When I click on the icon I get an error message that says that it cannot connect to the photos library. The photos are still there (6,000+ of them), I can access them from my phone and iPad but not my macbook pro. Is there a way to re-link? I'm running on Big Sur but this happened a few weeks before the update.
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.13
Two ways forward. (From what you've said above I'm assuming you are using iCloud photos.)
1 - Hold the option key down while starting photos. It should list the libraries on your system. If so, try opening them one at a time until you find the one with your photos (Let us know what happens)
2 - If that doesn't show any libraries (or you just want an easy life)
Create a new library (Same option key trick when starting, but just select "create new"
Put it in your pictures folder and call it photos library.photoslibrary
Open it, go to photos preferences (general tab) and click "use as system photos library"
Then go to the iCloud tab, and turn on iCloud photos.
Leave your mac on, with photos open and wait. It might take a while, but it should download all the images from iCloud into your new library.
Two ways forward. (From what you've said above I'm assuming you are using iCloud photos.)
1 - Hold the option key down while starting photos. It should list the libraries on your system. If so, try opening them one at a time until you find the one with your photos (Let us know what happens)
2 - If that doesn't show any libraries (or you just want an easy life)
Create a new library (Same option key trick when starting, but just select "create new"
Put it in your pictures folder and call it photos library.photoslibrary
Open it, go to photos preferences (general tab) and click "use as system photos library"
Then go to the iCloud tab, and turn on iCloud photos.
Leave your mac on, with photos open and wait. It might take a while, but it should download all the images from iCloud into your new library.
Where did you keep your original library? By default it will be created in your Pictures folder.
If you moved it to an external volume, or created it on an external volume, you may want to check, if this volume is compatible with Photos. (Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support)
No idea. As is usual with a brand new version of MacOS, it appears to have some issues. One of the penalties of being an early adopter I guess. Personally, I'll probably wait 6 months for this stuff to be sorted out.
In any case, I'm glad it seems to be on the mend. Just as a heads up, it could take a day or two to sync, and sometimes it might look as though no progress is being made. You can carry on using your mac in the meantime, just leave photos open in the background.
Thank You! I had to create a new library and I had 7,000 + (time do some cleaning). Where in the world did the original library go?
photos library missing
