User profile for user: maulik6
maulik6 Author
User level: Level 1
14 points

Can't import photos to an external SSD after updating to MacOS Ventura

I have an M1 Macbook Air 2020 and I use an external SSD (Samsung T7 Touch) for the Photos Library. I was able to connect my iPhone XR until now and import the photos via the Photos app on the Mac to the external SSD.


The iPhone is on 16.1


I recently upgraded to Ventura and now am unable to import photos. I tried even by selecting 1 photo and it just shows "Importing 0 of 1 item" and it is stuck on that forever.


I am able to backup my iPhone and view the other photos in the Photo library (external SSD). However, I cant import any photo.


I was able to import photos all the time until I upgraded to MacOS Ventura. The hard drive has an exFAT format.


There is sufficient space on my external SSD (the internal storage on the Mac is low). I tried:


Restarting Mac

Restarting iPhone

Reset Location and Privacy on the iPhone

Importing in the Safe mode

Reinstalling MacOS Ventura

Using different cables


Nothing works. I believe that this is probably due to the change in the photo library folder structure. When I reinstalled the MacOS, i had left the external SSD connected to the computer but no help there.


Can someone please help?


I am also not able to import from other iPhone or GoPro.


Thanks a lot!


Posted on Nov 7, 2022 5:02 AM

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User profile for user: Old Toad
Old Toad
User level: Level 10
215,250 points

Posted on Nov 8, 2022 9:31 AM

maulik6 wrote:

Do you strongly believe that this will resolve my issue? I ask because the Ex Fat format worked perfectly fine before I upgraded to Ventura. Thanks

Abxolutey. Even thought Photos worked for a bit on EX Fat it was not designed to do so. You were lucky. The only formats Photos is designed for are APFS (SSDs) and Mac OS Extended (journaled) [rotating HDDs].


Any time you get a new external drive erase and reformat it for Mac. Do you use any of the software that often comes with the drive as it's not needed and can interfere with the system's disk management.

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User profile for user: Old Toad
Old Toad
User level: Level 10
215,250 points

Nov 8, 2022 9:31 AM in response to maulik6

maulik6 wrote:

Do you strongly believe that this will resolve my issue? I ask because the Ex Fat format worked perfectly fine before I upgraded to Ventura. Thanks

Abxolutey. Even thought Photos worked for a bit on EX Fat it was not designed to do so. You were lucky. The only formats Photos is designed for are APFS (SSDs) and Mac OS Extended (journaled) [rotating HDDs].


Any time you get a new external drive erase and reformat it for Mac. Do you use any of the software that often comes with the drive as it's not needed and can interfere with the system's disk management.

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Can't import photos to an external SSD after updating to MacOS Ventura

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