photos cannot find system photo library named photoslibrary

Question

Level 1

5 points

photos cannot find system photo library named photoslibrary

Everything was working fine until yesterday. I dowloaded photos from my camera, into Photos app on my Mac, which didn't back up to iCloud so I could see them on my iPad and iPhone. Today, Photos app on my Mac won't open at all. The dialogue box says "Photos cannot find the System Photo Library named "Photos Library.photoslibrary"

I have no idea how to fix this. Please can someone give me some guidance. Can I get my iCloud backup to replace the library?

Mac mini, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jul 24, 2020 11:24 AM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,645 points

Jul 24, 2020 2:56 PM in response to EuniceK

Try to drag the iPhoto Library onto the Photos icon in the Dock.

Or launch the Photos.app while holding down the options key ⌥ and when the library chooser dialog appears select the iPhoto Library. Can Photos open the iPhoto Library this way or do you also get an error message?

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,645 points

Jul 24, 2020 11:49 AM in response to EuniceK

Which system version is installed on your Mac? Is the version given below your question "Mac mini, macOS 10.13" still valid?

Where is your Photos Library? By default, the Photos Library will be created in your Pictures folder. Is this, where you are keeping the library or on an external volume? Is the Photos Library still there?

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Answer 3

EuniceK Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 24, 2020 1:02 PM in response to léonie

Thank you for your response, Leonie. I don't have an external volume. I have found the folder called 'Pictures' In that is the iPhoto library, but no Photos library. I was using Photos app only yesterday, but it wasn't syncing with iCloud. My Mac Mini is running 10.13.6

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Answer 4

EuniceK Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 25, 2020 3:59 AM in response to léonie

Thanks, Leonie!

I've tried your suggestions and nothing is working. I keep getting the same error messages telling me the iPhoto Library I select is too old. I've followed the link and downloaded the upgrader but the iPhoto library will still not open and Photos app will not open.

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Answer 5

EuniceK Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 27, 2020 9:58 AM in response to EuniceK

Hi. This is still not working. What should I do? The Photos app will not open. Is there a way to delete it and re-load it? I can't find the missing photos in the Pictures folder or in the Trash folder. I have lost 7 years of photo's from my Mac. I need to fix this. Please help!

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