Backing up Photos library (located on an external hard drive) to iCloud

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Backing up Photos library (located on an external hard drive) to iCloud

Hey everyone,

I recently had a (costly) data recovery situation and want to start using iCloud to back up my computer, but mainly my photos library. The problem is that my photos library is currently located on an external hard drive (WD 1TB My Passport), and is far too large to move back on to my mid-2015 Macbook Pro.

Are there any workarounds for this? Would a different type of external hard drive allow me to keep the photos library off my computer while still backing up to iCloud when connected?

Alternatively, if I was able to temporarily relocate my photos library to a friend's computer, log in to my iCloud account and back it up, and then remove the library from his computer, would the photos remain in my iCloud? If so, would I only be able to access them through the iCloud web browser, or would those photos also appear in my Photos OSX application where I can use all of the different functionalities (locations, facial recognition, etc.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Posted on Dec 13, 2020 3:55 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Eric Root

Level 10

684,675 points

Dec 13, 2020 5:26 PM in response to BlawkBlake

Quit/reopen Photos with the option/alt key held down and make the external hard drive file the system Library. Once you are sure all your photos are there, you can delete the Library from the internal drive if desired. Once you do this, the external hard drive will need to be attached to access/sync your photos. The drive should also sync to iCloud.

Photos library - Move your Library to an external storage device.

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Answer 2

BlawkBlake Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 13, 2020 5:32 PM in response to Eric Root

Thank you for your reply.

The Photos library on the external drive has been designated as the system library for several months now, but it does not sync to iCloud when connected. There is no library to delete on the internal drive since I relocated it to the external drive.

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Answer 3

Eric Root

Level 10

684,675 points

Dec 13, 2020 5:44 PM in response to BlawkBlake

You are welcome. Have you gone to Photos/Preferences/iCloud and checked iCloud Photo Library?

Checked System Preferences/iCloud (Apple ID for Catalina) to make sure Photos syncing is on and then clicked on Options to check iCloud Photo Library?

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Answer 4

BlawkBlake Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 13, 2020 6:55 PM in response to Eric Root

iCloud Photo Library is selected in Photos/Preferences/iCloud.

Photos syncing is on for system preferences/Apple ID. The only "Options" button I see on that same window is next to iCloud Drive, and when I click on it, it doesn't contain anything having to do with photos.

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Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

684,675 points

Dec 13, 2020 7:29 PM in response to BlawkBlake

Have you tried unchecking Photos syncing in System Preferences/iCloud (Apple ID for Catalina), quitting System Preferences for a few minutes, then reopening System Preferences, and then checked Photos syncing to see if you get an Options button?

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Answer 6

BlawkBlake Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 13, 2020 9:26 PM in response to Eric Root

I just did that - there is still no options button.

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Backing up Photos library (located on an external hard drive) to iCloud

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