Cannot create slideshow - how to override Apple stupidity?

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Level 1

7 points

Cannot create slideshow - how to override Apple stupidity?

I've been using iPhoto and, more recently, Photos since the beginning. All my family photos are in there, including some > 20 years old which, due to the technology of the time, have a lower resolution than modern images.

I have never used iCloud for my photo library. Never.

I've diligently upgraded my OS and apps as they come out.

Now, however, I find Apple is seemingly preventing me from using my photos.

For a particular album, containing old and new photos, when I select 'Play Slideshow'the following TWO errors appear;

Internet Connection Required

An internet connection is required to download larger versions of these items for creating a slideshow.

Error downloading slideshow photos.

An error occurred while downloading one or more photos for the slideshow. Please try again later.

The first one is very poorly worded. I have an internet connection. It's working fine. What's that all about?

And combined with the second error: Why is Photos attempting to download 'larger versions'/ anyway?These don't exist. As noted, I've NEVER had any of these photos in iCloud, so why would it think they might exist.

I'm surmising that the app needs a minimum resolution for slideshows, but when did that restriction arrive? I made a slideshow from this folder a few years ago no problem.

Why can't I override this restriction and use the photos the way I want to?

Why is there no obvious way to identify which photos the app has a problem with so I can rectify the situation (I really don't want to remove >300images one at a time to see where the problem is)

Really, this is very very poor and ilogical app and functional design from Apple.

Here's what I've tired so far;

Ensured iCloud is not checked in Photos prefs (never was)
Ensured Photos is not checked in AppleID->iCloud system prefs (never was)
Ensured my library is designated as the system library
Conducted a Photo Library rebuild
Checked to ensure there is an internet connection (!)
Checked to ensure my iCloud / Apple ID credentials are correct & working
Checked to make sure there's sufficient drive space (there is)

Anything else, or how can I override this 'larger image'r requirement?

Posted on Jun 4, 2022 3:19 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

léonie

Level 10

201,965 points

Jun 4, 2022 6:40 AM in response to meedja1

The "Larger image" message is probably referring to the original image file. You are getting this error message, if the original image file is missing from your Photos Library and Photos is trying to download it from iCloud Photos, but does not succeed.

You wrote that you never have used iCloud Photos. Are you sure, that you never used iCloud Photos at all? It may have become enabled after a system upgrade as the default. Typically, you will get the error message "An internet connection is required to download larger versions of these items for creating a slideshow.", if you once had iCloud Photos enabled, and made a backup copy of the Photos Library, then used this backup copy to restore your library.

The restored library may include incomplete photos, where the original may only have been stored in iCloud and not on your Mac.

Or, if iCloud Photos should still be enabled without you being aware of it, you might be getting the mentioned error messages, if Photos cannot reach Apple's cloud servers, because a firewall or antivirus filter is blocking the access to Apple's servers.

Another possible reason for missing originals would be, if you ever have been using a duplicate finder to remove duplicates. Some of them can damage the Photos Library badly, so Photos can no longer the original image files. Or if your Photos Library is stored on an external volume, that is not compatible with Photos.

You may want to test, if you can export the original image files of the photos that are causing the error message.

Try to export the images with "File > export > Export unmodified original". Can you export the originals for your slideshow images?

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Answer 2

Old Toad

Level 10

217,302 points

Jun 4, 2022 3:32 PM in response to meedja1

Pick ½ of the photos in the album and try creating a slideshow. If it works then try the other ½ . If that gives an error try ½ of that half and repeat until you get to the culprit.

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Answer 3

meedja1 Author

Level 1

7 points

Jun 4, 2022 2:16 PM in response to léonie

Unfortunately, there is no information at all on which images are causing the problem :-(

There are hundred of potential candidates.

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Cannot create slideshow - how to override Apple stupidity?

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