Q: My iphoto library has disappeared. How do I find it?

Ok done..  But no joy, just rebuilt using the pictures that were already there..

Then try this:

Starting over from scratch with new library

Start over with a new library and import the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from your original library as follows:

1. Open the library package like this.

2. Launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.

3. Drag the subfolders of the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from the open iPhoto Library package into the open iPhoto window a few at a time.

This will create a new library with the same Events (but not necessarily the same Event names) as the original library but will not keep the metadata, albums, books slideshows and other projects.

Note:  your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.

If this doesn't get your missing photos back they are not in the library and probably are lost permanently.

Looks like they've gone there are quite a few little videos in there so that'll be why the file size is big.  Thanks so much for your help though.

This just happened to me: suddenly over 2,000 pictures were gone.  Definitely an iPhoto misbehavior.  Here's how I found them:

1.  Went to HD/USERS/PICTURES/iPhoto Library

2.  Opened the file using iPhoto

3.  Restored everything, with my folders, events, etc. intact.

Praise God!  I am so relieved they were all sitting in there.

3.  Restored everything, with my folders, events, etc. intact.

How did you do the "restoring:?

I've been spring cleaning my mac, and I deleted my iPhoto library.  I downloaded the app that you suggested, Find any File, and I searched for "Library6.iPhoto".  I found my iPhoto library...in the .Trash.  It is grayed out!!

There are many companies offering "recovery" software, but I don't want to pay $100 if I don't have to.  And, I don't want to pay $100 for a software that doesn't do the job well!

Any recommendations?

I'm so sad!!

restore your backup form before the problem  --  and if you are using the Spring Cleaning program - get rid of it - it does not understand the iPhoto library and has been known to corrupt it even if it does not delete it

LN

Help!!!  I'm having a similar problem... I was getting ready to backup my IPhoto library and checking each library to be sure everything was as it should be.  Using the alt/option key and looking at each library, I must have forgotten to 'alt/option' and opened my main IPhoto library and it was gone.  I located that particular library through a search on the finder (it does not show up in my picture file) and I cannot access it.  I have tried to alt/option and choose the library and I don't have the option to search and choose (which is the only way it shows up).  I cannot find a download for an earlier version of the Iphoto Library program.  I know the photo's are there, how can I access them?  Any suggestions for me would be greatly appreciated!

Bummed beyond...

I'm using Iphoto 7.1.5 and Mac OS X 10.6.8

I suggest you create a new topic so you don't get lost in this old and long topic.

Thank you OT!

If someone could suggest the best course of action for me I would be very grateful . I have lost my photos like many here. I had backups etc, carbon clone and Time machine,For some reason my ilibrary seemed to be opening from my external drive and I just could not understand this. Wheni switched off the external I had no iphoto library any more. Becoming increasingly confused I also detected, using mackeeper,  that there were various trojans in my external. Rightly or wrongly, I started to think these two problems might be related and set about clreaning first the internal and then the extrenal. The process of searching and deleting the harddrive (3TB) and my internal drive trying to clean all the mess up was taking so long that I eventually decided to delete some of the backup files in Time machine beacuse there was at least 2TB of backup. Anyway, whatever after all that I cannot find my photo library at all. I have a white iphoto library now located in the FINDER within the PICTURES  area that is said to have 14 GB in my finder . It is liisted as a package. But it  cannot be opened  in any way.

Should I now start a new ipohto library in iphoto and try and import this package. . I woudl be grateful for any help as at this stage all I have is thousnads of deleted photos that were in trash..

Like forevergreen I suggest you create a new topic with a short but informative title so you don't get lost in this old and long topic.

Thansk old toad, did not know

Today I was moving some music albums and movies from HDD to external, and deleting the copies that stayed on HDD, and cleaning Trash after then, made about two cycles, when I saw that I have 130 GB available(usually it is 60). So I checked what is gone missing and found that my Pictures folder ir only 60 MB, and after opening iPhoto, program asks me to open library.

I wasn't even touching the Pictures folder today, and I remember that last night I was checking the "Faces" section in iPhoto. ~11000 photos, 60 GB and made backups like never.

Is NSA joking on Friday the 13th? :S

Restore the library from a backup made just prior to this happening.  You do have a backup, right?