Unable to make resource locally available

Question

Level 1

4 points

Unable to make resource locally available

I use iCloud Library in Apple Photos to store now almost 30,000 photos. Recently when I've tried to share some of the older photos (from 1-3 years ago) I've been getting an error for about 10% of the photos "Unable to make resource locally available"

I can view the photo and it appears to load (the circle in the bottom right), but when I try to edit I get an error "Cannot Start Editing"

I've seen this topic come up in a few other threads, but the suggestions haven't worked for me. I tried rebuilding the library and I still get the issue.

Other things I've tried

I am able to find these photos on iCloud.com/photos and share a link to them.
I am able to load these photos on my iPhone—viewing, editing, and sharing.

Some details about my setup

Apple Photos Version 5.0 (161.0.120)
Catalina Version 10.15.7 (19H114)
Running on a late 2013 MBP 15" Retina
My library is managed (Copy items to the photo library) and located on the main harddrive
I use iCloud Photos and optimize storage
I don't use a VPN

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 23, 2021 11:55 AM

Reply

Answer 1

jwdenmark Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 1, 2021 9:32 PM in response to jwdenmark

I just updated to OS 11.1 (Big Sur) and Photos Version 6.0 (321.0.110) and I'm now able to download the previously lost photos. It looks like the updates addressed the issue!

Reply

Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,645 points

Feb 1, 2021 10:33 PM in response to jwdenmark

I would still disable My Photo Stream, if you are using iCloud Photos. It is making the use of iCloud more complicated, because it is too old and cannot transfer videos or Live Photos. You need it only, if you have devices that cannot use iCloud Photos or are still using Aperture or iPhoto. You omitted an important difference, when you quoted My Photo Stream - Apple Support

"Photo formats that you can use with My Photo Stream

My Photo Stream supports JPEG, TIFF, PNG, and most RAW photo formats. My Photo Stream doesn't support video or Live Photos."

It does not even support HEIF formats HEIC and HEVC.

Reply

Answer 3

Jan 23, 2021 3:19 PM in response to jwdenmark

Two things look odd there to me.

One is your library is called photos photostream. Second is you have "my photostream" checked in iCloud settings.

I understood that when using iCloud to sync photos that my photo stream was not available. This combined with the odd library name is making me concerned. Certainly in my settings I don't even have that option.

Is that a library name you have chosen? (The default is "photos library")

Reply

Answer 4

jwdenmark Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 25, 2021 8:23 AM in response to TonyCollinet

I did choose the name for my library "Photos Photostream" since I used to only use Apple Photos for the photostream feature after Aperture was retired but before I used the hosted iCloud Photos library. I now use Lightroom for processing and managing my full photo library and then export my favorites to Apple Photos as my curated library. I'm thinking I may try to create a fresh library to see if the naming is an issue since everything should be in the hosted iCloud Photos library. I only have 53 referenced photos and the originals can't be found anyhow.

That's interesting about My Photostream. I may have left that on when I first set up the iCloud Photos library. I found a couple of help articles that explain the difference https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201317

My Photo Stream uploads your most recent photos (except Live Photos) so that you can view and import them to all of your devices. Photos are stored in My Photo Stream for 30 days. iCloud Photos uploads all of your photos and videos to iCloud and keeps them up to date across your devices.

Perhaps there's a conflict somewhere in there that's preventing the online photo from downloading to my mac. However, the photos I'm having trouble with on iCloud Photos were uploaded well beyond the 30 day window of My Photo Stream. When I unchecked the box, the option for My Photo Stream disappeared and these photos still won't load correctly.

Reply

Unable to make resource locally available

Similar questions