Photos stuck on "Restoring from icloud"

I updated my OS to Catalina a few months back. I have my Photo library on an external drive.

All mobile devices backup to the cloud and set up to download and save onto the ext. drive as well.

Since the OS update to Catalina (and after Photos updated it's library) most photos showed up, but icloud downloading has never happened and there is a "Restoring from icloud" message that has remained unchanged.

I've left the app open for DAYS at a time, held option upon opening the app (to choose the library, double checked "ignore ownership" and mac journaling on my ext. drive.

Any ideas?