I have a Photos library that is over 110GB. It won't open, it always hangs at some percentage, and since I can't open it I can't us the repair function within Photos. Is this library dead or can I save it somehow?
MacBook Air 11", macOS 10.15
Are you holding down the option-command keys firmly and log enough? You need to hold them down, until the Repair message appears. And you need to double click the library you want to open.
Has your external volume with the library been used by Time Machine? Photos cannot open a library, if it is on a volume that has been used for Time Machine backups. Try to set the "Ignore Ownership on this volume" flag for the external volume. If it is not possible, the volume cannot be used for Photos.
Are you holding down the option-command keys firmly and log enough? You need to hold them down, until the Repair message appears. And you need to double click the library you want to open.
Has your external volume with the library been used by Time Machine? Photos cannot open a library, if it is on a volume that has been used for Time Machine backups. Try to set the "Ignore Ownership on this volume" flag for the external volume. If it is not possible, the volume cannot be used for Photos.
The library is on an external drive, I am running OS Catalina 10.15.1 and the latest version of Photos. I also tried it on an older MacPro running OS High Sierra 10.13.6 and an older version of photos with no luck.
Where is the library located? If on an external HD how is the drive formatted and connected to your MBA?
What system and Photos versions are you running?
Again, how is the drive formatted and connected to your MBA?
Sorry, Mac OS Extended (Journaled) connected via USB.
All's well in that department. Have you tried holding down the Option + Command keys and double click on the library to get it directly into the repair cycle?
That will attempt to repair the default library, which is not the one I am trying to open. I cannot change the default to this one because it wont open.
How are you trying to open the library? Did you try the way I suggested, by direct double clicking on it with that key combination held down?
Yes, it will attempt to open the library but does not invoke the repair option.
I held OPT+CMD down REALLY firmly and it worked this time! Thanks, sometimes it the little things.
You are welcome 😊
I am glad you could rescue your photos!
Is there a way to repair a photos library if it won't open in Photos?
