Photos library gone after update to Big Sur

Assuming you don't have a backup.

hold down the option key while starting photos, and see if your old library is listed then. If it is, open it.

Were you using iCloud to sync your photos (If you were, and all your photos are in iCloud then an alternative to the suggestions below is simply to let Icloud sync to the new Big Sur Library - it will take some time, possibly days and you need to keep photos open while it does it)

If not:

1 - In photos preferences (general), check which library is currently being opened by Big Sur, and where it is - post a screenshot of that if possible.

2 - Open finder, and look in your pictures folder. What libraries are in there? (Normally somthing.photoslibrary)

If there is more than one, then the old one will (probably) be the one that is named differently from the one in preferences. If there is more than one of those, you probably need the largest. Open it from the "other library" button above.

3 - If there is only the Big Sur library in pictures, then you are going to need to do a search in spotlight.

In finder, in the search bar, type "photoslibrary". Make sure it is searching "This Mac"

What does it find?

Go to your Pictures Folder and see if there's an icon for a Photos library there. Go Command-i on it. How big is it?

And just to be pedantic: you're now learning an important lesson about backing up before updating anything ever.

This is simple: just restore from the back up you made before upgrading.

You did make a back up, right? No one with any sense every upgrades anything without a back up, right?

You're welcome.

Can you let us where you found it (if you did) MIght help other Big Sur upgraders with simialr problems.

I have the same problem and I do have a backup. It still won't upload - it's been on for 24hours and still says 0% complete.

Upload what? Where?

How did you make the back up? How are you trying to restore it?

You might be better off starting a new question. This one is marked solved, so not many will come looking. When you do, please try to state your question with more detail.

Thanks.

Are there any other ways to recover photos aside from this? I'm afraid I've gone through all of the steps I could except for the iCloud or Time Machine because they were not set up.

Unfortunately, if one only looks for the photos several months after update and back up, you are out of luck.

Also me... all of my sons photos gone...

Again - if you want help, create a new question and describe what happened and is happening now in detail.