Repairing Photo Library Failed

Question

Level 1

9 points

Repairing Photo Library Failed

I have a large photo library that won't open so I used the standard repair tool built into the app by hitting command-option during open and selecting to repair the library. The repair is failing. The repair process gets to 100% but then throws an error that the library would not be opened. Screenshots attached.

Are there any options I have? Its literally over 10 years of pictures, including all the photos of my family vacations and my kids growing up. Any advice would be most appreciated.

Posted on Dec 12, 2024 6:26 AM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

202,621 points

Dec 12, 2024 6:58 AM in response to klebel

Where is the Photos Library stored? Is it in your Pictures folder or on an external drive?

If the library is on an external drive, check, if the file system format is compatible with Photos. It should be either APFS or MacOS Extended (Journaled).

the library must not be on a volume used for Time Machine backups or in a synced folder, for example DropBox or iCloud Drive, see: Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

202,621 points

Dec 12, 2024 10:57 AM in response to klebel

You could create a second volume on the drive or use a second drive, then test the library on the second volume.

How is your external drive connected to the Mac? Is it directly plugged into the USB port or are you using a docking station or an adapter?

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

202,621 points

Dec 12, 2024 8:25 AM in response to klebel

The encryption might be causing problems. The support document does not say anything about keeping a Photos Library on an encrypted problem, but have you tested, if you can repair the library, if you remove the encryption and then setting the "ignore Ownership on this volume" flag? Being able to set this flag is a test, if the volume is suitable.

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Answer 4

klebel Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 12, 2024 8:13 AM in response to léonie

Thanks for the quick reply. The library IS on an external hard drive but it has always worked there. The drive is APFS (Encrypted). Here is a screenshot. The volume also is not used by Time Machine. It is strictly used to hold photo libraries. Nothing else.

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Answer 5

klebel Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 12, 2024 8:56 AM in response to léonie

That one test will take a ton of time. It's a massive library and to remove the encryption I will have to move all my libraries of that drive to a location with enough space (over wifi) reformat the drive APFS to remove the encryption and move the library back. There is no reason why the encryption should be causing any harm to the repair process. Once the drive is unlocked it acts like any other APFS drive.

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Answer 6

Dec 12, 2024 1:15 PM in response to léonie

I tried a small Library on a small encrypted partition, and I could import and export pictures, and I repaired the Library. Of course, the Library had nothing about it that needed repair, so I don't know how universal this test was.

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Repairing Photo Library Failed

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