How do I restore my iPhoto library from a time machine back up of a macbook pro to an iMac?

note that this wont merger with the iphoto library you have on your computer it will make a seperate library, however time machine will not do that anyway.

Again - this is not the way to do this and generally does not work - you must use TimeMachine as designed - instructions link again http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1427

Note especially

Restoring data from Time Machine backups

With Time Machine you can go "back in time" to restore files, versions of files, or your entire system. Make sure your backup drive is connected and mounted (if not, Time Machine will alert you that "Your Time Machine backup disk can't be found."

If prompted, enter an administrator name and password to proceed with the restore.

Restoring specific files or folders

Choose Enter Time Machine from the Time Machine menu and the restore interface appears. You can literally see your windows as they appeared "back in time."

You can use the timeline on the right side of the window to reach a certain point back in time (the timeline shows the times of all backups on your backup drive). If you don’t know exactly when you deleted or changed a file, you can use the back arrow to let Time Machine automatically travel through time to show you when that folder last changed.

Note: Dates in pink indicate the data resides on your Time Machine backup device. Dates in white indicate the data resides on your Mac. In OS X Mountain Lion and Lion, portable Macs have the feature of local snapshots. See thisarticle for details.

You can also perform a Spotlight search in the Time Machine Finder Window search field to find a file. Simply type the Spotlight search field and use the back arrow to have Time Machine search through your backups to find what you are looking for.

Before you restore a file, you can also use Quick Look to preview a file to make sure its the one you want. Highlight the file and press the Space Bar to bring up a quick look.

To restore, select the file/folder and click the "Restore" button. The file will automatically be copied to the desktop or appropriate folder. If the file you are restoring has another file in the same location with the same name, you will be prompted to choose which file to keep or keep both.

Restoring your entire system from a backup

If you are restoring a backup made by a Mac to the same Mac

With your backup drive connected, start up your Mac from the Recovery system (Command-R at startup) or Mac OS X v10.6 installation disc. Then use the "Restore From Time Machine Backup" utility.

Note: If "You can't restore this backup because it was created by a different model of Mac" appears when restoring a backup that was made on a different Mac, follow the onscreen instructions.

If you are restoring a backup made by one Mac to a completely different Mac

Important: If the backup you are about to restore is from a completely different Mac, use the Migration Assistant to transfer data from the backup, as described in the next section.

Migrating a Time Machine backup to a new Mac

When you buy a new Mac, you can transfer all of your applications, files, settings, and other information from a Time Machine backup you've already made.

You will be asked if you want to transfer files when you start up your new Mac for the first time. Or, you can use theMigration Assistant (located in Applications/Utilities).

After Migration Assistant completes the transfer and you select your existing Time Machine backup drive, you will be prompted with "Inherit Backup History". Once selected you will be able to continue to use your existing Time Machine backup on your new Mac.

And again for detailed TM answers go to the Time Machine forum

LN

OP mentions that the backup was made on aMBP and they want to restore to an iMac. You cannot use the Time machine Application as it will only pick up a backup for the iMac itself. (See the article you referenced on transferring to another Mac)

The article you reference is semi-correct, in that you can youse migration assistant, however it will make a mess of the iMac. Migration Assistant will create a whole new user account even if you tell it to only restore the Pictures, thats just how it handles it.

If you treat the Time machine external hard drive as you would any other external, it is a matter of copying just the iPhoto Library.

Have you looked at this website: Apple OSX and Time Machine Tips

OT

its 2015, I have the exact same issue, please tell me how you sorted it out, I have ten years worth of pictures on my old iPhotos library, no baby pics of my kids if i can't sort this out!

See Larry's post on this thread with all the instructions.

thank you for your suggestion. Unfortunately, you can't just retrieve your iPhoto library only with TM. You have to retrieve all data and applications. I have a very simple request: move my iPhoto Library (96Gb) from my TM backup (from on older iMac which I sold), to my Macbook PRO 2013, or to any other external HDD.

So I opened the TM disk and folder and moved this library to an external SSD thunderbolt 2 lace drive. I did connect my macbook with an ethernet cable to my time capsule. Moving this file took about half a day. And then, at last... bummer 😟 , :"Photos can't restore this library".

So I tried again and: bummer 😠

I just way my library back, why is this so difficult? I thought Time Machine was build and ment for customers not to worry about their backup. Well, I'm worried now, and this is wasting my time.

you can't just retrieve your iPhoto library only with TM. You have to retrieve all data and applications

Incorrect - you can restore just the iPHoto library using TimeMachine

You can not use any TM backup files directly - you must use the TM application to restore them as well documented in this three year old threat - everything you need is posted here - read it and follow directions

LN

I will never ever trust Apple's back up system ever again

Photos and iPhoto have same workflow.

And topic says "restore with time machine".

For me it seems clear that I have posted an issue of which other people have had.

Use the Trial Version of Power Photos and see, if it can browse the restored Photos library.

See: https://www.fatcatsoftware.com/powerphotos/

"in an almost dead section of the forum"

Seems like I woke up some of them :-)

Thx for help anyway.