Consolidate photo libraries keeping album organisation

Hello,

Have started to create a huge master photo library from 2003-2025. Have successfully imported many thousands files, but want to incorporate an old apple photo library from 2012-2019.

Have repaired it and the 41,000 files are ready for import, but I don’t seem to be able to keep the album organisation. There are around 50 carefully organised events labelled as albums in here and just want to keep it exactly how it is. Any tips please?

Thank you in advance!

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Jan 26, 2025 10:11 AM

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Posted on Jan 26, 2025 11:11 AM

Most of us use the trusted 3rd party app PowerPhotos ($30) to handle multiple Libraries and copy stuff from one to the other. Photos will copy pictures to other Libraries, but it loses the organization. PowerPhotos will copy pictures and maintain the album and folder structure.

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4 replies

Jan 27, 2025 7:48 AM in response to Photohelp13

The only other way to keep the albums and folders and keywords when merging the libraries without buying a third party app is to merge them in iCloud.

Sync both libraries with iCloud Photos in turn. iCloud will merge them and solve conflicts between duplicates. it would be useful, if you are already using iCloud Photos. But Power Photos will be faster. And useful in future, if you want to split your library again and archive partial libraries on external drives.

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Consolidate photo libraries keeping album organisation

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