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User profile for user: tridongo
tridongo Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Photos visible in Photos app won't export

I have a Photos library that dates back to 2007 and was originally an iPhoto library. Ever since it was migrated to a Photos library, there have been issues with exporting photos from late 2013 through mid 2015.

When I choose File > Export on these photos, I get an error message:

The export operation failed to create a file for the photo identified below:
Example.jpeg Unknown Error (4)

When I click Reveal in Finder, nothing happens.


Basically, a large number of my photos exist in the Photos library but can only be accessed in Photos. They cannot be exported. Ideally, I would like a way to find where Photos is storing those files so that I can either repair the database or re-import the photos so that they work correctly.


These photos have a lot of sentimental value I NEED to recover them! Please help!!

MacBook

Posted on Sep 8, 2020 11:12 AM

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2 replies
User profile for user: Old Toad
Old Toad
User level: Level 10
210,771 points

Sep 8, 2020 11:55 AM in response to tridongo

Please read the following user tip and restate your question/problem in detail: 

Writing an Effective Apple Support Communities Question - Apple Community

What system and Photos versions are you running?

Do you have a "managed" or "referenced" library?



Get the file name of one of the problem Photos and use Find Any File (FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages) to search with the following criteria: 


1 - Name is xxxx.jpg


Select this display option in Find Any File



The search results will be similar to this:



That will be the original file. If there is no original file found then what you're seeing in the library is the preview file that is created for general viewing before editing.

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
197,577 points

Sep 8, 2020 11:53 AM in response to tridongo

How are you trying to export? There are two option - exporting the current version or the unmodified original.

Have you tried "File > Export > Export unmodified original" or did you use "File > Export > Export .. photos"?

Try to export with "File > Export > Export unmodified original", if you have not done that. And test first by selecting only a small user of photos, not all at once. And try first to export to a local folder on your Mac, not to an external volume or a folder syncing with iCloud. If you Desktop is syncing with iCloud, try to export to a folder in your Pictures folder.


Can you export a few photos to your Pictures folder, if you use "File > Export > Export unmodified original"?


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Photos visible in Photos app won't export

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