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Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary on my iMac (macOS Catalina) does not show an increase in memory size since Nov 2019 despite adding a significant number of photos to the library since 2019. Where are the photos being stored and how can I check this storage?
The Finder in Catalina is no longer updating the Info for the Photos Library immediately.
The size you are seeing in the Finder and the modification date may not be changed and updated for a long time. The Photos Library is actually a folder, bundled as a package. Photos is changing the internal folders in the package, but the Finder is not always reflecting this.
To see how many photos are actually stored inside the library package, you can open it and look inside. But be very careful not to modify anything.
If the "originals" folder is smaller than the size of the total of photos shown in the Info for "All Photos" in Photos. Photos has not downloaded all originals from iCloud. Then you should force a download from iCloud by viewing the photos enlarged.
Even, if you have "Download originals to this Mac" enabled, you cannot be sure, that the photos will be downloaded immediately. Photos may be waiting with the download, until you are using the photos.
To check the iCloud Preferences:
Hi - again in preferences, is the box "copy items to the photos library" checked?
If not, the photos will be left on the disk where they were when you imported them as so called 'reference' files.
In the I cloud settings is "optimise mac storage checked"
If it is, your photos will be in I cloud, and only small low res versions will be stored locally.
How are you checking the memory size? Click on file and select "get info"? If not, try that.
Then you need to be sure that is the actual library you are opening. Open photos, and go to preferences. In the general tab, it shows you the location of the library that is open. Is that the one you are checking in finder?
How do you know it is not showing an increase - have you been checking it regularly? Or are you looking at the last modified date?
Thank you for your response however, I have clicked the file and 'get info' shows '124.74 GB on disk Modified 28 Nov'.
Opening photos and preferences shows the location of the library in Pictures as 'Photos Library.photoslibrary 28 Nov 2019 124.3 GB.
I have checked this library on a regular basis and despite adding additional photos there is no change in storage size since Nov 2019! Hence the concern about where the additional photos are stored.
Yes the 'Copy items to the photos library' is checked but I am not sure how to view the iCloud settings re 'optimise mac storage'. The 'iCloud Drive' on my Mac lists a number of folders but not photos.
For some reason, Finder is notoriously unreliable at providing size and modify date information on the Photos library, not sure why. The modified date on my library often gives a date from a few weeks/month ago, even though I have made recent changes. Although I've never heard of it being a year out of date. As long you can see your photos and export them without any difficulty then I wouldn't worry too much.
BTW, you will not find your photos in any folder within your iCloud Drive - the iCloud storage for photos and your iCloud drive are separate.
Thank you Leonie the 'originals' folder is smaller in size indicating that Finder is not updating the info.
Regards
eastend49
It's in the photos preferences in the icloud tab (click the icloud icon)
Imac photo library
