User profile for user: cameronw11
cameronw11 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Photos Library on external drive taking up all space after "Updating Library"

I moved my Photos library onto a 1TB external SSD, and it was about 200gb–plenty of room.


However, every time I plug into my mac to open the library, I have to go through "Updating Library," I think because I update my MacOS frequently.


Now that I've done that a handful of times, without adding any photos to the library (or putting anything else on the SSD), my hard drive is full. So all 1TB is being used.


"Get Info" on my Photos library just says "Calculating Size" forever, and "Updating Library" won't work anymore because the drive is full. I've also tried to run Disk Utility First Aid which didn't fix anything.


How might I proceed here? Thanks in advance!

Posted on Jan 17, 2021 1:33 AM

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User profile for user: TonyCollinet
TonyCollinet
User level: Level 7
24,068 points

Posted on Jan 17, 2021 2:56 AM

Hi

Is the external drive correctly set up for using with a photos library?


It must be formatted APFS or MacOS extended (journaled) (preferred for spinning drives), and not be (or have been) used for time machine. It must have the 'ignore ownership" checkbox ticked. It should not be on a memory stick, SD or similar. It stands to reason that if you want any sort of reasonable performance it should be a fast drive with a fast connection.


It must also not be a network drive (a direct connection is required - eg USB or Thunderbolt)


See

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201517



Also - do you use time machine - or is time machine enabled. If so, is a regular time machine backup happening? (And is your external drive backed up to time machine?)


Finally - what size does finder say your library is?

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User profile for user: TonyCollinet
TonyCollinet
User level: Level 7
24,068 points

Jan 17, 2021 2:56 AM in response to cameronw11

Hi

Is the external drive correctly set up for using with a photos library?


It must be formatted APFS or MacOS extended (journaled) (preferred for spinning drives), and not be (or have been) used for time machine. It must have the 'ignore ownership" checkbox ticked. It should not be on a memory stick, SD or similar. It stands to reason that if you want any sort of reasonable performance it should be a fast drive with a fast connection.


It must also not be a network drive (a direct connection is required - eg USB or Thunderbolt)


See

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201517



Also - do you use time machine - or is time machine enabled. If so, is a regular time machine backup happening? (And is your external drive backed up to time machine?)


Finally - what size does finder say your library is?

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Photos Library on external drive taking up all space after "Updating Library"

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