Hi. I have used an external drive (ExFAT formatted) to store my photos on my iMac. I recently updated the software (Sequoia 15.1.1).
I am able to access the photos but i can't import photos from my iPhone into the photos app (and onto the drive).
I read that this format isn't good/stable and that this is a deliberate change to stop people using it.
But what do I do with the existing drive? Thank you!
iMac 27″, macOS 15.1
You're right, ExFAT is not just unstable, it actually causes corruption to Libraries. To avoid damaging the Photos Library an external drive must be formatted in either APFS format or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. Additionally, the drive can not have had Time Machine on it since it was formatted. There have been so many problems with using incompatible drives that the newest macOSs won't even allow a Library on a non-Mac formatted drive to open, since there is a chance of damaging the Photos database. See this:
Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support
Static storing on ExFAT is OK, just not running from there. So the best thing to do is to stop running that Library on an ExFAT drive. The Library needs to be put on a compatibly formatted drive. You could copy the Library to another drive (even a borrowed one,) and re-format the one you have. Or you could buy a new, sleek, fast SSD and transfer the Library to it.
If you are using iCloud Photos, then all your pictures are there, and you could just reformat the drive, create a new, empty Library, and let Photos populate it from iCloud.com.
While you mess around with this Library, you really need a dependable backup!
You're right, ExFAT is not just unstable, it actually causes corruption to Libraries. To avoid damaging the Photos Library an external drive must be formatted in either APFS format or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. Additionally, the drive can not have had Time Machine on it since it was formatted. There have been so many problems with using incompatible drives that the newest macOSs won't even allow a Library on a non-Mac formatted drive to open, since there is a chance of damaging the Photos database. See this:
Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support
Static storing on ExFAT is OK, just not running from there. So the best thing to do is to stop running that Library on an ExFAT drive. The Library needs to be put on a compatibly formatted drive. You could copy the Library to another drive (even a borrowed one,) and re-format the one you have. Or you could buy a new, sleek, fast SSD and transfer the Library to it.
If you are using iCloud Photos, then all your pictures are there, and you could just reformat the drive, create a new, empty Library, and let Photos populate it from iCloud.com.
While you mess around with this Library, you really need a dependable backup!
Not stupid-- it's all magic, really!
Yes, you can plug them both in and drag and drop.
Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is good on a spinning mechanical drive. If you're getting a Solid State drive, then APFS is recommended. To format APFS you have to choose to erase the whole container, rather than just the Volume
and use the GUID partition map.
APFS is good for mechanical drives, too,.
Thank you Richard, thats great advice very reassuring!
I ordered a new drive overnight, so I plan to format it as Mac OS Extended.
Maybe a stupid question but once formatted will i be able to just drag and drop the Photos Library from the old ExFAT drive to the new one (both plugged into the iMac)?
Thanks again!
Using external hard for Photos
