Icloud says 114gig photos stored but none visible from Mac. Why not?

Question

Level 1

14 points

Icloud says 114gig photos stored but none visible from Mac. Why not?

I'm very confused by iCloud showing only 4 images and not the 114gig of photos it says is there. Mostly taken from my iPhone, currently the XSMAX, all devices are running current updates.

I maintain the originals on the iPhoneXSMAX, with a full set of photos on the iMac and iPadPro12.9" ...

photos are my main interest, and the reason I came to Apple in the first place. The iCloud photos were my ace in the hole in an emergency situation....but now I cannot see more than 4 imported photos. This is the first time I have attempted to SEE anything stored on iCloud, including the photos.

Plus, with my BIGiMAC 27" 3t fusion drive late 2015 model computer, which is what I choose to edit photos on, I cannot use the Photoscape app I just downloaded from the App store....on the computer itself the Photos app is not, nor EVER was, under the PICTURES folder as that Photoscape app believes it should be.....

. And, "Photos" does not show up in the Media down at the bottom of the left column, when trying to give Photoscape app access to my photos. Thus I am stymied when I choose to edit photos on my large screen Mac.

If anyone can tell me what I am doing wrong, and/or how to remedy this situation, I'd much appreciate it.

Moccasin

Posted on Sep 24, 2019 2:10 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

MrHoffman

Community+ 2024

Level 10

127,435 points

Oct 3, 2019 10:33 AM in response to bj mobile al

Photos.app is in Applications, as are most other applications.

Photos media can be included in various apps. Most apps have a “picker” or “chooser” or “media” that allows media to be selected and incorporated into whatever you’re working in.

In your home directory, Pictures is a directory repository of images, and is used by various apps.

About the missing Photos.app comment? I interpreted the “Photos.app is nestled within PICTURES but it is NOT THERE.” Photos.app isn’t separately downloaded from the App store, and is part of macOS, and is located in Applications.

I’m not sure why you’re referencing malware, here. Most malware is downloaded, installed and authorized by the user, too.

Intro: macOS - Photos - Apple

Details and troubleshooting: https://support.apple.com/photos

Another guide to this topic: https://www.imore.com/photos-mac

Apple offers free today-at-Apple classes on various topics too, including on photography and related.

Reply

Answer 2

Sep 24, 2019 2:25 PM in response to bj mobile al

Please post what you are running on your iPhone, iPad Pro, and Mac.

(You’re probably not running current updates, given both iOS 13.1 and iPadOS 13.1 just became available today. And Mojave is the current macOS release and with macOS Catalina arriving next month, not macOS High Sierra.)

iCloud is not a backup solution. It’s a near-ubiquitous-availability solution. Time Machine or local backups are typical.

Keeping photos on a device risks loss or damage or theft. Not a good place to keep masters.

The Photos.app is part of macOS, and it’s the primary interface into your photos, so this app will have been installed and whether it gets used or not.

What photos do you see when you log into iCloud via a web browser, and check Photos there?

I’m not familiar with Photoscape, though I’d expect it accesses (at least) the local Photos.app library, if not what is available in iCloud.

I’d suggest looking for a class at the local Apple Store too, to help you better understand how the pieces fit together, and the risks and benefits of the various approaches.

Reply

Answer 3

Oct 2, 2019 12:27 PM in response to bj mobile al

If Photos.app isn’t around, it’s a corrupt install. I’d get a specific backup or two, and would then first try re-loading the Mojave 10.14.6 Combo update. If that fails to re-load Photos, I would then boot Recovery and re-load macOS Mojave. I would not wipe the disk. A reload of the current Mojave combo, or a installation of Mojave should not harm the existing install. But I’d have a backup, anyway.

I’ll assume there are no add-on anti-malware nor add-in anti-virus apps, nor add-on cleaner apps nor add-on optimizers, or such. Some of those have caused odd problems, and reverting to the Apple environment helps with troubleshooting.

Reply

Answer 4

bj mobile al Author

Level 1

14 points

Oct 3, 2019 10:17 AM in response to MrHoffman

"If Photos.app isn't around...."

Actually it is around, and my photos from every device is automatically added to the app on the iMac, the iPad, and kept as well in Photos.app on the iPhones I've had always.

