dso371

Q: Endless duplicate Photos import - help!!

Hi all, I'm desperate for help, so please can you assist me...

 

Every time I connect my iPhone or iPad to my Macbook Air, all software up to date on all devices, the Photos app in OS X offers to import the same photos (sometimes hundreds) that I have already imported a zillion times into my Photo library. I end up with so many duplicates in my Photos library it ends up a total mess!

 

I'm using iCloud Photo Library on all devices. Do I need to keep importing photos from my iOS device? I thought any photo take with any device will automatically be uploaded to iCloud Photo Library and end up on my Mac and in my local Photo library. Is that right, or do I need to keep the 'import photos' box checked in the Photos app? Most people seem to think it should be kept on.

 

If so, what do I do to stop these endless duplicate imports?? It's driving me crazy!

 

Thank you,

David

OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Apr 26, 2016 2:14 AM

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Q: Endless duplicate Photos import - help!!

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  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Apr 26, 2016 6:47 AM in response to dso371
    Level 10 (84,185 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 26, 2016 6:47 AM in response to dso371

    No you do not need to import - doing so will create duplicates

     

    If you use ICPL then all libraries are kept in sync all the time and you do not do manual imports at all

     

    LN

  • by dso371,

    dso371 dso371 Apr 26, 2016 7:15 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2016 7:15 AM in response to LarryHN

    Thanks, this sounds right but I'm wary of turning importing off as various people on forums say only 'advanced users' should turn it off etc. Could anyone else please corroborate Larry's reply before I turn it off?

    Thank you.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Apr 26, 2016 7:43 AM in response to dso371
    Level 10 (84,185 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 26, 2016 7:43 AM in response to dso371

    Not sure what you are talking about - there is no import box to check or uncheck in Photos

     

    If you are talking about the box to "Copy imported items to the Photos Library" you shoud not uncheck that - that has nothing at all to do with duplicates or importing - it only has to do with where the original photos end up when you import

     

    You seem to be confused about this whole process

     

    With iCloud Photo Library you do not need to connect IOS devices and import form them as it is automatic - again this has nothing to do with copying the imported items to the Photos library and it is very strongly recommended that you do not uncheck that

     

    LN

  • by dso371,

    dso371 dso371 Apr 26, 2016 1:10 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2016 1:10 PM in response to LarryHN

    Well, I know I am confused, but you might be as well. You're right there's no import box to check or uncheck. What I meant was that when you connect your iPhone and the Photos app opens, I see two buttons on the right: 'Import Selected' and 'Import New'. And I get a grid full of all the photos it is inviting me to import, all of which I have imported a million times before and so ending up with tons of duplicates.

     

    So my question is whether, given that I used iCloud Photo Library, I can safely disable the 'Import Selected' and 'Import New' prompt, and if so how?

     

    Thanks,

    David

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Apr 26, 2016 2:07 PM in response to dso371
    Level 10 (84,185 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 26, 2016 2:07 PM in response to dso371

    I am not the least bit confused but Of course since you are not providing full and accurate information then I do not know what you are talking about since I can not see you

     

    As I very clearly said in my first post

    No you do not need to import - doing so will create duplicates

     

    If you use ICPL then all libraries are kept in sync all the time and you do not do manual imports at all

     

    Very clear and simple - do NOT import manually if you are using iCloud Photo Library

     

    As to the import window while the IOS device is connected I believe there is a box next to it in the Photos source pane with a box to open Photos when this device is connected - uncheck that box and it will stop (I never connect and of  my IOS devices to my Mac as I have no need to since everything I need to do is handled by ICPL)

     

    And of course it is trivial to just ignore both boxes and quit Photos without doing anything

     

    and teh import all or import selected boxes have absolutely notining to do with this in any way

    do I need to keep the 'import photos' box checked in the Photos app? Most people seem to think it should be kept on.

    With poor information from you the best guess I can make is that you are thinking of the advice not to uncheck the "copy imported imported items to the Photos Library" - again as I clearly said

    If you are talking about the box to "Copy imported items to the Photos Library" you shoud not uncheck that - that has nothing at all to do with duplicates or importing - it only has to do with where the original photos end up when you import

    It also has nothing to do with import all or import selected

     

    So no I am not confused and Yes you are very confused and need to take a class or two on how to use your Mac or you are going to make a giant mess of things (you already have by creating many duplicates unnecessarily - and will continue to make mistakes which are very likely to cause you to lose photos and other thins for yoru computer

     

    LN

  • by wh.munich,

    wh.munich wh.munich Aug 31, 2016 2:50 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iCloud
    Aug 31, 2016 2:50 PM in response to LarryHN

    Rather preposterous tone here. Rather inappropriate to lecture this way.

     

    Fact is that Apple offers to import tons of photos which without any doubt have already been imported some time before. And the selection of photos that are offered for import changes randomly, too.

    This got to be a fault in the system!