i photo fault. Photos cannot load adjustments for this image.

When this happens in my library it usually helps to click the button "Revert to Original" in the Edit pane. It usually happens in my library for photos with older iPhoto or Aperture adjustments applied to the image, or for photos I have edited on an iPhone or iPad on a newer system version.

I have the same issue:

My symptoms include:

1. Cannot export the photo: Unknown error (4)

2. Cannot export original of the photo: Unknown error (4)

3. Cannot edit the photo: Photos cannot load adjustments for this image << This is what you report.

4. Cannot duplicate the photo: Failed to download assets for duplication

Note: revert to original is grayed out in the menu (i.e. not possible to revert)

I opened a support case with Apple on 10-Aug-2020.

They confirmed that the issue was real and they escalated the issue to Apple engineering.

Their only response so far has been "try upgrading photos", which I always did whenever a new release was available, but which never fixed the issue.

Over the past few months they have stopped responding to my e-mail asking about the status of the case (which is still open).

It appears to be a common issue:

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/387121

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/399027

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251674403

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251872717

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251602029

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250932769

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250852440

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250870058

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250771558

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251094038

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251245094

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251602029

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251036700

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251382514

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251854636

You're welcome.

About the obstinate photos, that cannot be reverted: Try to restart the Mac, if "Revert to Original" does not help. And ensure, that your Network is working and you are having plenty of free storage. If the problem persists for some photos, check, if the original version of your photo exists at all. To check the original, try to export it with "File > Export > Export unmodified original".

If the original cannot be exported, you trick with Copy and Paste" and reimporting is really all that is left and will save at least the current edited version.

In my case the option "revert to original" in the "image" menu is grayed out.

In the edit screen, I don't have a "revert to original" button. I do have a "reset adjustments button" but it is grayed out.

Note: when I click the "edit" button, I get a "photos cannot load adjustments for this image" error. When I click on the "ok" button in the error pane, I still enter the edit screen but all editing options are grayed out.

Any manual process (e.g. manually copying and pasting affected photos) is not an option for me. I have a library of more than 100,000 photos. I don't know which photos exactly are affected, and even if I did, it would be hundreds if not thousands of photos. An automated solution is needed.