Q: Google Photos (Desktop Uploader) and  Photos for Mac?

That has nothing to do with the size of your Photos library.  It has to do with the fact that Google's Photo Backup app, the desktop uploader, is compatible with iPhoto, but not yet Photos for Mac.  That's why that file is grayed out -- it's not mean to be selectable at this time.

This thread is providing tips on how to get the uploader to still upload photos, from the Photos for Mac app, while we wait for Google to provide official support (which seems inevitable, one hopes.)

Well, they haven't done anything to the Picasa for Mac app for several weeks now

Check this to get detailed info about Desktop Uploader for MAC  !!

chinna253 wrote:

Check this to get detailed info about Desktop Uploader for MAC  !!

There is essentially no info on that page about compatibility of the Desktop Uploader for Mac app with Apple's Photos app.

I think I found a solution to do this, at least a way around it.

If you go to your Photos Library, right click and select "Show Package Contents", your photos are in a folder called "Masters", next step you can do it in a folder inside Masters (i.e I've only done it for 2015) or for Masters as a whole.

Right click on the selected folder and click on "Create Alias", that will create a new folder that is a link to the other one, you can drag that folder to /Pictures or wherever you want, and then you can add it to Google Photos!

This worked for me!

Props to Tomhatte.  His clever solution worked for me.

Thanks!

Hey radleb...

Thanks for the idea...but it looks like--at least with a Mac--you can only choose the "Make Alias" option while in the individual folders (2015, 2014, 2013, etc).  You aren't allowed to make one for the "Masters" folder.

But this definitely seems to work if you want to click-and-drag the folders over and use Google as your main back up.  It just won't allow you to put it on autopilot  for back-up purposes.

I just tried it (for the first time) and I certainly *am* able to make an alias of the Masters folder, as well as any of the individual folders inside it.  There was no difference in the Finder, for any of them.  I'd be curious to know what's so different about your system that is preventing you from making an alias of the Masters folder.  I'd still suggest that setting up aliases for the various years would work fine, even on "auto-pilot."  The only catch is that you'd need to remember to make a new alias in 2016 and each year thereafter.  (Of course, within a few months I am *sure* Google will update Google Photos Backup to recognize the Photos database natively... none of this "alias" trickery required, so the point will be moot.)

I'm also wondering why, inside the Masters folder inside my Photos Library package, I only see folders for 2015, 2014, and 2013.  I find that odd because my Photos database has photos going back to the year 2000.  Where are the folders for 2012 and earlier?

In any case, on my system Google Photos Backup is working just fine, pointing to the parent folder that my Photos Library folder is in (~/Pictures.)  I'm not sure why this isn't working for everyone, but it's certainly working for me.

That's crazy.  I'm just running Yosemite 10.10.3 with the new Photos app for Mac.

I wonder...I've said it a number of times on other threads, but maybe not here.  I've transported my "Photos Library" an 2TB external hard drive for all my pics and vids (and I also have my iTunes music and movies there, too).  Are you trying to "Make Alias" from the Photos app on your INTERNAL hard drive???

Like I said, I wonder if that's the case.  B/c here's all I get when I try and select "Make Alias": (desktop screen shot attached)

Again, I can get the option to "Make Alias" when I go to any of the sub folders of years, months, or days.  But not "Masters".

One last idea though...while I'm sure your work-around is good--and I'm sure that Google and Apple will figure this out sooner rather than later...

This one that Tomhatte Tomhatte provided is great too.  I'm using it now and seems to be uploading just fine (only 41,000 pics left to go).  :/

Great idea to create a Tag on the Masters file as the work-around.

Tomhatte May 30, 2015 7:34 AM Re: Google Photos (Desktop Uploader) and  Photos for Mac?
Re: Google Photos (Desktop Uploader) and  Photos for Mac?in response to badtz

I was able to import the Photos Library by using a tag to point the Masters folder inside the Photos Library package contents:

Go to your photos library location (generally Pictures)

Right click Photos Library and select "Show Package Contents"

Right click the "Masters" folders and add a tag for it

Now go to Google Photos preferences and add the Masters folder to the list of folders to sync by accessing it through your Tags on the sidebar of the finder prompt windows.

Enjoy

I am seeing the same as you, jaycoworld, and my Photos Library file is on my internal drive.  Okay, so the "Make Alias" command doesn't show up in the contextual menu, or the File menu, for the Master folder. (For whatever reason.)

However, you CAN always just select the folder's icon, and Command-Option-Drag it, anywhere else, to make an alias.  Works every time, regardless of where your Photos Library file is located.  That's how I did it...

Whether or not this alias will remain as a chosen source folder setting in Google Photos Uploader, remains to be seen.  AndrewC1970 reports that it went missing for him.  So far, it's working fine for me.  We'll see!

And by the way, I have just discovered that this workflow works fine, even if the Photos (for Mac) application isn't actually running on the computer.  iCloud Photo Library still syncs the new photo(s) behind-the-scenes, the Google Photos Backup utility then sees the new addition(s) and sends them up to the Google Photos cloud, with no manual intervention required.  The computer just needs to be on.

I don't have "Back up & Sync" turned on (yet?) in the Google Photos app on my iPhone.  I was thinking about it though, because it appears Google knows how to handle duplicates (i.e. no, it doesn't upload them twice.)  Also, Google Photos can apparently back up over cellular data, whereas iCloud Photo Library only backs up via WiFi.  I was thinking it might be nice to have that avenue as a backup, for when I am traveling and taking pictures, and won't be on WiFi for days/weeks.   Anyone else thinking about this, or have info to share?

Hi,

I also used Tomhatte's solution and a message appeared noting that the backup app was backing up my library (~4,000) photos.

How do you check the status of the backup?  The dialogue box instructed me to click the Google Photos icon but doing that does nothing for me.  I also don't see the google background app icon in the desktop bar but I know the process is running by checking activity monitor.

Any idea how to check the status of the backup?  I'm using Yosemite BTW.

Not sure why the Google Photos icon is not appearing in your menu bar.  It appears in mine and it does not appear to be an option to turn it off or on).

Maybe a reboot of your Mac will bring the icon up.  Once the icon appears, you just click the icon and it gives you a status update of what is being backed up (like the image below).

Thanks - it was my fault.  I was looking at the tab, not the menu bar :-(. 

Everything appears to be working at the moment.  Fingers crossed.