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How do I transfer my iPhoto library to an external drive?

My entire photo library is in iPhoto. I want to begin using other post-processing programs so I will need to transfer my library to an external drive. How do I achieve this?

Posted on Dec 25, 2020 8:20 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 25, 2020 11:29 AM

The Photos .app (the program) is in your Applications folder, and you cannot remove it from there. It is protected, because it is a part of the system.

When you drag the Photos Library from the Pictures folder to the external volume, you are saving the database with all the photos the albums, the adjustments and metadata in it.


But if your really only want to save the image files, without the albums, select all photos in Photos and use the command "File > Export > Export unmodified originals" and select a folder on your external volume as the destination.


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 25, 2020 11:29 AM in response to skunkman4

The Photos .app (the program) is in your Applications folder, and you cannot remove it from there. It is protected, because it is a part of the system.

When you drag the Photos Library from the Pictures folder to the external volume, you are saving the database with all the photos the albums, the adjustments and metadata in it.


But if your really only want to save the image files, without the albums, select all photos in Photos and use the command "File > Export > Export unmodified originals" and select a folder on your external volume as the destination.


How do I transfer my iPhoto library to an external drive?

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