Why does my external HDD for photos only show 20Gb used?

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Level 1

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Why does my external HDD for photos only show 20Gb used?

I am using iCloud Photo Library, at moment busy trying to download all from iCloud after problems on changing my Mac.

My photo library is over 1Tb and is stored on an external USB HDD.

It’s still downloading (after days and days and days), I’ve selected “download originals” and it’s set as system library.

If I go to finder app it shows 20Gb, if I goto storage management, it shows as 525Gb. Why the difference? Which is true?

I’m trying to “force” the downloads to be quicker by clicking through my 30’000 items so they download, see the white circle which I believe means it’s downloading the full resolution picture or video to my Mac external HDD.

So what is the issue here? How do I find out which is true storage? It shown at 20Gb for ages now even though I’m downloading , and clicking on the photos and videos.

thanks

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Feb 10, 2020 4:06 AM

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Answer 1

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léonie

Level 10

195,151 points

Feb 10, 2020 4:59 AM in response to QwertyMan11

The Finder (nam macOS 10.15 Catalina) is currently showing random sizes for the Photos Library and does not update the size immediately, when we add or delete photos from the library. To get an idea of the true size of your Photos Library look into the package.

Select the library on the Finder,
then ctrl-click it or right-click it.
Use the command "Show Package Contents" from the contextual menu.
Check the sizes of the sub folders. The downloaded originals should be in the subfolder "Originals."

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Answer 2

QwertyMan11 Author

Level 1

45 points

Feb 10, 2020 5:11 AM in response to léonie

Thanks, you are correct. The size was about what “manage storage” option said.

I am on latest 10.15.3 as well. So is this a known bug?

It means I’m halfway there to getting them all down loaded and in sync.....says 23’000 still to go though if 30’000 it’s been so so slow.

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

195,151 points

Feb 10, 2020 9:08 AM in response to QwertyMan11

It seems just to be incredibly slow, when updating the Finder information for a Photos Library. The "Date changed" is all not updated, when we import or adjust photos. I send a bug report to Apple when I first updated to macOS 10.13.2, and I am probably not the only one who filed a bug report.

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Why does my external HDD for photos only show 20Gb used?

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