external photo library
How can I update my backup external photo library? Do I just recopy it?
iMac (M1, 2021)
Question marked as
That will depend on the type of your Photos Library.
Are you using iCloud Photos or not?
- If you are not using iCloud Photos, you can simply copy the Photos Library again to your external backup drive or save just the changes with cloning software like Carbon Copy Cloner.
- But if you are using iCloud Photos, your local copy of the library may be incomplete, if not all originals have been downloaded from iCloud. In that case you will have first to ensure, that all originals have been downloaded from iCloud and only then copy the library from your internal drive to the external drive. If this is not possible, because you need to use "Optimize Mac Storage" to save storage on your internal drive, create a new, empty library on your external drive and make this library your System Photos Library and let the photos download from iCloud. This may take a few days. How to back up an optimized iCloud Photos Library - Apple Community