photo was unable to open the library (5416)

I am a long time Apple user, well over 15 years, I received this message "photo was unable to open the library (5416)" for every photo database. I regularly use a Photo database on an external Thumderbolt 2 drive, I would not use ExT Fat to format a thunderbolt drive. But even the default internal photo database in the pictures folder is giving me this error. Is there a way to resolve this? I have an iMac Pro, 64 GB Ram, I do significant Final Cut editing.

iMac 27″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Sep 9, 2023 8:03 PM

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1 reply

Sep 10, 2023 1:16 AM in response to ProducerGCSV

What has changed before you no longer could open any Photos Library? Did you downgrade the Mac to on older system version or install an update?


How are you launching Photos? Sometimes the Photos icon in the Dock may be linked to an olde version of photos. Try to launch Photos by double-clicking the Photos icon in Applications - only then you can be sure that you are opening the current version of Photos installed by the current system.

Sometimes it helps to hold down the options key ⌥ while launching Photos and then to create a new, empty library. The creation of a new library can fix broken preferences files. If Photos can open a new, empty library, try then to switch back to your main library in Pictures.


photo was unable to open the library (5416)

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