Imported iPhone photos in png format not shown on Photos app

Question

Level 1

8 points

Imported iPhone photos in png format not shown on Photos app

Hi,

I have recently brought my computer to apple store to check if there's a defected ssd in my MacBook Pro. There was no problem so I got my computer back on the same day but everything was wiped out. Before I bought it in, I've made a backup on my time machine, with photos imported from my iPhone SE to Photos app. On the same day, I've got a new phone with my old SE traded in for instant credit, so I don't have an access to my old phone. I didn't have iCloud turned on for photos so I know they're not there.

When I restored my computer with time machine backup, opened photos app, and I see some of my old photos and new photos are shown as a grey square, not a full image. when I checked the info of it, its format is .png, not .jpg like those photos I could see. Also, I can't locate those files with png extension on my computer.

I've tried restore photos with option-command and it didn't work.

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

Posted on Jan 3, 2019 1:33 PM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,621 points

Jan 4, 2019 2:01 AM in response to JulHahn

Also, I can't locate those files with png extension on my computer.

To be able to look at those files, export them from Photos with "File > Export > Export unmodified original". Can Preview open them, once they have been imported? Or do you get an error message, when you try to export them? If yes, what is the error message?

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Answer 2

JulHahn Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 4, 2019 11:33 AM in response to léonie

Hi,

I've tried to export an unmodified file and there's a pop up message saying

" Export complete with Errors

0(of 1) files have been exported to :

Desktop

The export operation failed to create a file for the photo identified below:

The file (name.png) couldn't be opened because there is no such file."

So the file doesn't exist and yet I can see it there on the Photos (however blank it looks). Also, when I checked the imported photos from the last time, there's some of the old photos imported but none of the ones with .png extension.

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