MDJCM
Level 1 (4 points)
iWork

Q: How to copy an iCloud Photos library to multiple macs using external drive

At 250GB+, it seems to me much more efficient to copy my library to a portable external drive then manually copy it to the other 2 macs I want it on.

 

But I've just tried this and the 2nd Mac I copied it to spent all night "uploading" to iCloud. Which makes no sense because it has just received a very up to date copy of the entire library.

 

I'm worried iCloud library is dumb enough that it is now unnecessarily re-uploading the entire library. When all it had to do was sync. Seems dropbox is much smarter at this than iCloud.

Posted on Feb 15, 2016 11:26 PM

by LarryHN,Apple recommended
LarryHN LarryHN
Level 10 (84,646 points)
Photos for Mac
A:

Dumb - not at all - when you move the library Photos must verify that the library is identical to the iCLoud version - it says uploading but is really verifying - trary

 

the only possible way if can tell what is in the library is to complare it to the ICloud lib

 

probably the best way is to just use iCloud Photo Library and not try to outsmart it - log into iCloud on each system with the same Apple ID and turn ICPL on and let it download to each system

 

LN

Posted on Feb 18, 2016 2:50 AM

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MDJCM

Q: How to copy an iCloud Photos library to multiple macs using external drive

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  • Helpful answers

  • by LarryHN,Apple recommended

    LarryHN LarryHN Feb 18, 2016 2:50 AM in response to MDJCM
    Level 10 (84,646 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Feb 18, 2016 2:50 AM in response to MDJCM

    Dumb - not at all - when you move the library Photos must verify that the library is identical to the iCLoud version - it says uploading but is really verifying - trary

     

    the only possible way if can tell what is in the library is to complare it to the ICloud lib

     

    probably the best way is to just use iCloud Photo Library and not try to outsmart it - log into iCloud on each system with the same Apple ID and turn ICPL on and let it download to each system

     

    LN

  • by MDJCM,

    MDJCM MDJCM Feb 18, 2016 2:53 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iWork
    Feb 18, 2016 2:53 AM in response to LarryHN

    I stand strongly by:

     

    • It is dumb and inefficient to force a user to use 250GB of internet bandwidth that could take overnight instead of allowing a ~2 hour USB transfer of the library.
    • It is dumb that it says "uploading" when it is actually verifying. Any normal user would assume it is actually uploading. Poor choice of words. Not all fo the world has unlimited internet bandwidth.

     

    However, thanks, your answer helped.

  • by léonie,Apple recommended

    léonie léonie Feb 18, 2016 3:31 AM in response to MDJCM
    Level 10 (106,958 points)
    iCloud
    Feb 18, 2016 3:31 AM in response to MDJCM

    iCloud is verifying by uploading and comparing, unfortunately.  It will upload the complete library to compare it to iCloud whenever there is any chance that the library has been locally changed without going though iCloud.  For example, if you are using the first aid tools to repair the Photos Library, Photos will upload the repaired library again to compare, see Apple's support document: 

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205069

    "Note: If you use iCloud Photo Library with Photos, this action will cause Photos to re-upload all your pictures."




  • by MDJCM,

    MDJCM MDJCM Feb 21, 2016 1:43 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iWork
    Feb 21, 2016 1:43 PM in response to léonie

    I think I managed to bypass this. By taking a copy of the Photos library from computer 1, then not opening it on computer 1 until it had been copied and opened in computer 2. I'm pretty sure it did not upload the whole library that way. It was satisfied that the data was the same. I can't be sure though, I'd have to try again.