Photos Library on iMac - where is it

When I click on a photo received in a message or email and then click on "add to photos library" how can I locate the file?

Posted on Jul 15, 2022 9:03 AM

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7 replies

Jul 15, 2022 2:31 PM in response to ewrayjr

What Mac model and year are you using?


Did you ever have any photos in a library?


The screenshot is from the Photos general preference pane.



Click on Library at the top of the sidebar and then on the "All Photos" button at the top of the library window:



Do you see any photos?


Do you have any backups with Time Machine or some other app?


Next l`aunch Photos with the Control+Command keys held down to run a repair on the Photos library. Then look for photos in it.



Jul 15, 2022 11:14 AM in response to ewrayjr

Did you have a working iPhoto or Photos library previously? If so what version of iPhoto or Photos? How may photos were in it.


Do you have a Time Machine backup made prior to this problem occurring?


For photos to go into a Photos library from an email or message that library must be designated the System Photos Library.



What are the sizes of the two libraries? Look inside the iPhoto library package to see if there are any files in the Originals or Masters folders. Do not move or change anything inside the package or you'r damage the library irreparably.


Do the same with the Photos library and report back on what you find.


Jul 15, 2022 11:47 AM in response to Old Toad

Old Toad,

Really appreciate your help. I may be too much of a novice and I don't want to waste your time. Feel free to tell me you don't have the time to deal with me.

I am running Monterrey version 12.4. and I don't understand how I would go to a Photos library from an email or message.

The "Migrated Photo Library" shows a size of 4.14GB, but I don't see any files at all.

The "Photos Library" shows a size of 18.57GB but see no files.

I don't see any "Originals" or "Masters" folders.

I don't know how to get to the window you are showing above. I guessed it was in System Preferences, but I don't find any such window there.

Thanks again for your help

Jul 16, 2022 6:56 AM in response to TonyCollinet

Sorry for delay.

My computer: iMac 27inch, 2020

In looking further I have found that I have a third photosLibrary file: Photos Library.photoslibrary. Shows size to be 858bytes.

So it looks like I have 3 separate library files; the one mentioned above and iPhoto Library.photoslibrary size 18.45GB and

iPhoto Library.migratedphotolibrary size 4.14GB. If I double click on the iPhoto Library. migratedphotolibrary file I am unable to open. If I double click on the iPhoto Library.photoslibrary file the Photos app opens and I see all of my photos. If I double click on the Photos Library.photoslibrary file nothing happens. This seems strange since as I remember the old version of operating system used an app named iPhoto and the new version uses app named Photos.


The Photos general preference pane shows: Library location; user name>photo library>photoslibrary and the second line

shows: Show in Finder and Use as System Photo Library and the second term is NOT greyed out.


Seems like I have a confusing mess. No idea how it got this way.

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Photos Library on iMac - where is it

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