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photos library

I had my photo library on external drive and synced to iCloud. now my external drive have stoped working. how can i sett up library on new external drive and sync it from iCloud to the drive.


Posted on Jan 5, 2022 9:14 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 5, 2022 9:17 AM

Hi


1 - Get a new drive, I would say at least twice as big as the space taken in Icloud by your photos.

2- Prepare it as described at the link below:

It must be formatted APFS or MacOS extended (journaled), 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.


See

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


3 - Create a new EMPTY library on the external disk. (Hold down the option key while starting photos and click "create new")

4 - Open the new empty library in photos.

5 - In photos preferences set it to the system library (click the button)

6 - In photos preferences iClound - turn icloud on with download originals.


7 - Wait - for photos to download all your images from iCloud into your freshly minted library. It may take some time - possibly days. Leave the mac on with photos open while it is doing it.


3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 5, 2022 9:17 AM in response to gudmundur60

Hi


1 - Get a new drive, I would say at least twice as big as the space taken in Icloud by your photos.

2- Prepare it as described at the link below:

It must be formatted APFS or MacOS extended (journaled), 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.


See

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


3 - Create a new EMPTY library on the external disk. (Hold down the option key while starting photos and click "create new")

4 - Open the new empty library in photos.

5 - In photos preferences set it to the system library (click the button)

6 - In photos preferences iClound - turn icloud on with download originals.


7 - Wait - for photos to download all your images from iCloud into your freshly minted library. It may take some time - possibly days. Leave the mac on with photos open while it is doing it.


photos library

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