How can I import photos from the library that has iCloud Photos turned on to a second library? Do I turn off iCloud, do the import, then turn it back on? My objective is to move photos that don't need cloud back-up to a second library, then delete them from the iCloud library.
Mac mini, macOS 13.0
It is not supported to import from your iCloud Photos Library, as stated in this support document: Import photos from another library in Photos on Mac You can only import from local libraries.
If you want to import from an iCloud Photos Library, duplicate your iCloud Photos Library, then import from the copy of your library, as the copy is not an iCloud Photos Library. But this will only work, if your iCloud Photos Library is not using the "Optimize Storage" feature, or the copy will be incomplete.
Or invest into Power Photos. The most recent version of PowerPhotos can import from an iCloud Photos Library as well, and even with the keywords applied, what is still missing in Photos. I am using PowerPhotos frequently to copy the new photos to my archive library of all photos.
It is not supported to import from your iCloud Photos Library, as stated in this support document: Import photos from another library in Photos on Mac You can only import from local libraries.
If you want to import from an iCloud Photos Library, duplicate your iCloud Photos Library, then import from the copy of your library, as the copy is not an iCloud Photos Library. But this will only work, if your iCloud Photos Library is not using the "Optimize Storage" feature, or the copy will be incomplete.
Or invest into Power Photos. The most recent version of PowerPhotos can import from an iCloud Photos Library as well, and even with the keywords applied, what is still missing in Photos. I am using PowerPhotos frequently to copy the new photos to my archive library of all photos.
You can import photos from one Library to another when you have v8 of Photos. So open the second library, import the images you don't what shared to iCloud, close it and switch to the other one to do the deletions.
I would caution you that iCloud Library is not a back service. It is a sharing service. It is possible to erase the iCloud library is some circumstances.
I was opening my newly created (empty) version and then trying to import my entire library. But, as stated in another reply, you cannot import the System library. So I just created a duplicate (as suggested) and now have a System library that works with iCloud and another copy that I can edit and which will not back up to the Cloud. Thank you for your help.
It will not let me open the original Library because that Library is synced to iCloud. Do I just turn off the iCloud sync in the original library, do my imports, then turn it back on? Or is there a better way? Is there a way to have two Photos open and do a drag and drop?
This worked. Duplicating the library avoided the necessity to import to a new version....it IS the new (additional) version. That's what I wanted. I now have the iCloud System Photo Library and the copy library. No need to create an "empty" version to do an import. I can now edit each library for my purposes. Thank you.
You are welcome 😊
Just to be sure - you have not the "Optimize Mac Storage" setting enabled for your iCloud Photos Library, right? Otherwise your copy of the library may be incomplete and you will get an error message, when your try to use one of the "optimized" items.
It will not let me open the original Library because that Library is synced to iCloud.
What won't? Also to import from a library you don't need to open it.
Moving photos to a second library
