How do I restore the missing System Library in Photos app on Mac?

I am synchronising my apple imac, iphone and macbook photos on icloud. this works fine. However on my macbook the system library recently disappeared from photos app. How do I bring it back?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: photos system library disappeared

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.7

Posted on Dec 31, 2025 2:52 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 31, 2025 7:16 AM

I don't know where your previous System Library is, and apparently Photos doesn't either! If the extension (.photoslibrary) got removed, then Photos wouldn't see it. A Phhotos Library is a "package," but without the extension it becomes a folder. You could do a Finder search for a folder with Library in the name.


Here I've looked for a "package:"


If you don't find your Library, then it looks like your only recourse is to create a System Library and let if fill from iCloud. See this:

Make a New System Library connected to iCloud


You don't need everything in there, but it should show you the steps of creating a System Library.


Let us know how it goes…


3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 31, 2025 7:16 AM in response to stevenvanbauwel

I don't know where your previous System Library is, and apparently Photos doesn't either! If the extension (.photoslibrary) got removed, then Photos wouldn't see it. A Phhotos Library is a "package," but without the extension it becomes a folder. You could do a Finder search for a folder with Library in the name.


Here I've looked for a "package:"


If you don't find your Library, then it looks like your only recourse is to create a System Library and let if fill from iCloud. See this:

Make a New System Library connected to iCloud


You don't need everything in there, but it should show you the steps of creating a System Library.


Let us know how it goes…


How do I restore the missing System Library in Photos app on Mac?

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