What is NOT clear to me is the PICTURES thingy....not an app, but perhaps a named folder, and I never have understood what purpose it serves.

Here is a capture of the window from the iMac, showing that Photos.app is not appearing in the PICTURES folder but is instead down at the bottom as "MEDIA" ....which is how it appears in this screen, but it is NOT ALWAYS THERE, for whatever reason.

I have MalwareBytes on the Mac and on the iPhone and iPad. The situation I have with Photos.app existed from the very beginning, in late 2015 it was true. It predates the installation of the latest Mojave update, as well as MalwareBytes. I appreciate the time you've spent on my problem. If hope the image below is informative.

Reply

Answer 5

bj mobile al Author

Level 1

14 points

Oct 2, 2019 12:08 PM in response to MrHoffman

Reply to MrHoffman.... in Q? order:

A. Operating systems of each device Oct 3d, 2019

iPhone XsMax (512g capacity) 13.1.2

iPadPro12.9/3d gen (1 T capacity) 13.1.2

iMac Retina 5K 27" Late 2015/i7 ( 3 T capacity) 10.14.6

B. iCloud backup is not what I was confused by. It was supposed to be to access my photos from ALL DEVICES equally. The fact is, the wording of the Options for iCloud photo storage allows me to keep the backup of photos on my iMac, as long as there is room (which there is).......so I have the entire Photos of 14,000 + on the iMac. I also keep the original photos taken on the iPhone available on the iPhone. I do so because of the great apps for that operating system.

The apps I've tried to use on iMac to edit my photos there do not want to access the Photos.app,.....they want to access the iCloud/PICTURES/Photos.app..... but my Photos.app is not accessible via PICTURES.....through that route, only FOUR PHOTOS are accessed, for whatever reason.....and that confused me, because it has been this way from the first Apple device that I got.

C. I have Time Machine, first backup, with a second backup on a 2bay Seagate.

D. Yes. Photos.app is part of macOS, and that is where my photos wind up regardless of the camera used. I use it.

HOWEVER, these 3d party photo editing apps (from the AppStore) assume the Photos.app is nestled within PICTURES but it is NOT THERE.

E. When I log in to iCloud via Safari, and check Photos there? AHA.....there I see all of my Photos just like on the devices, including on the iMac......hmmmm, that does not help me with enabling the app I wish to give access to my Photos.app though, because it wishes to go through the PICTURES folder of the iMac.

This particular way of accessing my photos on iCloud is new to me, and I thank you very much for helping me make the connection with it. Since I began using Apple products in mid 2015, I have never known how to access the site in this way. From my iMac direct to the iCloud, I do not see any of these folders, like Mail, FindMyiPhone, etc......and a big dread is no longer darkening my thoughts!

F. I'm not able to use Photoscape, although I downloaded it from the AppStore. Because it will not allow me to use Libraries, and the setup requires I go through PICTURES to reach PHOTOS.APP......and of course, not possible for whatever reason.

G. I'd love to have a "local Apple Store" but none is within 150 miles of here, New Orleans has one. Mobile AL has an authorized repair person, not an Apple Store. I can only wish!

I will correct my thinking and try again, perhaps contact the Photoscape.app developers for a workaround. Never have contacted a developer, so that will be a learning experience too!

Thanks for your input. I'll update my response if/when the problem is resolved.

BJ

Reply

Answer 6

bj mobile al Author

Level 1

14 points

Oct 3, 2019 12:55 PM in response to MrHoffman

Why I was referencing MalwareBytes......For the time being, I will reply to your statement:

<I’ll assume there are no add-on anti-malware nor add-in anti-virus apps, nor add-on cleaner apps nor add-on optimizers, or such. Some of those have caused odd problems, and reverting to the Apple environment helps with troubleshooting>

I'd assumed you meant any new apps or purchased/free software that I'd added to the GI (government issue) straight from Apple.

Thank you for the links. I did not realize that I am in some way experiencing Alternate Reality. You answer my questions, and I will proceed from here. I'll post the outcome later. Thank you for all the help.

BJ

Reply

Icloud says 114gig photos stored but none visible from Mac. Why not?

Similar questions