Photos Library Error 4302 on External SSD APFS Encrypted

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Photos Library Error 4302 on External SSD APFS Encrypted

Mac OS: 13.3.1 (a) (22E772610a)

Apple M2 Max

64GB Memory

I copied a working Photos library from the internal hard drive to an external SSD formatted APFS (encrypted). Now when I open it I get an error 4302. I have the exact same problem as described in this thread: Photos Libraries do not open, Error 4302 - Apple Community

This is my System Photo Library and is 345GB is size. I do not think this library is stored in iCloud. I review the storage details in System Settings | General | Storage:

Photos is in the list of applications but this area appears to be referring to local HD storage.

and System Settings | Apple ID | iCloud | Apps Using iCloud:

Photos is listed here with the word 'On' to the right.

However, when I sign in to icloud.com and check this account Photos is completely empty. I have a 2TB account in iCloud.

If I copy the file from the external drive to the local HD, it opens right up.

How can I get Photos to open the file on the external drive? I need it to be there to help conserve local HD space.

MacBook Pro (M2 Max, 2023)

Posted on May 18, 2023 9:25 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

léonie

Level 10

200,525 points

May 19, 2023 12:26 PM in response to isd503

You could try to ceate a second volume on the external drive that is not encrypted.

You can create additional volumes with Disk Utility.

Then copy your Photos library to that second volume.

As a test, before you copy the complete library, create a new, empty library on the external volume. Then export a few images from your current library on the internal drive and imrt them to the test library.

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Answer 2

léonie

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200,525 points

May 18, 2023 10:58 PM in response to isd503

As soon as I put a Photos Library on an encrypted external drive I am getting the same error.

Try to find out by testing, if the encryption is causing the problem or your copy on the external is damaged.

Test 1: Try to create a new, empty Photos Library on your external drive and try to work with it by adding a few test images and videos. Does it work?
Test 2: Turn off the encryption on your external volume and copy the library again to your external volume. Can Photos now work with the library?

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Answer 3

isd503 Author

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44 points

May 25, 2023 10:41 AM in response to isd503

Backed up my data and reformatted the problem external drive to GUID/APFS (no encryption): Samsung T7 2TB SSD. Copied the Photos Library to it (only file on the drive) and it opens right up. If the problem were with the drives and not the encryption then this file should not have opened.

I also noticed the encrypted drive I mentioned in a previous post in this thread where the Photos Library opened right up is an APFS encrypted Samsung T5 2TB SSD. Also, the T5 was not formatted or encrypted in Ventura. Further, I copied the Photos Library to a different Samsung T7 2TB SSD (APFS encrypted) and it would not open. I got the same error I was getting on the first drive.

Lastly, I re-encrypted (right-click the drive in Finder | Encrypt) the first drive and the opened right up, no errors.

It would seem the Photos Library cannot be added after an external disk is encrypted. It must be present on the disk prior to encryption then it works fine? Am I reading this correctly?

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Answer 4

Jun 12, 2023 11:44 AM in response to Per O

I had this issue on a brand new Samsung T7. I tried all different file systems, starting with APFS Encrypted and moving down the list.

Eventually I moved the disk to another USB C port on my laptop and then it just started working on an APFS Encrypted file. I figured it should work ok on Encrypted drives since that's what my Macbook uses normally.

Crossing my fingers it wont stop working. Makes no sense since all my ports should be Thunderbolt according to MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) - Technical Specifications

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Answer 5

Per O

Level 1

14 points

Jun 9, 2023 8:50 AM in response to isd503

I have the same problem on an external SSD that is not encrypted.

The error disapear if i log out as a user om my mac and log in again.

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Answer 6

isd503 Author

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44 points

May 24, 2023 4:15 PM in response to léonie

Copied the Photos Library to a different drive with encryption enabled and it opened right up. This drive was formatted and encrypted in a version of Mac OS prior to Ventura.

Decrypting the drive I formatted and encrypted using Ventura now. I'll update when that completes.

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Answer 7

léonie

Level 10

200,525 points

May 21, 2023 1:52 PM in response to isd503

I have not tested on all system versions, if Photos can work with the library on an encrypted drive, only occasionally when I saw questions about it. It is just too much trouble to test systematically, as I do not want to use encrypted drives myself. And I could not find any Apple Support knowledge base articles discussing the impact of storing Photos Libraries on an encrypted volume, so I did not find it safe to discuss it in a user tip. But the problem keeps coming up over and over again since Aperture 3, and now again in Photos. There have been several reports that Aperture could occasionally not access original image files on an encrypted volume. Perhaps there is a race condition between the access to the originals and the decryption.

Try to get a statement from Apple Support, if Photos is supposed to work with encryted volumes.

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Answer 8

léonie

Level 10

200,525 points

May 26, 2023 12:47 AM in response to isd503

Great testing, isd503 !

It is a pity that Apple is not giving us any advice, if keeping a Photos Library on an encrypted volume is supported or not. This document does not even mention encryption, when it is describing the formatting: Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support

You may want to use the link (Helpful - yes - no) at the bottom of the document, leave a message with a request to describe, if encryption is supported for a Photos Library. When we click "No", we are asked to explain how the document can be improved.

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Answer 9

isd503 Author

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44 points

May 19, 2023 9:38 AM in response to léonie

When I copy the file from the encrypted drive to the local Mac drive, it opens right up. It definitely has something to do with the encryption.

But this external drive was also encrypted in previous versions of the Mac OS and I could access my Photos file on it just fine.

Decrypting a drive is a very long process and I would rather not do that if there is another way.

What process would I use to copy images and video from the working file on the Mac to the new Photos library on the external drive?

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Answer 10

isd503 Author

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44 points

May 19, 2023 6:46 PM in response to léonie

Are you trying to test this specific drive or just APFS encryption? I have another external SSD that is not encrypted I can use for the test. The encrypted external drive is a brand new Samsung T7 2TB SSD. I strongly doubt this has anything to do with the drive.

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Answer 11

isd503 Author

Level 1

44 points

May 25, 2023 1:15 AM in response to léonie

Decrypted the problem external drive and re-copied the working Photos Library from the Mac HD to the External SSD. Now getting error:

Photos was unable to open the library “Photos Library”. (5416)

I will backup this drive and reformat it to just APFS and see if that resolves the issue. If it does, I will try to encrypt the drive and test one last time. More to follow...

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Answer 12

isd503 Author

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44 points

May 20, 2023 3:04 PM in response to isd503

Where is it safe to store a Photos Librar… - Apple Community

I read this article too, but it does not cover encrypted drives. Why is that?

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Answer 13

isd503 Author

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44 points

May 25, 2023 11:09 AM in response to isd503

For further testing, I synced my iPhone to my Macbook Pro and then opened the Photos Library and imported about 50 pictures. After closing Photos I can reopen it no problem.

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Answer 14

isd503 Author

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44 points

May 25, 2023 5:41 PM in response to isd503

Tried to copy it to another subdirectory on the same disk, now neither the original or the copy will open. I give up. Giving it its own dedicated non-encrypted drive.

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Photos Library Error 4302 on External SSD APFS Encrypted

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