Photos 6.0 slow, won't recognize faces on 2020 MacBook Pro w/M1

Hi

Is the external drive correctly set up for using with a photos library? If it is not, then especially with Big Sur, it can result in the sort of problems you are seeing - as well as the risk of library damage and possible loss of access to your library.

It must be formatted APFS or MacOS extended (journaled) (preferred for spinning drives)

It Must not be (or have been) used for time machine. (A time machine drive can be used if re-formatted)

It must have the 'ignore ownership" checkbox ticked.

It should not be on a memory stick, SD or similar.

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

File sharing services such as iCloud Drive, Drop box, Onedrive etc are not compatible with Photos libraries.

It stands to reason that if you want any sort of reasonable performance it should be a fast drive with a fast connection.

See

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

You first need to format it (using disk utility). Assuming non SSD, then to MacOS extended (journaled). If SSD use APFS. NOT case sensitive.

Then click on the drive in finder, open the info pane (CMD-i). Click the padlock bottom left and put in your acccount password, then tick the "ignore ownership" checkbox.

I'd also suggest copying the library to a folder, rather than putting it in the root of the drive.

Hi

If it is already of the correct format then you shouldn't need to reformat for Big Sur. As a double check for that, do you have the "ignore ownership" checkbox ticked (See screenshot)?

If it is five years old though, I'd question the speed of the interface. Is it at least USB3?

There is also just a chance that there is a compatibility between your old drive, and the M1 macs USB - can you try running a speed test on the drive?

https://osxdaily.com/2013/08/31/test-read-write-speed-external-drive/

I'm also totally unable to add faces. When I click to add a face, it will initially put the circle there, but as soon as I try to move it or add the name, it immediately disappears.

I would wait with adding faces circles manually, until Photos has finished the scan for for faces.

for the time being, add only names to the faces that Photos has already detected.

Have you already enabled the option "View > Show Faces" in the View menu? Then you can see the faces circled added by Photo

That drive is benchmarking about half the speed of the one I am using for my external library.

Though this alone shouldn't result in 30s beach ball per click as you described above.