iCloud Photos won't enable on Mac; 'Format' field missing

Hi there!

This message usually appears when the Photos Library is stored on a volume that macOS can’t use with iCloud Photos. Even though you’re checking Get Info, the missing Format field often means you’re clicking the Photos Library file, not the drive or volume the library sits on.

Here’s how to check the correct volume format:

1. Open Finder.
2. In the sidebar, under Locations, click your Macintosh HD (or the name of your internal drive).
3. Press Command (⌘) + I or choose File > Get Info.
4. In the Info window for the drive, you should now see a Format field (e.g., APFS, Mac OS Extended, etc.).

iCloud Photos will only work if your Photos Library is stored on a drive formatted as:

• APFS (recommended)
• Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
• 
  

If the drive format is correct but iCloud still won’t enable:

Try this:

1. Open Photos.
2. Go to Photos > Settings > General.
3. Check where your System Photo Library is located.
4. If needed, click Use as System Photo Library.

If your Photos Library is on an external drive:

Ensure the drive is formatted APFS or Mac OS Extended.

Drives formatted as ExFAT or NTFS will not work with iCloud Photos.

Which system version is running on your new Mac?

Is your Photos Library stored on an external drive or on the internal drive of your Mac?

• If the library is on an external drive, have a look at these instructions: Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support. In addition to the file system format the external drive must not have been used for Time Machine backups or have any other backup software installed, and it needs a wired connection. The Photos Library must not be accessed over the local network.
• if the library is stored on your internal drive make sure, that the folder with the library is not synced with a cloud service. The library must not be in a dropbox, on Google Drive, on iCloud Drive (or in your Desktop or Documents folder, if they are syncing with iCloud). Also, the folder Users/Shared is not suitable, because it will cause problems with the file ownership.

Small addition: If you are storing your Photos library on an external drive, you need to check the format of that drive rather than the system drive.

That seems likely in your case, as the system drive on a new Mac would not have one of the incompatible formats.