Unable to access IPhoto library - it comes up empty

Download and use Find Any File to search for a file named "Library6.iPhoto". It's a file in every iPhoto library. FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't and will find every library on your hard drive.

Once you find the library you're looking for you can drag it from the search results window to the Desktop and from there into your Pictures folder. Then we can go from there as to the contents.

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Do you have an external HD connected to your Mac? FAF only searches one drive at a time.

Then it appears that the library you're looking for has been deleted off the hard drive. Do you have a backup, i.e. Time Machine, you can fall back on?

Where is the "iPhoto" located? I'm thinking what you're seeing is the iPhoto application that's in the Applications folder. Do you have the Finder's Advanced preferences set to display extensions?

If not do so and then search for iPhoto again. You may find this is what you have:

Yes. Each library will have it's own file. Launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and select the Choose button. Navigate to the library in the Pictures folder and open. If it appears empty but it's file size in the Finder indicates that it should contain the photos try the following;

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.

Post back with the results.

Were you able to open it with the iPhoto application or run the fixes I suggested?

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.