Copy iPhoto Library to another Mac?

To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:

Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...

But however you do choose to link the two machines...

Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.

Then launch iPhoto. That's it.

This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.

1. Copy the "iPhoto Library" file from the source machine to the destination machine (any transfer method is fine).

*The iPhoto Library is by default in your "Pictures" folder.*

2. Go to "File" menu of iPhoto. Select "Switch to Library".

3. From the pop up menu select the appropriate new library.

This method will in essence duplicate the source library onto your destination machine. You can also export your source library but that is a different method of export-import. This is a straight movement of libraries.

Hope this clarifies it for a few of you. I've added visuals for those who need to be shown like I do!

You will keep names, but not folder structures, so it's recommended to do it manually and make a new iPhoto Library in your client Mac. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3205262?start=0&tstart=0

This may work but it corrupted the iPhoto Library on the my older MBP (with iPhoto 08 on it) when I used it to transfer to my new MBP. While the two machines were still connected to one another with a crossover cable, apparently iPhoto 11 converted the older machines' iPhoto 08 library to a iPhoto 11 library (on the older MBP) and then iPhoto 08 on the older MBP couldn't read it. I then had to rebuild the iPhoto 08 library on the older machine by copying all the image files from the iPhoto 11 Masters folder that had been created on the older machine and importing them into iPhoto 08. I also have an external firewire drive connected that has some (not all) of the files iPhoto indexes (referenced files--movies on the external drive & photos on the internal drive) and it lost those references/aliased pointers.

A safer approach, which I subsequently took, was to:

1. Connect the machines.

2. Connect the external drive to the MBP you are transferring from (older MBP).

3. On the older MBP, start up Finder, and use it to copy the iPhoto 08 library to a temporary location on the newer machine which has iPhoto 11. Rename the transferred library so you won't have two iPhoto libraries named the same.

4. Move the renamed library to the iPhoto 11 Pictures folder.

5. Disconnect the two computers from one another. This way there is no chance of iPhoto 11 corrupting the older machine.

6. Connect the external drive to the new machine, so that when iPhoto 11 runs it can see the aliased locations.

7. On the new machine, start iPhoto 11 with option key held down. iPhoto 11 will ask which library you want to use, select the new one. iPhoto 11 will then open it and update the database as it loads it.

8. When iPhoto 11 completes the updating, close it. If you had no photos in your original iPhoto 11 Library, from Finder, delete that library and in Finder rename the transferred library to iPhoto Library. If you had photos in your original iPhoto 11 Library, then either leave the transferred library with the name you gave it or rename as you like.

This worked for me, but since the original approach corrupted the old iPhoto 08 library, it took a lot longer than I expected to get it all to finally work.

Hello,

I've read most of the posts but still having issues copying my iPhoto Library to my wife's iMac. All permissions set (that I can think of) and on the same network. As soon as I attempt to move my iphoto library I get a white circle with a line through it which I assume to mean can't copy or move. My library that I'm attempting to copy to her machine is 10.32gb and I'm also wondering if the file size has anything to do with it. Even when I right click and select copy noting happens as I can't find a "copy" of the library. Both machines can see each other fine.

I've also tried re-naming the files also to see if that works but....nope.

Thanks for any suggestions or assistance.

We now have two new imacs running the same OSX

@tnbriggs

This may work but it corrupted the iPhoto Library on the my older MBP (with iPhoto 08 on it) when I used it to transfer to my new MBP. While the two machines were still connected to one another with a crossover cable, apparently iPhoto 11 converted the older machines' iPhoto 08 library to a iPhoto 11 library (on the older MBP) and then iPhoto 08 on the older MBP couldn't read it.

Nothing corrupted - user error (and answering yes when told you were going to convert the library and it would not be able to be used by older versions) upgraded the library - iPhoto never converts a library unless you specificly open an older library adn even then it warns ou and gives you the option of continuing or not

Also note that even after you made this error you could have used iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - to downgrade the library

I also have an external firewire drive connected that has some (not all) of the files iPhoto indexes (referenced files--movies on the external drive & photos on the internal drive) and it lost those references/aliased pointers.

And also note that using a referenced library with iPhoto is strongly not recommended as when the path changes for any reason (moving to a new machine, replacing defective hardware, upgrading, etc) you have a major problem - you did not "lose" the pointers - you changed the path which made them inoperative

There is NO problem with moving an iPhoto library via a netwrok, a wired connection ro an external drive - all are equally valid ways to accomplish the task

LN

I can drag it to the desktop but it doesnt copy it to the desktop it moves the file out of the pictures folder altogether.

That's correct.

The Shared folder is at

HD/Users/ Shared - can you get it to there?

Think I got it Terence,

I had to copy my photo library from her machine as opposed to copying my photo library from my machine to hers. In other words drag an drop using her machine to mine.

Thanks for you help

Please re-read my post. I believe you may have misunderstood what I wrote.

1. iPhoto11 converted both libraries (the one in iPhoto08--older library--on the source machine as well as its copy on the destination machine in iPhoto11) to iPhoto11 because both of the machines were connected to one another at the time of conversion. That is not a behavior I would have expected to occur, prompt or not, because I was on the destination machine and not the source machine when I launched IPhoto11. Disconnecting the machines from one another ensures that the conversion can take place on only the machine you want it to.

2. The externally referenced files are properly found once you connect the external drive to the destination machine. The external drive must have the same name on the destination machine as it did on the source machine. That way iPhoto11 doesn't get confused as to where they are.

I'm sure there are other ways to accomplish this. My intent is only to relate what happened to me and how I fixed it in case others have a similar situation.

I read your post

.

iPhoto11 converted both libraries (the one in iPhoto08--older library--on the source machine as well as its copy on the destination machine in iPhoto11) to iPhoto11 because both of the machines were connected to one another at the time of conversion.

Not unless you specifically did it - iPhoto never converts libraries unless you expressly open it - and even when you do that iPhoto informs youo that it is going to convert the library and that it will be unusable by previous versions prior to doing the upgrade that you requested

That is not a behavior I would have expected to occur, prompt or not, because I was on the destination machine and not the source machine when I launched IPhoto11.

It would be better to expect that any software program will do what you request it to do

Disconnecting the machines from one another ensures that the conversion can take place on only the machine you want it to.

True - it does avoid user error to not have teh library accessable

2. The externally referenced files are properly found once you connect the external drive to the destination machine. The external drive must have the same name on the destination machine as it did on the source machine. That way iPhoto11 doesn't get confused as to where they are.

Please re-read your post - That is not what you previously reported

I also have an external firewire drive connected that has some (not all) of the files iPhoto indexes (referenced files--movies on the external drive & photos on the internal drive) and it lost those references/aliased pointers.

And referenced libraries (and expecially mixed libraries) are not recommended in iPhoto

And also note that using a referenced library with iPhoto is strongly not recommended as when the path changes for any reason (moving to a new machine, replacing defective hardware, upgrading, etc) you have a major problem

And a better way of resolving the error you made would have been

Also note that even after you made this error you could have used iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - to downgrade the library

LN

Copy it to a USB drive and transfer it to the other

1. There are no permissions to be changed at all, so whatever you've done in that area, change them back.

2. How have you connected the two machines?

3. Size has nothing to do with it.

Thanks Terence,

Yes, the machines are connected via home network through apple router.