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Photos was unable to open library "Photos Library". (3145) after upgrading to Catalina

Photos unable to open library file from the Pictures folder after upgrading the OS to Catalina. Let me know if anyone face this issue.

Mac mini, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 23, 2019 4:03 AM

Reply
9 replies

Dec 25, 2019 1:36 PM in response to Bhadresh Mulsaniya

When I upgraded to Catalina, the program apparently created a new Photos file it called "Photos Library.photoslibrary" and made it my System Photo Library. Meanwhile, my pre-catalina library which I had named "Master Photos Library (iMac)" was still there in my Pictures file in finder but all photos loaded subsequently to the upgrade were now placed in the upgrade manufactured file "Photos Library.

Once I noticed this, my concern was using all that memory (both libraries were about 145GB) AND which one to use AND how to be sure I didn't lose the photos taken since the upgrade.

I called tech support and since I was using iCloud photo, the solution was relatively easy, though time consuming. What she sumised had happened was that when Catalina and Photos 5 tried to convert my library, it was very disappointed to not find the file Photos Library.photoslibrary so it created one leaving my self named file intact.

Why not just keep the newly created one with the recent photos? Because, she explained (and demonstrated) that my existing "projects" would not have copied into the new Photos 5 under Catalina! So...

We first opened the iCloud website, went to Photos to assure ourselves that all 43,000 photos and videos were in the cloud. Then we opened Photos and turned off iCloud photos. Then we closed Photos then reopened it while holding the "Option Key" bringing up a box allowing us to designate my OLD file as the system library then we re-opened Photos, turned iClound on and waited, and waited, and waited till (at the very bottom of the all photos page) we could see that it was beginning to sync with i cloud. This will bring my old library (named Master Photo Library iMac.photoslibrary current with not only my existing project but also with my most recent photos. I set up a return call with support for the morning and went to bed.

Lo and behold, Photos 5 had completed its work overnight and I now had a fully functioning Photos 5 under Catalina BUT I still had two photos libraries.

Once I brought the new tech support rep up to speed, we opened Finder and could see both libraries in Pictures and knowing now that the Catalina created Photos Library.photoslibrary was now an unused orphan, we dragged it to the trash (NOT deleted, yet). Now we are left with only one library to be accessed by Photos. We opened Photos and made sure my projects were there AND my most recent photos and that the number was about right (some 43,000 give of take). Then, to avoid confusing the next upgrade gremlins, we shut down Photos, went into finder and changed the name of the now only photos library in Pictures FROM my "Master Photos Library iMac. photoslibrary to the generic and apparently preferred filename of Photos Library.photoslibrary.! QED!

I am now putting Photos 5.0 though its paces and making sure everything works, is there, etc. and only after a few weeks will I have the guts to empty the trash and recapture over 140GB of storage.

Long winded but I hope this will help someone out there with similar issues with the Catalina and Photos upgrade.

Don

Oct 25, 2019 2:00 PM in response to Bhadresh Mulsaniya

I upgraded to Catalina last week. Today was the first time I tried opening Photos on my iMac. I received an error saying it was unable to locate my System Photo Library and the only option was to create a new one, which I did. I figured this was fine, since all my photos are in iCloud and it could just re-sync/download them again.


However, after making the new Library, it was empty. In the main application window there is a message that says:


Welcome to Photos

To get started with Photos, do any of the following:

      • Connect a camera or memory card
      • Drag pictures directly into Photos
      • Choose Import from the File menu
      • Turn on iCloud Photos in Preferences


Here's the thing, tho. In my system preferences for iCloud, Photos is checked. I tried un-checking it so I could re-check it, but it won't let me. Literally nothing happens when I click the checkbox.


So right now, Photos is empty on my iMac. Not sure how to resolve this bug.

Oct 23, 2019 11:54 PM in response to Bhadresh Mulsaniya

Upgrading to Catalina on my 2012 27" iMac has been difficult for sure. I'm seeing a lot of issues where the spinning beachball appears. Everything is slower. I think it has something to do with the Fusion drive (mine is a 3TB). I've been patient and have tried the latest update 10.15 (19A602) but no luck.


Specifically with the Photos app, I'm constantly getting this error. My Photo Library is 269GB large and I'm hoping to receive some tips on how to get this to work.


I hope I don't have to replace the hard drive...

Dec 2, 2019 2:06 AM in response to Gladdox

Photos worked OK after the update to Catalina then occasionally started on "restore" but usually loads quickly afterwards. Worked fine yesterday then suddenly today will not load the library. I've tried the Photos repair tool to no avail; I've re-run the update to Catalina; I've run the disc repair programme but nothing makes any difference. Also, Finder windows will suddenly jump to front of the screen. Anybody have any clue as to how to deal with the problem?

Dec 25, 2019 10:55 AM in response to Bhadresh Mulsaniya

Catalina changed the folder and naming structure of all media stored by Photos application.


Now they are in Originals folder, BUT Catalina "played" with the older logical subfolder structure (as in MASTERS folder). So now you just see folders from A to Z and from 1 to 9 where ALL your media files ARE RENAMED to random long names.


Now it is nearly impossible to find your media file without PHOTOS app.

Photos was unable to open library "Photos Library". (3145) after upgrading to Catalina

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