I can't delete "recently deleted" or close photos on mac

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Level 1

4 points

I can't delete "recently deleted" or close photos on mac

When I searched for this issue I see it crop up on iphone, but I'm using my mac laptop. I have been clearing out duplicates but when I try to deleted them from recently deleted I'm asked to confirm and then ... nothing happens. The option to delete more photos is greyed out but the photos remain. I've waited up to an hour. I have tried deleting just one photo or a small batch of ten. I have rebuilt the library.

Photos also won't quit after I try this. It will hang on "closing the library" and I need to use force quit to clear it.

Has anyone encountered this on a macbook?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Sep 23, 2021 10:22 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 25, 2021 12:36 AM in response to ramepithecus

Try starting in safe mode, and see if it still happens in safe mode. Then restart normally, and try again.

Try a new empty library - see if it happens there.

Create a new user account, put a copy of the library in that account's pictures folder, and try there.

If the empty library in your account didn't work, try another new empty library in the new account.

These checks will tell us if the problem is related to the particular library, your particular account, or is system wide.

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Answer 2

Sep 24, 2021 1:01 PM in response to ramepithecus

Hello ramepithecus,

We understand that you're experiencing an issue with deleting photos, and we'd like to help.

Just to confirm, are you using the exact steps under the "Delete photos and videos" part of this page when the issue occurs? Delete photos or recover deleted ones in Photos on Mac

You mentioned rebuilding the library; did you follow the process in the How to use the Photos Repair Library on your Mac article you came from?

To help isolate the issue further, can you also let us know if you experience the same behaviors when your Mac is started up in safe mode? Start up in safe mode

Thanks!

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Answer 3

ramepithecus Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 25, 2021 4:51 PM in response to Brittany1416

So far: Yes - I followed the instructions for deleting photos from the 'recently deleted' folder and for rebuilding the photo library.

Starting in safe mode: I am able to open and close Photos and delete a small selection of the 'recently deleted' without hanging the Photos app, but when I tried to delete a larger number (50) the delete option became greyed out.

Restarting in regular mode: the problem is back.

Working on the rest.

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