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photos no longer adding to photo on Mac mini

I have latest software and my photo library is set to external hard drive all was working well but suddenly its stopped allowing me to add photos to me photo library

Posted on Dec 18, 2022 11:37 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 20, 2022 9:38 AM

First thing that pops out is "library is set external hard drive." How is this drive formatted. For it to work with Photos, it must be formatted as "either APFS format or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format." Also you can't store your library on a storage device used for Time Machine backups. Nothing else will give complete functionality.


How are your preferences set? Is "Use as System..." grayed out like this?

If it's grayed out, then this library is being used as the System Library. Does the Location look right?


How do you add Photos? Do you use "File>Import?"


Are you using iCloud?


If you haven't tried these things, do so:

  • Restart the computer (of course)
  • Rebuild your Photos Library--close Photos and re-launch by option-command-clicking the app icon.
  • Make a new user and see if the same problem recurs with it
  • Use another library if you have one, or make a small test Library with a few pictures in it and see if the same thing happens.
  • Start in Safe Mode (different for different computers) This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes.

           Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support 


One of these steps may fix the problem, but their failure to work is also diagnostic.



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1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 20, 2022 9:38 AM in response to ipogla74

First thing that pops out is "library is set external hard drive." How is this drive formatted. For it to work with Photos, it must be formatted as "either APFS format or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format." Also you can't store your library on a storage device used for Time Machine backups. Nothing else will give complete functionality.


How are your preferences set? Is "Use as System..." grayed out like this?

If it's grayed out, then this library is being used as the System Library. Does the Location look right?


How do you add Photos? Do you use "File>Import?"


Are you using iCloud?


If you haven't tried these things, do so:

  • Restart the computer (of course)
  • Rebuild your Photos Library--close Photos and re-launch by option-command-clicking the app icon.
  • Make a new user and see if the same problem recurs with it
  • Use another library if you have one, or make a small test Library with a few pictures in it and see if the same thing happens.
  • Start in Safe Mode (different for different computers) This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes.

           Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support 


One of these steps may fix the problem, but their failure to work is also diagnostic.



photos no longer adding to photo on Mac mini

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