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Copy photos library error

I'm attempting to copy my photos library from an older imac to a new imac with a thunderbolt cable, but get this error message:

"The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “Photos Library” can’t be read or written.(Error code -36)"

All other files copy over just fine

What can I do to save 126 GB of family photos to my new machine?


Any help will be appreciated


Old imac late 2012 running Catalina 10.15.x

New imac 2020 Catalina 10.15.6

Thunderbolt 3 cable with Apple thunderbolt adapter


iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Sep 12, 2020 6:07 PM

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Posted on Sep 12, 2020 6:34 PM

Try moving it to an external HD which is where it should be stored anyway, also ensure that Time Machine backs up the HD. That size of library should not be taking up valuable space on the new Mac. When you launch Photos on the new Mac it will ask for a library, simply point it to the library on the External Hard Disk and you are back in business.


If you have been using Time Machine to back up your computer your library is safe. If you have not been backing up the computer using Time Machine, that is a HUGE error and short sighted. You would not only be putting your photo library at risk you are risking all other valuable info stored on the computer!


The library may need to be rebuilt as well.

13 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Sep 12, 2020 6:34 PM in response to Pdundon

Try moving it to an external HD which is where it should be stored anyway, also ensure that Time Machine backs up the HD. That size of library should not be taking up valuable space on the new Mac. When you launch Photos on the new Mac it will ask for a library, simply point it to the library on the External Hard Disk and you are back in business.


If you have been using Time Machine to back up your computer your library is safe. If you have not been backing up the computer using Time Machine, that is a HUGE error and short sighted. You would not only be putting your photo library at risk you are risking all other valuable info stored on the computer!


The library may need to be rebuilt as well.

Oct 26, 2020 7:02 PM in response to Pdundon

Most experienced users have redundant backup systems, why well I think you know now because backups can fail too. What I and many experienced users do is use Time Machine for backup #1, then on a totally separate External Hard Disk I create a bootable clone using SuperDuper! (a lot of folks love Carbon Copy Cloner) to make backup #2. This way if your backup fails, you have another to fall back on. Think of it, would you trust your bank if you knew they only had one backup of all your financial information??

Sep 12, 2020 6:33 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Thank you. I do have a full TM backup on an external HDD but I got the same message when trying to copy from that drive. It's old and connects with a USB cable.

I'm now using the Repair Photos feature to see if that helps, but you're right, I shouldn't be keeping that sized library on my new mac. Any suggestion on a good External HDD?

Sep 12, 2020 7:03 PM in response to Pdundon

Yes, what most experienced user prefer is https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-mercury-elite-pro due to their high quality, reasonable price and the service of OWC. All hard drive eventually fail, the nice thing about these enclosure is when the drive dies you can replace it in less than 5 minutes. I have some of these enclosures that are 15 years old and have gone through a few HDs but the enclosures still work great.

Oct 26, 2020 6:34 PM in response to rkaufmann87

@rkaufmann87 Thank you. I took the imac to a local repair shop for data recovery. After a few weeks they could not recover the photos library but they DID dismantle the computer. I now have the internal Seagate drive and have recycled the mass of glass and aluminum that was an imac.

This drive contains my photo library but is unreadable to me and the local expert. Should I send it to Novato, Calif. where Drive Savers will charge $1100.00 to recover data? Apple says they have outsourced data recovery to the firm in Novato.

Copy photos library error

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