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Q: Memory issue with Photos

I have exported approx. 15,000 photos to an extrema hard drive and then deleted them from my Mac using Photos.

 

Initially the photos went into a Deleted photos file shown on the side bar in the Photos app. I selected all the photos in that file and deleted them.

 

The Deleted photos file was no longer visible so I assume that the photos were properly deleted.

 

I checked the trash bin - empty.

 

I then selected all the remaining photos and got a total memory count of under 9 Gb.

 

However, when checking the storage on the Mac (Apple symbol/ About this Mac/ Storage) it indicates the memory allocated to photos is about 113Gb instead of about 9 Gb.

 

Can anyone give me some guidance as to how to resolve this issue so that 'storage' gives me the correct memory? I would like to download updates to the Mac software but the system believes that there is insufficient memory.

 

I am using El Capitan 10.11 and Photos Version 1.1 (335.4.0)


I don't use iCloud for photo storage.


Thanks

MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Oct 27, 2015 11:44 AM

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Q: Memory issue with Photos

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  • by léonie,Solvedanswer

    léonie léonie Oct 28, 2015 11:40 AM in response to OnlyMePNG
    Level 10 (108,510 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 28, 2015 11:40 AM in response to OnlyMePNG

    Is your Photos Library a migrated iPhoto Library or Aperture Library?  Then the photos in Photos are hard links to the photos in Aperture or iPhoto.  If you delete photos from Photos the storage will only be released, if you delete the photos from the original iPhoto Library or Aperture library as well.

    In that case move your iPhoto Library or Aperture library to an external drive to break the links. That should free the storage.

    See this document:  Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support

     

    Another reason for storage not being freed after the deletion of photos might be referenced files.  If you did not import the photos into your library but are storing them in their original location, the original image files will not be deleted, if you delete the photos in Photos. You have to remove the referenced originals on your own.

    See this Help Page: https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.0/?lang=en#/pht1ed9b966d

  • by OnlyMePNG,

    OnlyMePNG OnlyMePNG Oct 28, 2015 11:40 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 28, 2015 11:40 AM in response to léonie

    Thanks Leonie,

     

    You have been a great help. I had no idea that iPhotos still existed after the update which installed Photos.

     

    I now have all the memory I need.

     

    Many more thanks!

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Oct 28, 2015 11:57 AM in response to OnlyMePNG
    Level 10 (108,510 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 28, 2015 11:57 AM in response to OnlyMePNG

    You're welcome

     

    I had no idea that iPhotos still existed after the update which installed Photos.

    That is because Photos is a completely different, new application, and quite a few users preferred to stick with iPhoto instead of migrating to Photos.

    Apple let iPhoto installed and the iPhoto Library unchanged, so you had an option.