Synchronization across multiple computers and phones

Question

Synchronization across multiple computers and phones

I'm going to do my absolute best not to whine about how stupidly designed Photos is, but even the most basic things are a pain.

I have spent days loading images into Photos instead of Capture One Pro 12, as I want to be able to share them with family. I've then spent days loading then organizing these photos. (Hey Apple, can we have Aperture back? At least it worked.)

Here's the problem: the albums are on my MacMini, in the cloud and visible on my phone, no problem, but only an old copy of the iCloud version is available on my other computer (MacBook Pro).

When I go into Preferences on my MBP, there's a tick box for uploading the library to iCloud. I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT! I want iCloud to dump what it has down to the MBP. It did it once, which is how it got the old copy in the first place.

How do I get the ^$&*^%* thing to update the MBP a second time?

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.14

Posted on May 13, 2019 4:42 PM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

197,077 points

May 14, 2019 10:26 AM in response to Hooked4lifeca

Here's the problem: the albums are on my MacMini, in the cloud and visible on my phone, no problem, but only an old copy of the iCloud version is available on my other computer (MacBook Pro).

When I go into Preferences on my MBP, there's a tick box for uploading the library to iCloud. I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT! I want iCloud to dump what it has down to the MBP. It did it once, which is how it got the old copy in the first place.

How do I get the ^$&*^%* thing to update the MBP a second time?

If you do not want the MacBook Pro to upload any photos to iCloud, and just to download the current iCloud content, create a new, empty Photos Library on your MacBook Pro. then let this empty library sync with iCloud. This will download the photos from iCloud.

Create the new library as described here and make it the system library on your MacBook Pro: Create additional photo libraries in Photos on Mac - Apple Support
Enable it as the iCloud Photo Library: Use iCloud Photos to store photos in iCloud - Apple Support
Then wait for the photos to download from iCloud.

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Answer 2

May 14, 2019 10:57 AM in response to rose_10

Ended up solving it old school style.

I tried selecting the iCloud upload on the MBP and all that did was to upload the old library to iCloud which very rapidly obliterated hours of work on the MacMini. My sense of humour became a bit iffy at this point.

So I deleted that library off of the MacMini, turned off updating iCloud, restored an early clean copy from Time Machine. I then copied that library to a USB drive. I deleted the library on the MBP, then copied the restored library from the USB drive to the MBP. A tedious process for a 46GB library.

I then turned on uploading on the MacMini only and let it upload the restored library to iCloud.

Since there is no way to set up a master/client relationship between MacMini, my iPhone and the MBP, I'm leaving updating off permanently on the MBP to prevent it from uploading an older version, resulting in a similar mess of old overwriting new. When I want to the MBP updated, I'll follow this procedure.

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Answer 3

rose_10

Community Specialist

May 14, 2019 9:54 AM in response to Hooked4lifeca

Hello and welcome to Apple Support Communities, Hooked4lifeca!

I understand you're unable to get your MacBook Pro to display the photos you have stored in your Mac mini and are being synced to iCloud. I'd be happy to provide information to help you resolve this.

Make sure your MacBook Pro is signed in to iCloud: Sign in with your Apple ID

"

iCloud

Go to System Preferences > iCloud. Enter your Apple ID and password. Click Sign In."

Also, make sure you have a System Photo Library designated: Designate a System Photo Library in Photos

Let us know the results.

Have a great day!

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Answer 4

May 14, 2019 11:17 AM in response to léonie

BTW, the "Download from iCloud" option was not originally available on the MBP, only upload. It is available now - it would've been nice had it been there originally. I take it this is a consequence of loading a new library.

Would have saved me a lot of bother had both choices been available.

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Synchronization across multiple computers and phones

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