Can no longer open alternate Photo libraries

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Level 1

14 points

Can no longer open alternate Photo libraries

I created a secondary Photos library as a way to archive older photos to "cold storage". Since the last MacOS patch (Big Sur 11.3), I can no longer open this secondary library. Thought that I might be an issue with my external drive, so I tried creating a new library, on the local drive in the same folder, using the same method, previously employed and I receive the same error message when attempting to open. Mind you, newly created, empty library on local hard drive, will not open:

I found the solution to the above issue!! If I copy my alternate photos library to the same folder where my system library is stored (/Users/username/Pictures), it opens without issue. If I move it to any other location, even a folder within the above named folder, I get the same error message above.

Apple should update documentation clarifying this limitation/requirement.

Posted on Dec 3, 2022 6:19 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Richard.Taylor

Level 6

9,834 points

Dec 5, 2022 9:27 AM in response to jerelware

Sorry nobody had caught that before--it comes up from time to time. Apple says "Make sure that your external storage device, such as a USB drive or Thunderbolt drive, is formatted for Mac: either APFS format or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format." I'm puzzled, though, by your original statement, "I tried creating a new library, on the local drive in the same folder" You were doing great trouble-shooting.

Unfortunately, the more complicated apps get (and Photos is pretty complicated) the more they depend on having familiar formatting.

I got my Apple quote from

Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Yer_Man

Level 10

163,686 points

Dec 4, 2022 12:21 AM in response to jerelware

I'm not sure Apple need to update anything in the documentation as I can create and open libraries both on my HD, Desktop and external disks.

What is clear from your screenshot is that Photos thinks that you're trying to open a Library from a Time Machine back up, which is not possible without restoring that. Could that be the issue?

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Answer 3

jerelware Author

Level 1

14 points

Dec 5, 2022 7:41 AM in response to Yer_Man

No, that has never been the issue. Initially, the issue is that I moved a large number of photos to a separate library, stored on an external hard drive (HPFS formatted). After upgrading to 11.3, I was no longer able to open these libraries.

I later discovered that if I copied them to my local hard drive (above specified location), they opened without issue. BUT, if I create a folder and move them into the folder, the issue returns.

When I started this practice, I did not have the internal storage capacity to keep all photos locally. Now that I'm not AS constrained on storage, I tried the above experiment and discovered that I can open the photos library, that generates the error above when stored on an external HDD.

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Answer 4

Dec 3, 2022 7:03 PM in response to jerelware

Thanks for the sharing. It really help users with alternate library beside the main system library sync to the iCloud.

This will usually occurs when we change the computer.

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Answer 5

jerelware Author

Level 1

14 points

Dec 5, 2022 7:43 AM in response to Yer_Man

Just tested on a USB thumb drive formatted as APFS and it opens. So, does that mean that the hosting volume has to be formatted as APFS, now?

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Answer 6

Yer_Man

Level 10

163,686 points

Dec 5, 2022 10:38 AM in response to jerelware

This is, literally, what the screenshot shows, above. 'The Library "Photos Library- Archive" is in a Time Machine Backup"

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Answer 7

jerelware Author

Level 1

14 points

Dec 5, 2022 3:32 PM in response to Yer_Man

Yes, but there is no TimeMachine backup on the drive. Nor has there ever been. That's the frustration. Prior to the upgrade, I was able to open the library and import/export photos without issue.

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Can no longer open alternate Photo libraries

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