my photos are gone

Help!! I recently updated my MacBook Air. Since then, I have not been able to find my photos. The whole file just looks empty. I am really not very tech savvy so if you have some advice for me, can you please tell me in very simple terms? Thanks in advance for your wisdom.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Oct 4, 2022 5:48 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 4, 2022 11:37 PM

Hi


Most likely you have more than one libray on your mac, and the older photos are in a different library from the one you are now viewing.


Close the photos app, then hold down the option key while starting photos. More than one library listed? Open each in turn to see if they hold your missing photos:



5 replies

Oct 5, 2022 12:54 AM in response to nmrubio

OK - so you updated your air. Do you mean you updated MacOS? Or bought a new machine?


If you updated, did you just use the normal update process, or did you wipe and re-install?


What version did you update *from*? Were you previously using Photos app, or iPhoto?


Was your library previously on your internal drive, or on an external drive? Were you syncing with iCloud? Did you have a backup?


Try this (connect any external drives first if the library may be there):

use the spotlight search to see if there are any other libraries (search in finder). Put photoslibrary in the searchbox.


Make sure "this mac" is selected.

If you click on the found libraries in turn, the location will be shown at the bottom of the finder window. Open each one to see if they contain your images. (Use the option key to start photos then select the library)


This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

my photos are gone

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.