Level 1

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Photo Library 'Photos' not showing in iMovie Libraries

Does anyone know how to get photos to show in iMovie or explain why it doesn't show.

Background....... updated to Catalina Nov 2019, rolled back to Mojave about a week later because of the numerous issues.

Photos hasn't worked properly since.

I have re-installed, reset as system library and opened and closed and refreshed hundreds of times but nothing has worked. I have also tried numerous fixes from people on the internet.

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Jun 15, 2020 12:57 AM

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Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Posted on Jun 29, 2020 8:19 AM

Go to System Preferences>Security & Privacy>Privacy and click on the Automation icon in the Privacy sidebar. In the display box at the right, scroll to iMovie and Photos should be listed under it. Confirm that the box next to Photos is checked.

-- Rich

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21 replies

Avabiki5863 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 15, 2020 6:16 PM in response to Rich839

Thanks Rich but Photos was already checked.

Avabiki5863 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 18, 2020 6:24 PM in response to Rich839

Hi Rich, Thanks for the responses, currently away at work so won't be able to try anything until next week but will definitely let you know.

Damien

Avabiki5863 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 25, 2020 1:14 AM in response to Rich839

We have 2 accounts on this iMac but we have only ever used one.

I have created and removed a number of Photos Libraries to test but it hasn't changed anything.

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Jun 30, 2020 7:25 AM in response to Avabiki5863

Glad you got to the bottom of it.

-- Rich

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Jun 15, 2020 6:24 PM in response to Rich839

Also, only the Photos library that is designated as the systems library will show in the iMovie side bar. Open Photos and go to the General Preferences and confirm that the box is grayed out that says "use as system photos library". If it is not grayed out, click on it to gray it out. That will make it the system photos library.

-- Rich

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Jun 16, 2020 7:16 AM in response to Avabiki5863

Is the external drive on which your Photos library is stored formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)? It should be. If you need to reformat back up the drive first because reformatting will erase all data on it.

Also, are you using iCloud Photos and have optimized storage selected? iMovie wouldn't read the photos unless they are stored in your physical photos library.

-- Rich

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Photo Library 'Photos' not showing in iMovie Libraries