HT204478: How Photos handles content and metadata from iPhoto and Aperture

Learn about How Photos handles content and metadata from iPhoto and Aperture
dnm111
Level 1 (4 points)
Photos for Mac

Q: Transfer photos with custom metadata

I have all my photos on my Macbook pro (Photos app) and have organised them with faces and customised metadata.  I would like to transfer most of them to my iMac (photos app).  I have tried different methods including airdrop but I lose the metadata.

 

is it possible to retain the customised metadata?

Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 29, 2016 2:48 AM

by léonie,Solvedanswer
léonie léonie
Level 10 (105,312 points)
iLife
A:

is it possible to retain the customised metadata?

The only way to sve all metadata is transferring the Photos Library to the other Mac. Make a copy of the Photos Library on an external drive and copy the complete library to your other Mac.

 

If you only want to copy selected photos to a different library on the other Mac with metadata included, export the photos using "File > Export". That will save most of the metadata (locations, keywords,titles, descriptions), but you cannot transfer the faces this way.  Not even iCloud photo library will currently sync the faces albums between macs or mobile devices.

Posted on Aug 29, 2016 3:42 AM

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dnm111

Q: Transfer photos with custom metadata

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  • by léonie,Solvedanswer

    léonie léonie Aug 29, 2016 3:42 AM in response to dnm111
    Level 10 (105,312 points)
    iLife
    Aug 29, 2016 3:42 AM in response to dnm111

    is it possible to retain the customised metadata?

    The only way to sve all metadata is transferring the Photos Library to the other Mac. Make a copy of the Photos Library on an external drive and copy the complete library to your other Mac.

     

    If you only want to copy selected photos to a different library on the other Mac with metadata included, export the photos using "File > Export". That will save most of the metadata (locations, keywords,titles, descriptions), but you cannot transfer the faces this way.  Not even iCloud photo library will currently sync the faces albums between macs or mobile devices.

  • by dnm111,

    dnm111 dnm111 Aug 29, 2016 3:43 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 29, 2016 3:43 AM in response to léonie

    Thank you.  I now have a way forward.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Aug 29, 2016 3:45 AM in response to dnm111
    Level 10 (105,312 points)
    iLife
    Aug 29, 2016 3:45 AM in response to dnm111

    You're welcome