Can't open Photos due to lack of disk space

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sdb2013 Author

Level 1

36 points

Can't open Photos due to lack of disk space

When I attempted to open Photos via my iPhone to save new images, Photos wouldn't t open, and I got this:

There is not enough disk space to migrate your library. Free up additional space on disk “Media” to migrate your library.

I'm trying to open Photos to clean up and delete old images to free up space but I can't get in. This library is stored on a external partitioned SSD. It won't open now, either via connecting the phone, or just opening the app from the laptop.

Evidently a new empty library was added to my MBP's drive as I get a Photos "Welcome to Photos" screen, haven't touched that.

How do I access the actual library/images on the external drive?

Do I have to first move this library to a new external drive to now open it?

I appreciate any advice. Thank you!

Posted on May 31, 2022 5:26 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

justin_900

Community Specialist

Jun 1, 2022 8:23 AM in response to sdb2013

Hello sdb2013,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities!

We'll need to learn a little more about the issue to better assist.

Have you been able to open this library on your external in the past without issue?

When you say it won't open now, do you mean the library or the files on the external drive?

Did you use these steps to setup the library? Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support

We hope this helps.

Cheers!

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Answer 2

Rich839

Level 8

47,688 points

Jun 1, 2022 9:29 AM in response to sdb2013

I'll defer to those more expert than I with the Photos app. However, the message is telling you that you don't have enough space on your SSD partition. If so, I would think that you need either to increase the available free disc space of the partition, or, as you suggest, copy or transfer the library to a new external drive that is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

You can free up disk space by deleting or transferring items that are stored elsewhere than in the Photos library. You would not need to open the Photos library to do that.

Others may chime in with more or different suggestions. So wait a bit before doing anything.

-- Rich

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