Level 8

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cannot start editing photos

I have been attempting to edit some photos. I get a message "cannot start editing - photos cannot lotad adjustments for this page."

This is consistent - regardless of the photo selected.

Barry

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on Mar 14, 2020 4:09 PM

Top-ranking reply

Old Toad

Level 10

215,370 points

Posted on Mar 18, 2020 11:20 AM

As a test launch Photos with the Option key held down and create a new, test library. Import some photos and test to see if the same problem persists. Does it? (This tells us if the problem is limited to your current library or is more wide spread)

If the problem persists boot into Safe Mode (Use Safe Mode to isolate issues with your Mac and Playing Safe: what does Safe Mode Do?) and check there to see if the problem persists. (This tells us if there's any 3rd party software that might be contributing to the problem).

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing some system cache cleaning, volume verifying and directory repairing.

Also what system and Photos versions are you running? Where is your library located and if on an EHD how is that EHD formatted and connected to your Mac?

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28 replies

Barry Hemphill Author

Level 8

40,468 points

Mar 26, 2020 12:39 PM in response to léonie

I downloaded PowerPhotos. It did find and open the library. I do not have much of a clue what I am looking for (Photos luddite) but, the one photo I found that worked had an edited photo path, the rest of them had only an original photo path. Pictures taken with the same camera at about the same time appear the same (except the one that works).

All of that may be irrelevant.

Thanks again,

Barry

Barry Hemphill Author

Level 8

40,468 points

Mar 17, 2020 3:48 PM in response to Joseph_S.

The article did not provide a fix for the issue.

Barry

Barry Hemphill Author

Level 8

40,468 points

Mar 19, 2020 4:11 PM in response to Old Toad

Thanks again. I will hold off a bit before I run first aid. I do have good backups.

Barry

Barry Hemphill Author

Level 8

40,468 points

Mar 22, 2020 3:28 PM in response to Old Toad

Did that. Still cannot edit older photos (the one I took and imported works fine (for editing)).

I appreciate the assistance - including trying things I would never have thought of.

Barry

Old Toad

Level 10

215,370 points

Mar 22, 2020 3:30 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

I missed léonie's post. Did her recommendation fix the problem?

Barry Hemphill Author

Level 8

40,468 points

Mar 22, 2020 4:24 PM in response to Old Toad

Nope....at least the one I saw did not.

Barry

Old Toad

Level 10

215,370 points

Mar 22, 2020 4:26 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

Bummer

Barry Hemphill Author

Level 8

40,468 points

Mar 24, 2020 11:05 AM in response to Old Toad

One further thing I tried:

I attempted to export a photo (one that would not let me edit).

The export failed "unknown error (4)"

Barry

P.S. I somehow marked this solved....my error

Barry Hemphill Author

Level 8

40,468 points

Mar 25, 2020 4:16 PM in response to Old Toad

I also tried to use a backup made a bit ago. Same problem.

Barry

Barry Hemphill Author

Level 8

40,468 points

Mar 26, 2020 9:09 AM in response to léonie

I installed MacOS 10.15.4. No difference in the Photos behavior.

Barry

léonie

Level 10

200,531 points

Mar 26, 2020 10:33 AM in response to Barry Hemphill

That's disappointing.

Joseph_S.

Community Specialist

Mar 15, 2020 12:31 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

Hello Barry Hemphill,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities!

It is my understanding that you are getting an error when you try to edit your photos. The following article has steps which may help resolve this type of issue:

Get help with the Photos app on your Mac - Apple Support

Regards.

Barry Hemphill Author

Level 8

40,468 points

Mar 28, 2020 2:23 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

I played with PowerPhotos a bit. The one photo I can edit in the original library opens - can be opened in Preview. The rest of them will not open...there is a blank document where the photo should be.

Barry

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cannot start editing photos