I read another post talking about the Photos App file format for Monterey different from Big Sur? Does anyone have info on what is the difference? Looking to upgrade from Big Sur to Monterey but it sound like if I do I won't be able to downgrade the Photos App library.
iMac 27″, macOS 11.6
Right. When you first run Photos after an OS upgrade, it will say "Updating Photos Library" or some such phrase. After that, it's no longer useable in the old system. It's a very good idea to make a backup copy of the Photos libraries before installing a new operating system. But if you want to look at the backups, the new OS will change them as soon as you open them.
Reminds me of Quantum Entanglement-- if you look, it changes it.
Right. When you first run Photos after an OS upgrade, it will say "Updating Photos Library" or some such phrase. After that, it's no longer useable in the old system. It's a very good idea to make a backup copy of the Photos libraries before installing a new operating system. But if you want to look at the backups, the new OS will change them as soon as you open them.
Reminds me of Quantum Entanglement-- if you look, it changes it.
PHotos libraries are not backward compatible, i.e. one you open a library with Monterey you won't be able to open it with Photos from Big Sur.
Being end users like yourself we don't know whaat the coding changes are between Big Sur and Monterey. The only difference we know about are the new features in Monterey that weren't in Big Sur's version but it's been so long since I ran Big Sur I couldn't tell you what they are.
Thanks for the reply! So when you upgrade to Monterey does it do some sort of upgrade to make the Photos database compatible with Monterey?
Yes. The first time you open the library it gets converted.
Found this detailed article discussing Photos database differences per MacOS version .
https://appinitio.medium.com/hey-mac-user-where-are-your-photos-d9056ee4963e
Is the Photos App file format for Monterey different from Big Sur?
