Why does iphoto default to "Last Import" view?

Try trash the com.apple.iPhoto.plist file from the HD/Users/ Your Name / library / preferences folder.

(On 10.7: Hold the option (or alt) key while clicking on the Go menu in Finder to access the User Library)

(Remember you'll need to reset your User options afterwards. These include minor settings like the window colour and so on. Note: If you've moved your library you'll need to point iPhoto at it again.)

What's the plist file?

For new users: Every application on your Mac has an accompanying plist file. It records certain User choices. For instance, in your favourite Word Processor it remembers your choice of Default Font, on your Web Browser is remembers things like your choice of Home Page. It even recalls what windows you had open last if your app allows you to pick up from where you left off last. The iPhoto plist file remembers things like the location of the Library, your choice of background colour, whether you are running a Referenced or Managed Library, what preferences you have for autosplitting events and so on. Trashing the plist file forces the app to generate a new one on the next launch, and this restores things to the Factory Defaults. Hence, if you've changed any of these things you'll need to reset them. If you haven't, then no bother. Trashing the plist file is Mac troubleshooting 101.

I'm experiencing the same rather annoying behaviour with iPhoto '11. Even if my recent display was in Events, everytime I switch to another application and back to iPhoto, it jumps back to "Last Import" section.

I tried trashing the iPhoto plist file and restarted iPhoto, but it didn't have any effect on this behaviour.

Try the following, particularly #2 regrding the cache file:

1 - delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your

User/Home/Library/ Preferences folder.

2 - delete iPhoto's cache file, Cache.db, that is located in your

User/Home/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder (Snow Leopard and Earlier).

or with Mt. Lion from the User/Library/Containers/com.apple.iPhoto/
Data/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder

3 - launch iPhoto and try again.

NOTE: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding down the Option key when launching iPhoto. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.

NOTE 2: In Lion and Mountain Lion the Library folder is now invisible. To make it permanently visible enter the following in the Terminal application window: chflags nohidden ~/Library and hit the Enter button - 10.7: Un-hide the User Library folder.

OT

Thanks for the help. However deleting preferences and cache didn't solve it. I also noticed that when switching back to iPhoto it shows "Finishing import" only for a brief moment before displaying last imported photos.

Where were you importing from?

From my digital camera. But that happened some days ago, not recently. I also checked the Auto Import folder in iPhoto Library Package and it is only empty folders there.

Try this: launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and create a new, test library. Import some photos and check to see if the same problem persists.

Thanks for the hint. I created another photo library and it didn't have the same problem when switching apps. Must be something with my default library. Perhaps I need to move photos to another library then.

Apply the two fixes below in order as needed:

Fix #1

Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.

Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #3, followed by #4 and then #1 as needed.

Fix #2

Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library

1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.

2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.

3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.

4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.

5 - Click on the Create button.

Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.

Thanks a lot. Fix #2 eventually resolved the case, when I rebuilt the library completely.

If anyone else has the problem:

Do not rebuild your library. Do not reinstall anything (but do update your iPhoto app if it's not current).

Locate your iPhoto Library – in home > Pictures.

Bring up the contextual menu on iPhoto Library and select Show Package Contents.

Locate the "Auto Import" folder and open it.

Remove its contents – which probably consist of empty folders or other stuff that can't be imported.

That's all. I found this correct fix here: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4547151?start=20&tstart=0

at the end of a thread full of bad advice.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! JUSTIN BUR 🙂

So simple and quick a fix, solving such and ANNOYING issue. Cheers Justin.

😎

Thanks @Justin Bur

i hope the author choose this as best answer so other can find it fast, cheers

My mistake, I accidently replied to the wrong message.