Photos app can't find original files.

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Level 1

2 points

Photos app can't find original files.

I have a Mac mini M2 and just updated to Sequoia when the Photos app started to have problems. Even new added photos can't be viewed or edited because of a warning saying the original photo can't be found. If I'm in the thumbnails mode and select "find referred file in Finder", it is always found. But for some reason the link between the thumbnail in Photos and the original is broken. All my photos are referred in the app, I don't want too many copies around. This has never been a problem before. The library has not been moved, it and the photos are on the same external disk. If I start in safe mode the problem is gone, but it comes back after restart.

Mac mini (M2, 2023)

Posted on Sep 25, 2024 1:34 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Richard.Taylor

Level 6

18,229 points

Sep 25, 2024 8:54 AM in response to Scania121

Scania121 wrote:… "find referred file in Finder",

The general rule for the experienced users around here is, "Using Photos as a Referenced Library is asking for trouble."

In Photos Setting>General, we have "Copy items" checked.

This gives Photos full control. Leaving the pictures referenced in external folders often results in confusion, especially when anything changes.

You can switch to a Managed Library by using a Smart Folder to collect the referenced pictures and then choosing File>Consolidate.

I keep my original pictures as a backup. Photos never changes the original file (except to give it a unique name,) so backing up a Photos Library is also useful.

By the way, is your external drive formatted for Mac with either APFS format or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format? Other formats cause eventual corruption.

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Answer 2

Scania121 Author

Level 1

2 points

Sep 25, 2024 12:05 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

Thanks for good advice, but I'll stick to my way of dealing with it. It has happened once that I got into trouble, but now I know why, so I won't do it again. Backup is dealt with in another way, I think I have more control over it that way. And yes, the disk is APFS formatted.

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Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,086 points

Sep 25, 2024 1:45 PM in response to Scania121

Thanks for good advice, but I'll stick to my way of dealing with it

A rule of thumb: if you want to use Photos never use a referenced library. If you want to use a referenced library don't use Photos. You are simply storing up issues for the future.

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Photos app can't find original files.

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