

    Hans Gunnarsson Hans Gunnarsson Jun 2, 2015 11:39 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 2 (482 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 11:39 AM in response to LarryHN

    It was up to date but the installer marked it as not usable.

    So I have to figure out how to get it back.

     

    Thanks

    Hans

  • by Hans Gunnarsson,

    Hans Gunnarsson Hans Gunnarsson Jun 2, 2015 11:56 AM in response to Old Toad
    Level 2 (482 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 11:56 AM in response to Old Toad

    Thank you OT.

     

    Looks better now than it did before.   :-)

     

    ===

     

    However I see that the edit environment has a black background while the other part of the application has a white background. The black environment is kind of fitting for that part of the application, but the white part of the application is impossible on the eyes.

     

    I do prefer black or gray at any time in the user interface. This white stuff is no good!

    Another thing is that the application is kind of clumsy to use and feels like a mock off of normal Apple software.   :-(

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Jun 2, 2015 12:16 PM in response to Hans Gunnarsson
    Level 10 (141,435 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 12:16 PM in response to Hans Gunnarsson
    I do prefer black or gray at any time in the user interface.

    Tell Apple what missing features you'd like restored in Photos via https://www.apple.com/feedback/photos.html

  • by eddiericardo7,

    eddiericardo7 eddiericardo7 Jun 3, 2015 10:57 AM in response to RIFerrarr
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 3, 2015 10:57 AM in response to RIFerrarr

    Not sure how my thread got hijacked.. but.. none the less...

     

    I was able to set the iPhoto library to open with iPhoto.. and I have the most up to date iPhoto installed.. so now that's opening in iPhoto, there are photos there so we're on the right track. However, there's only 71 photos out of 90,000 or so.. The iPhoto library is 460GB so there should be tons of photos, but only 77 photos are showing in iPhoto when I open the iPhoto library.

     

    Is the iPhoto library corrupt? Any ideas?

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Jun 3, 2015 11:25 AM in response to eddiericardo7
    Level 10 (141,435 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 3, 2015 11:25 AM in response to eddiericardo7

    Do the following:

     

    1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down to open the First Aid window. Be sure to follow the circled recommendation in the screenshot.

     

    iP95firstaid4.png


    2 - apply Option #4, Rebuild Database.

     

    3 - repeat with Option #1, Repair Permissions, if needed.

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