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Prepping old mac for recycling

My synched photo library is on an external drive that is now connected to different mac.

I am logged onto both Macs with the same Apple-ID.


So that leaves me such that the photo library on the old mac (user/name/Pictures/photo library) not set as the System Photo Library.

I want to reset the old mac ready to recycle.


On the old mac:

I go to System Preferences > AppleID > 'Apps on this Mac using iCloud' and unselect Photos (to stop synching from this Mac)


I'm then directed to 'open Photos to disable iCloud Photos' but cannot because this photo library is not the System Photo Library.


It always worries me changing anything relating to photo synching so I don't want to set this as the System Photo Library without being sure that it's not going to impact the synching (between the library on the external drive and iCloud) on the newer machine.


Anyone got a definitive answer to what I should do?



Mac mini, macOS 11.6

Posted on Feb 12, 2023 10:46 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 15, 2023 6:37 AM

Thanks for the follow-up Pieman8839,


To clarify one point, while you can have multiple Photos libraries on your Mac, you can only have one System Photo Library that would be used by iCloud. Check out this link for the best details on your System Photo Library, and let us know if you have any further questions! Designate a System Photo Library in Photos - Apple Support


Take care.

Similar questions

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 15, 2023 6:37 AM in response to Pieman8839

Thanks for the follow-up Pieman8839,


To clarify one point, while you can have multiple Photos libraries on your Mac, you can only have one System Photo Library that would be used by iCloud. Check out this link for the best details on your System Photo Library, and let us know if you have any further questions! Designate a System Photo Library in Photos - Apple Support


Take care.

Feb 14, 2023 10:58 AM in response to Pieman8839

Hi Pieman8839,


You can find helpful tips and steps to complete on what to do before giving your Mac away here: What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support and below.


" Cancel or transfer AppleCare coverage

If your Mac is covered by an AppleCare plan, you can cancel or transfer the plan.

Cancel your AppleCare plan

Transfer your AppleCare plan to the new owner

  

Use Erase All Content and Settings, if available

If you're using macOS Monterey or later on a Mac with Apple silicon or a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip, use Erase All Content and Settings instead of the remaining steps in this article. For any other Mac or macOS, continue to step 3.

Erase all content and settings

 

Back up or transfer your files

Back up your files to an external storage device

Transfer your files to a new Mac

 

Sign out of iTunes

If using macOS Catalina or later, skip this step.

From the menu bar in iTunes, choose Account > Authorizations > Deauthorize This Computer. Enter your Apple ID and password and click Deauthorize. Learn more about deauthorizing.

 

Sign out of iCloud

macOS Ventura or later: Choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click your name (Apple ID) in the sidebar. On the right, scroll down and click Sign Out.

macOS Monterey, macOS Big Sur, or macOS Catalina: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Apple ID. Select Overview in the sidebar, then click Sign Out.

Earlier versions of macOS: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click iCloud, then click Sign Out.

When asked whether to keep a copy of your iCloud data on this Mac, you can keep a copy, because you will erase your Mac later. Your iCloud data remains in iCloud and on other devices that are signed in to iCloud with your Apple ID.

 

Sign out of iMessage

From the menu bar in Messages, choose Messages > Settings (or Preferences). Click iMessage, then click Sign Out.

  

Optional: Unpair Bluetooth devices

If your Mac is paired with a Bluetooth keyboard, mouse, or other device that you plan to keep, you can unpair it. This optional step prevents accidental input when the Mac and device have separate owners but remain in Bluetooth range. If you do this on a Mac that doesn't have a built-in keyboard or trackpad, you will need to plug in a USB keyboard and mouse to complete the remaining steps.

To unpair a Bluetooth device, choose Apple menu  > System Settings (or System Preferences), then click Bluetooth. Move your pointer over the device that you want to unpair, then click the Disconnect button or remove button (x) next to the device name.

  

Erase your Mac and reinstall macOS

After you erase your Mac and reinstall macOS, your Mac restarts to a setup assistant. Press Command-Q to shut down instead of continuing setup.

Erase your Mac

Reinstall macOS

 

Reset NVRAM and shut down

Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, R. Release the keys after about 20 seconds. This clears user settings from memory and restores certain security features that might have been altered. Learn more about resetting NVRAM.

After resetting NVRAM, your Mac starts up to the setup assistant again. To leave the Mac in an out-of-box state, press Command-Q to shut down instead of continuing setup. "

  

Best regards.



Feb 15, 2023 4:51 AM in response to K_Wall44

Thanks for the response.


These are the same instructions I am already following. The step ‘log off iCloud’ requires me to deactivate iCloud photo sync and this is where my question comes from. I don’t have a system library set up in photo (because the external drive which i’d been using previously is now connected to my newer Mac).


and I’m worried that having 2 different iPhoto system libraries, both set up to sync to same iCloud will interfere with each other

Prepping old mac for recycling

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