User profile for user: craftymumma
craftymumma Author
User level: Level 1
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Merging multiple iPhoto Libraries

I currently have 2 iPhoto back ups stored on an external hard drive from my old iMac. I also have another iPhoto album on my current iMac. I would like to merge ALL of the iPhoto albums into one album on a new eternal hard drive (while keeping the original albums on their current devices) so that I can look through the entire photo collection at once but without clogging up my current iMac. Could someone please tell me if this is possible and if so how do I go about doing it? :) 

iMac 21.5″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Aug 15, 2023 8:13 PM

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
200,457 points

Posted on Aug 16, 2023 1:09 AM

Is the system version given below your question still valid - OSX 10.11, craftymumma? And are you still using iPhoto and have not yet switched to the successor, Photos for Mac?


On the most recent system versions, macOS 12 and macOS 13, you can easily import one Photos Library into another Photos Library to merge the two libraries.


On OSX 10.11 you can merge iPhoto Libraries in two ways:

  • Either doing it the hard way by exporting all photos and videos from one Library into separate folders for each event, then import the exported items to the iPhoto Library, where you want merge the items into one library.
  • Or invest into the full, paid version of iPhoto Library Manager. This will allow you to merge iPhoto Libraries and preserve your albums and the structure of the libraries you are merging.


If you already are using Photos for Mac, you can use Power Photos, the successor to iPhoto Library Manager, to merge Photos Libraries.


So, it will depend on your system version and the app you are using - iPhoto or Photos.

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
200,457 points

Aug 16, 2023 1:09 AM in response to craftymumma

Is the system version given below your question still valid - OSX 10.11, craftymumma? And are you still using iPhoto and have not yet switched to the successor, Photos for Mac?


On the most recent system versions, macOS 12 and macOS 13, you can easily import one Photos Library into another Photos Library to merge the two libraries.


On OSX 10.11 you can merge iPhoto Libraries in two ways:

  • Either doing it the hard way by exporting all photos and videos from one Library into separate folders for each event, then import the exported items to the iPhoto Library, where you want merge the items into one library.
  • Or invest into the full, paid version of iPhoto Library Manager. This will allow you to merge iPhoto Libraries and preserve your albums and the structure of the libraries you are merging.


If you already are using Photos for Mac, you can use Power Photos, the successor to iPhoto Library Manager, to merge Photos Libraries.


So, it will depend on your system version and the app you are using - iPhoto or Photos.

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Merging multiple iPhoto Libraries

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