Kat Forster

Q: iPhoto not opening on Mac OS X

A couple months ago, I went to open my iPhoto application (version 9.2.3) on my MacBook (which is running version 10.6.8), and randomly, the picture of the spinning gray pinwheel came up, as if the application was simply loading. I walked away from my computer, and when I came back a few minutes later, the thinking sign was still up. I left the application open, thinking that it would eventually get its act together and fully open, and when I woke up that next day and checked my computer, the application was still loading! Two months later, every time I open my iPhoto app, the same spinning pinwheel comes up, and my app has yet to load. Meaning, I can't see anything on the left column- my albums, recent photos, my library, nothing- and no pictures ever show up on the screen.

 

My laptop was purchased in 2004, so I can no longer upgrade my system to Lion. I've tried searching on these forums for answers, but the only problems I can find are from people who are using a more up-to-date version of Mac OS X than me. I've tried going to my individual photos and opening them, but that automatically opens iPhoto, which continues to not run. Plugging my iPhone into my computer will open the app, but again, will not bring up any images. I've included a screenshot of my computer for reference.

IMG_6157.JPG

Any suggestions on how I can see my photos again would be appreciated! Thank you!

 

-Kat F.

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jul 24, 2016 4:56 PM

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Q: iPhoto not opening on Mac OS X

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  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Jul 24, 2016 7:50 PM in response to Kat Forster
    Level 10 (84,105 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 24, 2016 7:50 PM in response to Kat Forster

    force quit and restart your mac and try again - if the problem persists then backup your iPhoto library and hold down the option and command keys while launching iPhoto - repair permissions and then rebuild the library - this should resolve this

     

    LN

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Jul 25, 2016 5:58 AM in response to Kat Forster
    Level 10 (105,518 points)
    iLife
    Jul 25, 2016 5:58 AM in response to Kat Forster

    Your iPhoto version is new enough to be using the Places feature. If you ever enabled Places in iPhoto, iPhoto may be trying to access Googles Servers, that are no longer available for iPhoto.

    You can test, if "Places" is the problem by going offline. Is iPhoto working when offline?

     

    If yes, check this User Tip:  iPhoto 9.4 crashing when viewing Places

  • by Kat Forster,

    Kat Forster Kat Forster Aug 16, 2016 4:46 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (14 points)
    iLife
    Aug 16, 2016 4:46 PM in response to LarryHN

    So I did all of this, and clicked on repair permissions, and nothing happened, no dialogue popped up telling me how far along the process was taking or anything. Am I just to assume that it was working? How will I know when it's done?