HT204414: Designate a System Photo Library in Photos

Learn about Designate a System Photo Library in Photos
kelsey1942

Q: Yikes.  I have too many Photo Libraries.  How do I integrate them?

I have too many Photo libraries.  How do I integrate them to create on system librar?

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2009), OS 10.7.5

Posted on Oct 25, 2015 1:40 PM

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Q: Yikes.  I have too many Photo Libraries.  How do I integrate them?

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  • by blackdogaudio,

    blackdogaudio blackdogaudio Oct 25, 2015 3:11 PM in response to kelsey1942
    Level 3 (687 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 25, 2015 3:11 PM in response to kelsey1942

    1. Backup your mac before going any further so you can reverse any changes should something go wrong.

    2. Designate one of your existing libraries as the master in Photos app which will house all of the photos you're about to move from the unwanted libraries in the next steps.

    3. Correctly identify by name and location each of the unwanted libraries you're about to delete.

    4. Create a new folder in Documents titled "photo consolidation"  or similar.

    5. Open the first unwanted library and select all items then export all photos to the photo consolidation folder you just created. Close the unwanted library and the photo consolidation folder to eliminate confusion with the next step.

    6. Repeat the previous step with each unwanted library until all unwanted library photos have been consolidated into the photo consolidation folder.

    7. Open the master Photos library and import all photos into the master Photos library which were saved in the photo consolidation folder earlier.

    8. Triple check your work and when you're satisfied you've captured and consolidated everything into the master library delete each of the old unwanted libraries. You can always recover from the backup you made in step 1 if you get confused or concerned you've made a mistake.

     

    Hopefully someone will post a less convoluted process than mine, but if not, mine should work. Best of luck!