New MacBook Pro M5 - migrated my photos library from older MacBook. I successfully edited several new images I just imported before seeing pop up message "Photos cannot load edits for this image". Successive attempts to edit additional images resulted in same message. What is the cause and remedy? Thanks AJ
MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 26.2
andrewfromeast wareham wrote: … seeing pop up message "Photos cannot load edits for this image". What is the cause and remedy?
Well, we can't know exactly what's going on without interacting with your computer. Maybe you could give us more information? For instance, do you use iCloud Photos?
Do you have Photos using Optimized Storage?
How much free storage do you have on your Mac?
Where does your Photos Library reside-- in the Pictures folder of your internal drive, or on an external drive? or on a network? on iCloud drive?
That sort of message occurs when Photos has lost the connection with the original picture files. Photos normally operates a "Managed Library." That means that the original picture files are loaded into the Photos Library so Photos can keep track of them. Photos can also have a Referenced Library where the Original picture files are kept in Finder folders and are not added to the Library at all. A Referenced Library is really for testing purposes, and accidentally creating a Referenced Library has caused lots of troubles for people. Almost no one intentionally has a Referenced Library. If Photos loses contact with the Original files, then you may be able to see the Thumbnails or the full screen Preview versions, but you won't be able to edit or print the lost pictures.
In Mac Photos Settings>General, "Copy Items to the Photos Library" should be checked.
Have you ever had this box un-checked? That would mean that some original files are in Finder folders, and they may have moved since the migration.
In Optimized Storage, Photos saves space by keeping many of the Original picture files at iCloud.com, and it reaches out to iCloud when you need to edit them. So if you are disconnected from your iCloud account, then editing isn't possible for those pictures.
Can you tell us the details about your setup? Do you know where those original picture files are, or can you find copies of them? Do you have backups?
andrewfromeast wareham wrote: … seeing pop up message "Photos cannot load edits for this image". What is the cause and remedy?
Well, we can't know exactly what's going on without interacting with your computer. Maybe you could give us more information? For instance, do you use iCloud Photos?
Do you have Photos using Optimized Storage?
How much free storage do you have on your Mac?
Where does your Photos Library reside-- in the Pictures folder of your internal drive, or on an external drive? or on a network? on iCloud drive?
That sort of message occurs when Photos has lost the connection with the original picture files. Photos normally operates a "Managed Library." That means that the original picture files are loaded into the Photos Library so Photos can keep track of them. Photos can also have a Referenced Library where the Original picture files are kept in Finder folders and are not added to the Library at all. A Referenced Library is really for testing purposes, and accidentally creating a Referenced Library has caused lots of troubles for people. Almost no one intentionally has a Referenced Library. If Photos loses contact with the Original files, then you may be able to see the Thumbnails or the full screen Preview versions, but you won't be able to edit or print the lost pictures.
In Mac Photos Settings>General, "Copy Items to the Photos Library" should be checked.
Have you ever had this box un-checked? That would mean that some original files are in Finder folders, and they may have moved since the migration.
In Optimized Storage, Photos saves space by keeping many of the Original picture files at iCloud.com, and it reaches out to iCloud when you need to edit them. So if you are disconnected from your iCloud account, then editing isn't possible for those pictures.
Can you tell us the details about your setup? Do you know where those original picture files are, or can you find copies of them? Do you have backups?
Appreciate your help Richard. Before I answer your questions I think something new has occurred that may be related to Photos problem. A window popped up after log in today - SOME iCLOUD DATA ISN'T SYNCING. END TO END DATA IN iCLOUD CAN'T BE ACCESSED ON THIS DEVICE. SAVED PASSWORDS AND DATA FROM HEALTH AND MAPS - VERIFY YOUR ACCOUNT INFO TO RESUME SYNCING. After entering my password, I checked and Photos app seems to be behaving normally.
Tks again, Andrew
In addition to Richard's questions here's another: have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your Mac?
Thanks for your input - seems like there was another cause related to syncing, see my reply to Richard
Weird, but great! So it just wasn't able to access the original files at iCloud, I guess. Glad it works!
Error message in Photos app
