When I select Photos I receive this message:
“Photos Library.photoslibrary” is in iCloud Drive, and needs to be moved to a folder on your Mac to open.
However, the PhotosLibrary is, in fact, in my Pictures folder on my MAC.
What happened, and how do I fix this?
Yes of course I should have been more thorough:
I have a MAC Mini M1 16 GB
On my desktop, I have a folder called "Watched". It is used by Lightroom Clasic to automatically import photos in LrC each time I open the program.
Apparently, when working in my Pictures Folder on the MAC, I inadvertently moved the iCloud Photos folder to the "Watched" folder, hence causing me to "lose" access to my Photos on my MAC.
I've since discovered my idiotic error and returned the iCloud folder to its proper location in my Pictures folder.
I apologize for causing anyone undue trouble.
Thanks to everyone for the super fast replies and help.
Al Bartos
Yes of course I should have been more thorough:
I have a MAC Mini M1 16 GB
On my desktop, I have a folder called "Watched". It is used by Lightroom Clasic to automatically import photos in LrC each time I open the program.
Apparently, when working in my Pictures Folder on the MAC, I inadvertently moved the iCloud Photos folder to the "Watched" folder, hence causing me to "lose" access to my Photos on my MAC.
I've since discovered my idiotic error and returned the iCloud folder to its proper location in my Pictures folder.
I apologize for causing anyone undue trouble.
Thanks to everyone for the super fast replies and help.
Al Bartos
Launch Photos with the Option key held down and see if there are more than one library in the Choose Library window.
Do you have a Time Machine backup of your Mac just prior to missing the photos? If so you can go into TM, go back in time to just before they went missing, select your Library in the Pictures folder and restore it.
If you don't have a backup maybe you should to prevent loss like this in the future. This Apple document describes how: Back up your Mac with Time Machine - Apple Support
The iCloud Drive folder is also a folder on your Mac. You haven't told your Mac model or your macOS.
Are you indeed using iCloud Drive? Do you have another Library in your iCloud Drive folder?
Is your Pictures folder in your iCloud Drive folder?
Have you tried re-starting your Mac? How about a Safe re-start?
I missed that the library was in your iCloud Drive. If the Choose Library window doesn't show another library somewhere check Time Machine if you're using it.
Any file on iCloud Drive is misread on your Mac in the Home/Library/Mobile Documents folder.
So If you copy it back to your Pictures folder you should delete it from the iCloud Drive.
Thanks I figured it out and I appreciate your help
What did you figure out so we can all learn from your experience?
Just glad you've got it sorted out successfully. Thanks for the update.
No Photos in my Mac Mini Photos Library
