Mac Os Catalina do not sync photos with iOS Devices

@Tdawg76 I was wondering about this all along! I deleted “iPhoto events” in hopes it would work, but the other albums (vacation, etc) I left. This could also explain why it displays everything out of order and in wrong dates?

I just reimported my old library and the images in “albums”, when I scroll, have black and yellow checker boxes on them, but if I view them under photos, do not. Has anyone ever seen that? Maybe link between album and photo (since albums don’t move the photos, just create a link) is corrupted?

If I started a new library, and created new folders, I shouldn’t need to do the above and it should sync without any intervention, I’d assume?

Ernoid -- I discovered the same workaround (see my post Dec 12 @ 6:45AM) and, as you say, it works.

By duplicating the albums and moving the copies to the root position under albums we retain the original structure within folders for such time as Apple actually fixes the problem (which I think they will eventually). Unfortunately using this approach limits how much of my Photos library I will share with my other devices. Too cumbersome to get what I used to have.

The reason I believe that Apple will work this issue is that with the new iPhone 11 and 11 Pro they are really trying to wean us from our cameras. To be successful in this they must make it reasonably efficient to process and store the photos. With tens of thousands of photos already organized on my Mac I do not want to have to re-organize because Apple screwed up.

In fact, with so many photos in so many identifying (and grouping) folders, moving all albums to the root position would make things totally unmanageable.

I don't have the iPhoto Events folder because I had migrated to Photos from Apple's now obsolete Aperture Pro. But I can get some clunky syncing if I only sync albums under My Albums - either Smart or regular. However - HOWEVER - even though after 1st sync I think it worked, albeit VERY SLOWLY, the 2nd sync cropped up some random duplicates (that several others had mentioned) onto the iPhone 11 Pro and also some random solid black images, when there were none after 1st sync onto my iPhone. My iPad Pro having the same issues - depending on the album I get several to majority of solid black images put on the iPad Pro. A very crude placeholder until we get a real fix...

Just curious what you guys think. I’ve decided to start my library/folders over again. Do I import my old library and just delete folders (which of course doesn’t delete the photos, just the “link” to them) to start over, or use the folder of photos I exported from Photos prior to wiping my computer?

Have Catalina 10.15.2 loaded, and new iOS 13.3.....photos on iPhone XS Max synced, but added 4,466 duplicates and I can't delete photos from my phone. what the what? folders aren't on showing up on the phone, but show up when using search. and after sync is complete - iphone still says "syncing" - been like that since yesterday.

Interesting. Now I updated the OSX and iOS.

still can’t sync photos inside folders. However, I can sync smart album under the root directory. Temporary workaround.

sync works if album is in root directory for me.

I have the same problem now too, and I'm furious - since I see a lot of people posting from two months ago and I just updated my iPad and there's still no fix from Apple.

My photos are in folders and NOTHING SYNCS any more. Nothing.

My iTunes sync doesn't reflect any changes I make. Now I can't add photos??

FUMING.

WTF Apple, why is it taking so long to fix this issue. I have over 250K images in photos. I bought into the Apple ECO system so only had one player in the mix between the phone and computer.

I have rebuild the Photos library, moved items out of sub-folders, did a dance and midnight during the full moon. And still get either nothing copied or "Photos library not available try later." (WTF I do not have Photos open or a backup going, why is the library not available.)

Give us some way to figure out the issue or fix the stupid thing.

Today I decided to export all my 27,000 pictures, build a yearly folder scheme and keep them safe elsewhere. Don’t trust Photos anymore. When they fix it I will try again. Until then no sync to devices I guess.

Not a brilliant solution but I had reset my iPod (4.2.1), it seems to be the only way to clear off the junk, and also found music would sync but not photos. Tried using the settings in music and finder to no avail. By accident when using finder I clicked on favourites and low and behold they synced. I cleared these off and as I was only after photos of my wife (202 altogether) I made them favourites and synced. Now I have these on my very antique iPod to enjoy. Not ideal but if you're desperate to get a selection on it may work for you.

Ditto I can’t complete transfer of photos to either my iPad Pro or iPhone XR. I wiped my iPad Pro to see if a clean system might work no joy. I wondered which was at fault. iOS since there have been so many updates to the current iOS or Catalina on my mac retina. I set up an external hdd with Mojave on it, photos loaded fine so I assume its Catalina at fault.

it seems a bit retrograde to go back to Mojave but as it’s on my back up I may well do that.

any thoughts on why my mac can’t complete transfers.

Will this be sorted in a update? Have spent years maintaining photo albums and structure on MacBook and syncing to phones and iPads. Now I can’t even sync our new albums to show family. Surely this is basics for Apple?

I was on the phone with Apple Tech Support again today, no solution is at hand.

As of now, no photos on my iPhone or iPad.

With Catalina/iOS13/Finder Syncing, Apple broke it and has little to no intention of fixing it. In my opinion, it’s not on Apple’s important list, so all, please proceed at caution.

Good Luck!

Thanks for this.

I fear you are right and the paid for cloud storage is what Is being forced without being stated. I get it but seems very unfair where have always bought iPhones iPads MacBooks with large drives due to my basic requirement to store my family history through photos.

this even if not massive Is more Money and puts all data in a cloud.

questions from me as a nervous person about doing it. I believe I have over 100gb or photos all in albums I create per event (2019, 11- family trip to South Africa) (2019, 12- works Christmas party) resultantly all listed a-z which because of how named puts in date order.

these contain photos from multiple devices including non Apple products which I put together on MacBook.

i am able to sync my phone and iPad choosing which albums I want on those devices and those I don’t. My wife she’s the same.

wkukd we be able to do this with this flexibility? We dint necessarily want to see all albums on phones for her friends group trips etc.

i also back up the obituary library onto another hdd - just in case. For me I treasure this library as irreplaceable.

so. Can I do all of the above via I could including the flexibility.

I shouldn’t have to but curious now. If wife accidentally deleted a Album on her phone which is in the cloud is it gone or backed up elsewhere

I certainly get the same feeling about being forced to purchase more iCloud space. Just so I know I am understanding your set up in iCloud as it was my understanding from Apple the when you choose to use iCloud for pictures, it just uploads everything and you could not set up specific folders & albums. So, in iCloud you have folders for Live, Memorial, Travel, etc. and within those folders you have albums with different names? This would mean I could set up folders with the year they represent and then have individual albums within that folder for the event? How do you handle new photos that you want in a specific folder/album?

Now, I have folder for the year and then albums under that i.e.

Folder - 2019

Album - Harmony Cruise

Album - On the Go 2019

Are your preferences set to auto upload new photos? If that is done, it eliminates using My Photo Stream doesn't it? I use My Photo Stream to get the photos into my iMAC and then put them in the Folder/Album that I want.

Sorry for all the questions but I want to make sure I am clear on your set up and if it, in fact, matches what I currently do.