oaktree89
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Multiple users for new OS X Photos App library

How can I have multiple users access the same Photos library for the new Photos OS X app?

 

Is it possible for users to each connect their iCloud when logged in?

Mac mini, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Jul 5, 2015 10:50 AM

by LarryHN,Solvedanswer
LarryHN LarryHN
Level 10 (84,632 points)
Photos for Mac
A:

1 - not really - if all users are on the same computer you can do it using an external hard drive with ownership ignored - this is for iPhoto but still applies - iPhoto: Sharing libraries among multiple users - Apple Support

 

2 - With Photos the better way is using iCloud Photo Library then everyone using the same Apple ID for iCloud access is sharing the same library - note that any change made by any user on any device in clouding deletions is reflected to all users on all devices as all are using the exact same library

 

You state that you have OS X 10.10.1 - you need OS X 10.10.3 or .4 for Photos

 

LN

Posted on Jul 5, 2015 11:01 AM

Close
oaktree89

Q: Multiple users for new OS X Photos App library

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by LarryHN,Solvedanswer

    LarryHN LarryHN Jul 5, 2015 11:01 AM in response to oaktree89
    Level 10 (84,632 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 5, 2015 11:01 AM in response to oaktree89

    1 - not really - if all users are on the same computer you can do it using an external hard drive with ownership ignored - this is for iPhoto but still applies - iPhoto: Sharing libraries among multiple users - Apple Support

     

    2 - With Photos the better way is using iCloud Photo Library then everyone using the same Apple ID for iCloud access is sharing the same library - note that any change made by any user on any device in clouding deletions is reflected to all users on all devices as all are using the exact same library

     

    You state that you have OS X 10.10.1 - you need OS X 10.10.3 or .4 for Photos

     

    LN

  • by oaktree89,

    oaktree89 oaktree89 Jul 5, 2015 11:22 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 5, 2015 11:22 AM in response to LarryHN

    Sorry, the config was wrong. 10.10.3.

     

    For #2 I'm on iCloud Photo Library, but using the same Apple ID is not possible. We are a family but are different people and need our own Apple IDs.

     

    Is it possible to share an iCloud Photo Library across multiple Apple IDs?

  • by léonie,Helpful

    léonie léonie Jul 5, 2015 11:32 AM in response to oaktree89
    Level 10 (106,929 points)
    iLife
    Jul 5, 2015 11:32 AM in response to oaktree89
    Is it possible to share an iCloud Photo Library across multiple Apple IDs?

    No, sharing an iCloud Library is not supported.  You can share selected photos in Shared albums, but not the same iCloud Library.  Or use a shared family album with Family Sharing.

    See.  iCloud: iCloud Photo Sharing FAQ

     

     

    Apple's idea to share photos is that every person has an own Photos Library and will share selected, best photos with others, but keep the main library private.

     

    Your only option to share the library itself would be to use the sneaker drive solution that LarryHN recommended.

  • by oaktree89,

    oaktree89 oaktree89 Jul 22, 2015 4:18 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 22, 2015 4:18 PM in response to LarryHN

    Hey Larry,

    As you said, if I use iCloud Photo Library then it is going to back up all my photos to the cloud and use that as backing storage so I wouldn't be able to use a sneaker drive. Even if it did work where I could use the sneaker drive + iCloud Photo Library I would end up using 2x the amount of data for my household with each apple ID having a copy of the library in the cloud.

     

    Is that how you see it?

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Jul 22, 2015 5:19 PM in response to oaktree89
    Level 10 (84,632 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 22, 2015 5:19 PM in response to oaktree89

    Yes Apple has backup for iCloud Photo Library - what and how much and how often has not been documented as far as I know

     

    Personally I would want a local backup in addition

     

    That requires that at least one mac with the originals downloaded to it and a good backup system for it

     

    as to copies of all photos on all computers - yes but I would expect that only one would have the originals - the rest would have optimized versions - that is a decision you can make

     

    LN

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Jul 23, 2015 12:48 AM in response to oaktree89
    Level 10 (106,929 points)
    iLife
    Jul 23, 2015 12:48 AM in response to oaktree89

    iiCloud stores your photos, but not all items of the photos library, see Apple's documentation.

    https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.0/?lang=en#/phtf5e48489c

     

    Note: iCloud Photo Library keeps your photos and videos up to date but doesn’t store your projects or Smart Albums. To keep a backup of these items, make sure you back up your Photos library to another storage device.

    And iCloud is not an archival backup.  If you accidentally delete a photo from your library, you cannot restore it from iCloud, because all changes sync immediately to iCloud and all syncing devices.  You do need a separate backup in any case. http://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.0/#/pht6d60d10f