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Export Photos with All Data

I am trying to export a large number of items from the Photos app to an external hard drive. These items are a mix of still images, videos, and live photos. I want to make sure I carry over all the data I can from the Photos app to my hard drive (for example, including all location/metadata, exporting live photos as videos, using lossless compression, etc).


I found two different options for exporting: Export photo and Export Unmodified Original. I tested both of these options on a single live photo so I could make sure it would work when I try to export the whole batch.


The first option, Export photo, resulted in a single .png file of roughly 15 MB. This image included the metadata and location data.


The second option, Export Unmodified Original, resulted in a .heic file and a .mov file, both roughly 2 MB. The .mov file contained the audio and all of the frames from the live photo. Both of the files contained metadata and location data.


My question is if I'm losing any data by doing Export Unmodified Original rather than Export photo, since the file from Export photo is much larger. Thanks!

MacBook Pro 13″, 10.15

Posted on Jun 22, 2020 11:03 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jun 25, 2020 2:53 PM

Hello coolryan108,


Thanks for posting this in the Apple Support Communities. I understand that you’re wanting to know about the export options in Photos and the effects of an export option on the file size. I can help. 


When you export as an "Unmodified Original”, this will export a photo as the full sized image file that was imported into the library initially.


The “Export Photo” option will give you the edited version of that photo if it’s been edited. You can also change the file type, JPEG quality, color Profile, size, info included and the file name. This could explain why the “Export Photo” size is larger. 

Export photos, videos, and slideshows from Photos on Mac


Take care.

Similar questions

1 reply
Question marked as Best reply

Jun 25, 2020 2:53 PM in response to coolryan108

Hello coolryan108,


Thanks for posting this in the Apple Support Communities. I understand that you’re wanting to know about the export options in Photos and the effects of an export option on the file size. I can help. 


When you export as an "Unmodified Original”, this will export a photo as the full sized image file that was imported into the library initially.


The “Export Photo” option will give you the edited version of that photo if it’s been edited. You can also change the file type, JPEG quality, color Profile, size, info included and the file name. This could explain why the “Export Photo” size is larger. 

Export photos, videos, and slideshows from Photos on Mac


Take care.

Export Photos with All Data

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