User profile for user: mravlo
mravlo Author
User level: Level 1
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How to duplicate my System Photos Library

I am looking to clean up my iCloud Photos for more space (remove very old photos to backup manually and not have stored in iCloud). I understand the process to create a new Photos library but my Mac (Air - running Sonoma 14.5) will not let me import the System Photo Library as it's synced to iCloud. I read about creating a duplicate Photos library, which is exactly what I would prefer to do, so I can then remove the photos from my System Photo Library and iCloud but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to duplicate my System Photo Library. Is there something I'm missing or do I need to unsync my photos from iCloud, then copy them to a second Photos library, and then resync my System Photo Library? Thanks!

MacBook Air, macOS 14.5

Posted on Jul 24, 2024 12:48 PM

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
200,415 points

Posted on Jul 24, 2024 1:08 PM

To duplicate your System Photos Library make sure, that all original image files have been downloaded from iCloud Photos. In the "Photos > Settings > iCloud > iCloud Photos" in Photos set the checkmark for "Download Originals to this Mac" and not "Optimise Mac Storage". Then wait for the originals to download to your Mac. This can take several days, even weeks, depending on the size of the library.

Once the originals have been downloaded, you can select the Photos Library in the Finder and drag it to an external drive, where you want to keep it. Dragging to an external drive will create a copy on the external drive. If you want to create a copy on the same drive hold downtime options key while dragging the Photos Library to a different folder.


If you want to keep the copy on an external drive, the drive should be prepared as described here: Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support

The format of the file system should be APFS or MacOS Extended, you should be able to set the ignore ownership on this Volume flag, and the external drive needs a wired connection, it must not be a network share.


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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
200,415 points

Jul 24, 2024 1:08 PM in response to mravlo

To duplicate your System Photos Library make sure, that all original image files have been downloaded from iCloud Photos. In the "Photos > Settings > iCloud > iCloud Photos" in Photos set the checkmark for "Download Originals to this Mac" and not "Optimise Mac Storage". Then wait for the originals to download to your Mac. This can take several days, even weeks, depending on the size of the library.

Once the originals have been downloaded, you can select the Photos Library in the Finder and drag it to an external drive, where you want to keep it. Dragging to an external drive will create a copy on the external drive. If you want to create a copy on the same drive hold downtime options key while dragging the Photos Library to a different folder.


If you want to keep the copy on an external drive, the drive should be prepared as described here: Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support

The format of the file system should be APFS or MacOS Extended, you should be able to set the ignore ownership on this Volume flag, and the external drive needs a wired connection, it must not be a network share.


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How to duplicate my System Photos Library

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