Editing photos aren't saving and display "error downloading photo"

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Level 1

12 points

Editing photos aren't saving and display "error downloading photo"

Every time I try to edit my photos for Photos 5.0 (Catalina), I keep getting a (!) appear in the bottom right that says "Error Downloading Photo" and my photo becomes blurry. I do not have iCloud Photos Library, and these photos are ones that I just synced over from my phone to my iMac. Does anyone know a workaround for this bug?

And previously, I couldn't even access my photos until the macOS Catalina Supplemental Update came out that fixed my problem there, but now I'm running into this. This OS update has been frustrating.

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Oct 20, 2019 11:30 PM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,753 points

Oct 21, 2019 12:41 AM in response to Shads7

Where is your Photos Library stored? Is it in your Pictures folder or on an external volume?

The error message "Error downloading photos" suggests, that iCloud Photos is enabled. Are you you sure, that you are not using iCloud in any way with your photos? Updating the system may ave changed the preferences back to a default. What are the Photos > Preferences > iCloud?

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Answer 2

Nov 11, 2019 5:25 PM in response to Seth_Holloway

Another work around I found is that you can edit the photo and then export it. The edits are saved and the exported photo will have the edits in them. Then you can always go back and revert to original if you want it to show up correctly.

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Answer 3

Nov 10, 2019 9:01 AM in response to Shads7

I spent a lot of time with support on this and they are able to recreate the problem and have sent the problem off to engineering so hopefully a fix will be coming.

i found if it went into edit and reverted to original, the thumbnail is fine and the ! Goes away. But you lose your edits.

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Answer 4

Nov 15, 2019 8:11 PM in response to cjmildenberg

After some further research, I seem to be only getting this error with SOME of the photos that were taken with "capture outside the frame" turned on. Any photos that cannot capture outside the frame, (eg ultra wide; portrait, etc) will never get this error

Also, any photos from other cameras or iPhone 11 with "capture outside the frame" disabled work without any issues.

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Answer 5

Shads7 Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 8, 2019 4:29 AM in response to bunster12

It's happening to me with all photos as far as I can tell, and not just new ones either. What's annoying is that it messes up the thumbnail into a blurry mess. If I open the photo to view, it will also look like a zoomed up blurry mess until I select the "Edit" button, then it will show the original image. The only workaround I have for that is to delete the photo and re-add it back in, so I have to remind myself to never edit anything at the moment until Apple can fix this or if I move to a new photo platform as this is ridiculous.

And no, I haven't talked to Apple Support, I didn't want to call in and talk to someone about it, but might have to do it some time soon if there's no solution with a software update.

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Answer 6

Nov 17, 2019 9:44 AM in response to cjmildenberg

I believe this can be entirely traced back to "capture outside the frame" - it doesn't happen for all photos, because in some conditions (such as low-light; ultra wide; or portrait) there is no data stored for "outside the frame." If you edit these photos on an iPhone or iPad the edits work just fine. Does everybody have this option enabled on their phone?

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Answer 7

Nov 5, 2019 8:42 AM in response to Shads7

I seem to have narrowed my problem down to editing live photos. I tried it with editing a photo I took on my DSLR and I didn't get the !. And I've tried it on photos taken in Portrait mode and I don't have a problem. I'm wondering if you are seeing the same thing. Have you opened a case with Apple support?

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Answer 8

Shads7 Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 2, 2019 11:50 AM in response to bunster12

Unfortunately I have not found a solution to this. I've tried repairing my Photos Library too (that took about 24 hours) and it did not fix it. It's as if Photos can't save an edited copy of your photos, which is why the (!) appears every time. Not sure what else to do right now except hoping Apple can fix this. Otherwise, I'm looking into other solutions like moving everything to Google Photos or Amazon Photos.

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Answer 9

Nov 11, 2019 3:38 PM in response to Seth_Holloway

Seth - Are you using iCloud Photo Library or is everything referenced? I'm just making sure it's the same issue. I would encourage you to contact support as the more people submit the issues, the higher a priority it may become to get fixed.

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Answer 10

Nov 10, 2019 8:20 PM in response to bunster12

I am having the same issue, I am a reporter and use the phot app alot. I have never had this issue unitl upgrading to Catalina. Hopefully this issue will get fixed soon. Bunster thanks for the info on reverting back to the original that seemed to work. Thankfully I recently ugraded to the Iphone 11 pro max and it does take amazing pictures.

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Answer 11

Nov 10, 2019 8:26 PM in response to Seth_Holloway

I actually found something interesting, if I edit a picutre on the phone the edits work and sync with the photo app. But If i edit them on the computer then I get the thumbnail, must be something wrong with icloud sharing or something, just pray Apple gets this fixed

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Answer 12

Shads7 Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 17, 2019 8:54 PM in response to cjmildenberg

"Revert to Original" doesn't always work for me, I can't figure out why that is. On some of my photos that I was testing this problem, I'm able to get it out of the (!) Error state by doing so, but some of my other photos will not revert back at all. And sadly, I can't even export these photos anymore once that happens. I can't find any pattern here on why some can and why some can't as this is happening to my old and new photos.

And where is this "Capture outside the frame" option at? I don't see it in the Photos settings on my iPhone. I'm using an iPhone XS for my photos, not sure if that option is an iPhone 11 feature or not.

Let's hope their engineers can figure out this terrible bug as I'd like to stay within the Apple ecosystem if possible.

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Answer 13

léonie

Level 10

200,753 points

Nov 18, 2019 3:32 AM in response to Shads7

Shads7 wrote:

And where is this "Capture outside the frame" option at? I don't see it in the Photos settings on my iPhone. I'm using an iPhone XS for my photos, not sure if that option is an iPhone 11 feature or not.

The "Capture Outside Frame" is available on the following iPhone models: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. See this manual page: Capture content outside the camera frame on iPhone - Apple Support

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Answer 14

iMatux

Level 1

4 points

Dec 13, 2019 2:09 AM in response to Shads7

Exact same problem, I've already updated to 10.15.2 but the issue is still here. Photos doesn't show exclamation mark for every portrait photo, but most of it. If the "Auto" button is pressed on one of these photos the app Photos crash.

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Answer 15

Nov 1, 2019 3:21 PM in response to Shads7

Did you ever find a solution for this? I am getting the ! when I am trying to save an edit of a file that is referenced. I also don't use iCloud Photo Library.

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Editing photos aren't saving and display "error downloading photo"

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