I am using an iMac, Sonoma 14.6.1. I import images taken on my Nikon Digital SLR to Photos v. 9 using an SD card. I edit those images with Photoshop 2025 but the edited image does not save back to Photos. If I wait a day or two, the edited images will then save to Photos. WHY?
iMac (2017 – 2020)
I edit all images outside Photos. But now I tried it with Sequoia 15.7.3 Photos and the latest Photoshop 2026 and noticed some issues that might explain something you are seeing:
It seems Photos temporarily saves external editor edits to Photos Library package > private > com.apple.photos > ExternalEditSessions (you see that folder if you do a Save as... from Photoshop). And it seems that content is automatically flushed after some period like 10-20 sec.
Photoshop can save to that > ExternalEditSessions and Photos can apply that edit UNLESS I change the filename. It does not matter if I let Photoshop save .heic as .tiff (Photoshop 2026 can open but not not save as .heic).
FWIW unlike with .jpg, Photoshop and also GraphicConverter convert .heic to .tiff when when editing and sometimes it switches to save outside that .../ExternalEditSessions folder so the edit does not reach Photos.
p.s. I did that test with a dummy Photos library. Do not fuss inside Photos library package because it might corrupt it.
I edit all images outside Photos. But now I tried it with Sequoia 15.7.3 Photos and the latest Photoshop 2026 and noticed some issues that might explain something you are seeing:
It seems Photos temporarily saves external editor edits to Photos Library package > private > com.apple.photos > ExternalEditSessions (you see that folder if you do a Save as... from Photoshop). And it seems that content is automatically flushed after some period like 10-20 sec.
Photoshop can save to that > ExternalEditSessions and Photos can apply that edit UNLESS I change the filename. It does not matter if I let Photoshop save .heic as .tiff (Photoshop 2026 can open but not not save as .heic).
FWIW unlike with .jpg, Photoshop and also GraphicConverter convert .heic to .tiff when when editing and sometimes it switches to save outside that .../ExternalEditSessions folder so the edit does not reach Photos.
p.s. I did that test with a dummy Photos library. Do not fuss inside Photos library package because it might corrupt it.
tbottman wrote:
Step by step -
That workflow works for me with Sequoia and the latest Photoshop 2026 with .jpg and .heic.
Is the Photos library on the internal or external APFS or Mac OS Extended volume? Do you have Photos settings "Importing: Copy items to Photos library"?
An EtreCheck report would eliminate much other guesswork:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250000211
Make sure you save the edited version with the same extension as the original version. If you add something to the edit so that Photoshop want to save it as a .psd file you must override it and save as the original extension was.
Otherwise, Photos will no know it's been edited.
Details? Are these files RAW, NEF files or are they jpgs? Do you save as DNG or jpg or what? When you say "click on the SD card and import the selected images," do you go through the File>Import routine, drag the files to the Photos icon, or what?
You don't say-- have you restarted the Mac? Have you restarted in Safe Mode?
Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support
Have you tried working in a different User account to see if the problem is in your User account?
Have you tried this with a new Library, to see if the Library is a problem?
Have you tried re-building the Library? --close Photos and re-launch by option-command-clicking the app icon. If you use iCloud Photos, it’s possible that this will cause a re-sync that lasts long enough to make you nervous.
As for my workflow: I use jpgs from my Z8 in Photos. When I decide to edit raw NEF files, I import them directly into Lightroom, export them as jpg, and then drag to Photos. I'll then have two versions in Photos and two, NEF & edited jpg, in Finder. I back up all of them.
When I edit jpgs in Lightroom, I use Edit With, and export as jpg to Finder. Again, I get two versions.
When I use the GraphicConverter's extension edit in Photos' Edit mode, I save, and then Photos asks if I want to save the changes. That happens immediately. Photos keeps the original, and it keeps the edited version to add more edits to later. So, again, there are two versions, though I see only one.
When I use Edit With Photomator, the picture automatically goes into the Library.
I haven't experienced the delayed reaction thing.
To answer some of the ideas being tossed around -
Yes, I have closed and started the programs and the iMac.
The images are .jpg
I tried a "Save as" which would not allow me to save to the Library, but to the ExternalEditSessions folder.
I rebuilt the Library and imported a new image from the SD card (Click on the cad icon in the left side panel of Photos). Did the edits in Photoshop and saved and lo and behold the edited image was then in Photos.
Don't know if the rebuild did the trick, and if it will work when I upload my usual group of 40 - 50 images.
I'll find out tomorrow.
Thanks.
OK, The iMac info is in the previous message. Step by step -
Take the photo with the Nikon. Take the SD card and insert into the iMac. Open "Photos", click on the SD card and import the selected images. Click on an imported new image, Right click the mouse and select "Edit with Photoshop 2025". Do the various editing steps in Photoshop. Either click the "save" button, or chose the "close" button, which prompts me to save and gives me a choice of image quality and some format options.
As mentioned previously, when going through these steps soon after importing the images to Photos, they will not save in the edited version back to Photos. BUT, if I go back the next day and do the same thing (just did a few right now) they will save the edited version back to Photos, replacing the original. So . . . do these imported images just need to "age" a bit before editing them? Sort of like cooking my Thanksgiving turkey on the outdoor grill, and covering it for an hour or so before carving??????
BTW - If I use the "save as" Photoshop option and chose the desktop as the destination, they will save as edited. I can then import them back into Photos and have the original version and the edited version. But that is more time and effort that I should not have to do.
I see that Lightroom sees the file in ExternalEditSessions -- I looked at "Show in Finder." The file has the original name inside a folder with the GUID name. I see that I can choose to export and overwrite that file-- I'll have to see how it behaves.
I hadn't used Lightroom like this-- Thanks, Matti, for getting me to search…
OK -- that's weird. It didn't replace the original, apparently, and when I looked, the file disappeared. Files from earlier in the day began to disappear. Hmmm
As Yer_Man said-- do you use "Edit With" in Photos, or do you use the extension in Photos Edit? When you're through editing, how do you save? I don't use Photoshop, but Adobe Lightroom (admittedly very different) doesn't have "Save." So details are important.
Can you describe your workflow step-by-step?
Edit Photos images with Photoshop not saving
