How can I import photos to a new album?

I am trying to import photos from a folder on my disk to a new album in Photos. When I attempt to import them, Photos insists on only importing new photos, i.e. ones it does not have already. It appears to think it has them already, but actually it does not (I just laboriously visually scanned Library - most of them are not there. Furthermore, I know their file names, and searching within the library does not find most of them that way either). Those that are there are scattered all over the place within Photos (don't get me started), but organized in my file system. How can I get Photos to let me import them to a new album?



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iMac 24″

Posted on Feb 9, 2025 2:21 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 10, 2025 9:46 AM

Old Toad wrote: …Open the album in Photos and drag the photos from the finder on your drive into the Photos window.

That should work.


If you do the usual import, or drag pictures to the Photos icon, then you get this:


It shows an "Already Imported" section and a "New Photos" section. Usually "Import All New Photos" is highlighted, so you get only new ones.


But you can select the pictures you want, including "already imported" pictures, and then "Import Selected" becomes active, and it will import all the pictures you selected, old or new.


We may be able to offer helpful hints on organizing…

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 10, 2025 9:46 AM in response to Old Toad

Old Toad wrote: …Open the album in Photos and drag the photos from the finder on your drive into the Photos window.

That should work.


If you do the usual import, or drag pictures to the Photos icon, then you get this:


It shows an "Already Imported" section and a "New Photos" section. Usually "Import All New Photos" is highlighted, so you get only new ones.


But you can select the pictures you want, including "already imported" pictures, and then "Import Selected" becomes active, and it will import all the pictures you selected, old or new.


We may be able to offer helpful hints on organizing…

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How can I import photos to a new album?

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