upgraded to Catalina, open Photos, and cannot use it. First window: Choose Library (it has pre-selected my Photos Library (last opened)). Second window: Photos cannot find the System Photo Library named “Photos Library”. Open Other.... Third window: select Photos Library /Users/*Me*/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary. Second window again.
MacBook Pro 15", macOS 10.14
Try double clicking on that same library with both the Option + Command keys held down so Photos will start repairing the library.
Launch Photos with the Option key held down and take a screenshot of the window (How to take a screenshot on your Mac) and post it with your reply.
When you click on the Photos Library that is the System Photo Library what is the file path that is shown below the window? Go there and see if it's there.
Go to the Pictures folder and double click on the one library in there. Then in Photos General preference pane make sure the library is designated the System Photo Library:
when i double click on the one library in the Pictures folder, it opens Photos and i get a similar problem. i cannot click on Preferences in Photos (Preferences is grayed out). i can only click on Quit or Open Other....
Try double clicking on that same library with both the Option + Command keys held down so Photos will start repairing the library.
TA-DA!! Yes, that did the trick. it was a long process but the Library loaded and "curated" itself, and all my photos & albums are accessible again. thanks, Old Toad!
Ah, flowers. You shouldn't have. But thanks.
just as an update - last night my computer updated, and this morning i had the same problem again. luckily, the "fix" worked again. (note to self: re-start computer after the fix.)
Photos cannot find the System Photo Library named “Photos Library”
