Can't define a new system library (Photos app)

Hello everyone!

I have a problem... A few hours ago, I was trying to better understand iCloud+, in particular how to back up my photos. I discovered that iCloud Photos only backs up photos from the library system. So I wanted to check what my library system was. In Photos, I went to Settings > iCloud: my library was not the one in my system, which was strange because it was my only library. So I went to Photos > settings > general and clicked on "Use as system photo library". That's when the Photos application stopped responding. Now, when I open the Photos application, I get the message "Unable to open photo library." "Photos was unable to open the library "Photothèque.photoslibrary" (3143)." When I try to open "another Library", and I click on the only librabry I have, I get this message: "The operation could not be completed. User is changing the system photo library. ». Can you help me ? Please.

By the way, I’m a frech people, I apologize for my English !

MacBook Air 13″

Posted on Aug 17, 2023 7:19 PM

Top-ranking reply

léonie

Level 10

200,675 points

Posted on Aug 18, 2023 2:29 AM

Where is your current library stored, that you want to use as the System Photos Library?

The system Photos Library needs to be on a locally mounted volume with a wired connection (not a network share), if it is not in your Pictures folder or somewhere else in your user home folder.

If you are using an external drive to store the library, it needs to be prepared as described here:

Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support

It is essential that the file system format is MacOS Extended (Journaled) or APFS, and the external drive must not have been used for Time Machine backups or have any backup software installed.

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Can't define a new system library (Photos app)

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