User profile for user: scrabblesque
scrabblesque Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Photo Library Grayed Out

I am on a Macbook Pro 2020 M1 running Ventura 13.4.1. I have family photos that were transferred from my earlier MB Pro - a 2010 model - as well as more recent pix. I am able to view them all on my current notebook under a user file titled Photo Library. However, when I attempt to upload a photo to my family tree in Ancestry.com by logging into Ancestry and browsing my computer files on Finder, the same Photos Library folder is grayed out and will not allow me to access it. I am able to exit Ancestry.com, go back to Finder and text the desired photo to my iPhone and THEN upload it to Ancestry, however. What is going on? Is there any way to remedy this roadblock?

MacBook Pro 13″

Posted on Aug 3, 2023 4:32 PM

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User profile for user: Jeff_W.
Jeff_W.
User level: Community Specialist

Posted on Aug 4, 2023 12:41 PM

Hello scrabblesque,


We see you are trying to use some of the pictures in your Photos app on your Mac for various reasons and see your Photos Library greyed out. If we understand your setup correctly, this would be expected behavior. Keep in mind that pictures stored within the Photos app and a Photos Library file created are not individually able to be uploaded in a standard file structure, like you can through Finder.


Photos combines all your pictures into a compressed Photos Library file. It doesn't just represent one single photo, but all of yours within that library. It's greyed out when you search it like you mentioned because Photos is a software application and your Photos Library is a compressed library file, not an individual picture. You will need to export (copy or move) the picture you want from Photos to another area: Export photos, videos, slideshows, and memories in Photos on Mac


You could have a special folder on your Mac desktop called "Ancestry" just to keep them organized and copy the photos you want to use there. Then when on the Ancestry website, import them from that folder. Reply back with any further questions.


Best regards.

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User profile for user: Jeff_W.
Jeff_W.
User level: Community Specialist

Aug 4, 2023 12:41 PM in response to scrabblesque

Hello scrabblesque,


We see you are trying to use some of the pictures in your Photos app on your Mac for various reasons and see your Photos Library greyed out. If we understand your setup correctly, this would be expected behavior. Keep in mind that pictures stored within the Photos app and a Photos Library file created are not individually able to be uploaded in a standard file structure, like you can through Finder.


Photos combines all your pictures into a compressed Photos Library file. It doesn't just represent one single photo, but all of yours within that library. It's greyed out when you search it like you mentioned because Photos is a software application and your Photos Library is a compressed library file, not an individual picture. You will need to export (copy or move) the picture you want from Photos to another area: Export photos, videos, slideshows, and memories in Photos on Mac


You could have a special folder on your Mac desktop called "Ancestry" just to keep them organized and copy the photos you want to use there. Then when on the Ancestry website, import them from that folder. Reply back with any further questions.


Best regards.

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Photo Library Grayed Out

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