I would like to transfer ONLY my photos from old mac to new mac

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I would like to transfer ONLY my photos from old mac to new mac

Brand new iMac with Apple M3 and 8GB memory and 2 TB storage. I would like to bring over ONLY my photo library from my old iMac, mid-2011 running OS X Yosemite. I only want the photos, not the other stuff (some of it is corrupted and I don't want to migrate that over). What's the easiest was to do so?

(note: I have the Photos library backed up to a external hard drive, and I also have a Time Machine copy; also have wires that could connect the two computers). Thank you!

iMac 21.5″, OS X 10.10

Posted on Mar 12, 2024 3:06 PM

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Answer 1

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léonie

Level 10

200,645 points

Mar 13, 2024 12:26 PM in response to dmeaser

One more thing - before you copy the Photos Library you may want to check, if all photos have been copied into the Photos Library.

The Photos > Preferences >General "Importing" should be set to "Copy items into the The Library".

You may also want to test with a smart album:

File > New Smart Album
Set the rule to "Photo is Referenced".

This smart album should be empty, when all photos have been copied into the library.

If this album is not empty and Photos is referencing some items in the original location, you may want to select all referenced items in the album together and use the command "File > Consolidate" to copy the referenced originals into the library. Otherwise they would be left behind, when you copy the library and you would've a hard time to reconnect them on the new computer.

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Answer 2

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,972 points

Mar 12, 2024 4:28 PM in response to dmeaser

Copy the Photos Library from the Pictures Folder on the old machine to the same location on the new one.

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Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,972 points

Mar 13, 2024 3:28 AM in response to dmeaser

It hasn't changed:

HD/Users/Your Name/Pictures

or, Use the Go Menu on the Finder menu. Select Go To Folder and type (or copy)

~/Pictures

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Answer 4

dmeaser Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 12, 2024 6:40 PM in response to Yer_Man

I guess I've been on an old OS for so long that I can't find how to call up the same location on the new Mac. How do I get to the place where I can drag and drop into the right location?

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I would like to transfer ONLY my photos from old mac to new mac

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