Hi, I have been downloading my photos and videos using Photos. I was trying to find the folder where all the files were saved. I found the Pictures Folder/Files...but when I clicked on the Photo Library, all my Photos and Videos disappeared and was r

HI,

Your picture files are stored in the Photos Library which is by default located in the user's Picture folder. The Library is a special kind of folder called a "package." A package is not accessible like a folder is, because they want to discourage people from messing around in there. The Photos app is a database that depends on those files remaining undisturbed.

Fooling around inside the Photos Library package can corrupt the database and make the Library unusable by Photos. Do not do it.

If you want to transfer your pictures for other uses, choose the menu option File>Export. If you choose "File>Export>Export Unmodified Originals," you will get files exactly as you imported them. If you choose "File>Export>Export nn Photos" you will get files with any edits and metadata changes you have made.

Always keep backups of your Library-- on an external drive formatted for Mac.

It's not clear what you mean by "all my Photos and Videos disappeared and was replaced with some pictures that were saved in the Photo Library." Did they disappear and then reappear?

If you have Time Machine then it will backup each hour only those new or changed files wherever they may be and that includes your Photos Library.

To find out if you have more than one Photos library launch Photos with the Option key held down and see how many libraries are listed in the window that comes up.

A "Managed Library" means that all the pictures are copied to inside of the Photos Library so that Photos can have complete control over them and can protect the originals. In fact, your original image files and their metadata are preserved unchanged no matter how you may edit or crop them. This is very cool! If you crop an image, cutting parts off so it fits your screen, for instance, and then later change screens, the original image is still whole and you can get everything back! Almost everyone who uses Photos uses a Managed Library.

Many of us also keep copies of our originals in folders on another drive just in case, well, you know, in case of anything. I also have a Time Machine backup which allows me to restore files to the way they were yesterday or last week or last month. I also, once a month maybe, make a copy of the Library itself on a different external drive.

There is little point in backing up, if it's not to a different drive. I used to back up to CDs and DVDs, but I'm disappointed in how they lasted. Luckily I have multiple backup disks.

Are you running a "managed" or "referenced" library?

If it's a "managed" library the image file are located where Richard.Taylor described. The "managed" option is the default option when starting a library.

Managed?

Does this mean that I will never be able to backup individual files? I always add photos to my library but then I have to backup my entire photo library to my backup. Not very helpful with my approximately 7,500 photos. Also not very helpful that I am using an external hard drive to begin with and backing up on another external hard drive.