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Photos Library backward compatibility

We plan to replace our old iMac (21.5-inch, mid-2011, running Sierra 10.12.6) with a new MacBook Air (latest OS) and hope to move our Photos Library (Photos Version 2.0 [3161.4.140]) on the old iMac to the new machine. If we simply transfer the old Photos Library to the new MacBook (e.g., via a USB external HDD), will we be able to access our photos, videos, albums, info, etc. there? The Photos backward compatibility information we have found so far is unclear to us.

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Posted on Aug 13, 2024 6:50 PM

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166,140 points

Posted on Aug 14, 2024 2:02 AM

If you move the library to the new machine then - upon opening - it will be upgraded to the current version of Photos. And yes, it should all work seamlessly. That said, the old machine will no longer be able to access that library.

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166,140 points

Aug 14, 2024 2:02 AM in response to KHFII

If you move the library to the new machine then - upon opening - it will be upgraded to the current version of Photos. And yes, it should all work seamlessly. That said, the old machine will no longer be able to access that library.

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Aug 14, 2024 6:32 AM in response to KHFII

What Yer_Man said! Also, I would keep the original Library as is, and transfer a duplicate.

Another option, if you use iCloud Photos, is to use a new empty Photos Library on the MacAir, connect it to iCloud, and let the new Library fill with your pictures. Then both computers can access iCloud Photos using their own Libraries.

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Aug 16, 2024 8:53 AM in response to KHFII

Thank you both! Your replies were very helpful.

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Photos Library backward compatibility

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