Level 2

248 points

iPhoto Unable to write to library Check that you have permission to write to the library directory.

Yesterday I had a perfectly good ext. HD with 15 different iPhoto Libraries on it.

I have backups of my ext. HDs, and yesterday I needed to do a bit of switching around, so I took another disk which had been a clone backup, repartitioned it, and copied the ext HD with iPhoto libraries to it using SuperDuper! so I've got a backup of my precious photos. Today I went to open an iPhoto library on original drive I always use and all **** has let loose. I've had different error messages ranging from

The iPhoto Library is locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have permission to make changes to it. iPhoto can try to repair the permissions.

iPhoto Library Manager was unable to open the library “Max's photos” The library “Max's photos” appears to be in use by another copy of iPhoto (e.g. a copy running on another machine, accessing the library over the network). Please quit any other copies of iPhoto that have this library open and try again.

and

The disk “xxx” wasn’t ejected because one or more programs may be using it. You can try to eject the disk again or click Force Eject to eject it immediately.

I have managed, one way or another, to get all the libraries working again. Some through repairing permissions, and some through opening directly from iPhoto and repairing. (I usually use iPhoto library manager but it couldn't open a few of them).

However, there is one stubborn library (2 years worth of family pictures), and I'm getting the error message

Unable to write to library “xxx” Check that you have permission to write to the library directory.

How shall I deal with that? I was going to follow some advice about opening package contents and trashing iPhotoLock.data but I don't want to make the situation worse.

And finally

Why did this happen?

And what about the new backup drive I did yesterday, will I encounter all the same problems if I try to open any of those libraries?

And if I copy again, which I do periodically, is the same thing going to keep happening?

I know you won't have all the answers, but a bit of help understanding what has just happened would be good!

Only other info I can give is that both HDs were plugged into a Belkin hub. They were both Lacie D2s, with usb3 cables, the belkin hub is usb 2. The clone which was on the 2nd drive before I repartitioned it was from my old iMac running Mountain Lion.

Posted on Jul 4, 2014 1:11 AM

49 replies

Reubania

Level 1

6 points

Apr 1, 2015 2:36 AM in response to léonie

I held the Option-Command keys and selected the iPhoto icon in my Dock. It launched iPhoto and then gave me the options of repairing permissions/rebuilding database etc.

léonie

Level 10

200,651 points

Apr 1, 2015 11:52 AM in response to Reubania

I held the Option-Command keys and selected the iPhoto icon in my Dock. It launched iPhoto and then gave me the options of repairing permissions/rebuilding database etc.

That will launch iPhoto and the First Aid Tools on the current iPhoto Library. To be sure, that iPhoto will try to repair a certain iPhoto Library, double click the library and not the iPhoto icon in the Dock.

Apr 1, 2015 1:42 PM in response to léonie

I have the same question as the rest of the people here. Everytime I try and open iPhoto it says "iPhoto unable to write to library Check that you have the permission to write to the library directory." I never had a separate disk, and I have very important photos on my iPhoto. Please help!

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,984 points

Apr 1, 2015 2:14 PM in response to xoalyssaxo717

Make a new thread. Include details of your version of iphoto and the OS that you have.

May 9, 2015 3:14 PM in response to léonie

used iPhoto upgrader to prepare an old library. Library is on an external HD that is formatted for Mac OS extended (journaled). this i was happened:

And then this:

It's a loop. Please, help me?

Icelyn

Level 1

47 points

Jun 11, 2015 12:36 PM in response to Yer_Man

Piggybacking! I just dragged and dropped all my video files from my (full) MacBook onto my EHD. Deleted about 200 .mov files that are safe on the EHD and I can open on the iMac. Now on my Macbook I go to open my iPhoto library and it gives me the error in the original post:

iPhoto Unable to write to library Check that you have permission to write to the library directory.

I also can't find a "ignore permissions" tick box on my EHD from my iMac. Some education on this would also help me. I don't see how it should affect my current iPhoto library? It's not linked/moved/associated with my EHD except when I move files there, like I did just today with the video files. How do I get access to my iPhoto library back? TIA!

EDIT: I tried to start a new thread but it says I'm not allowed.

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,984 points

Jun 11, 2015 1:26 PM in response to Icelyn

from my (full) MacBook onto my EHD

It's quite possible that your library has been corrupted from being on an over full disk.

How big is your Disk how much free space on it?

Icelyn

Level 1

47 points

Jun 11, 2015 2:24 PM in response to Yer_Man

Yep, that is probably it. I have been getting "You're out of disk space, delete files to make room" error for months. I simply haven't had time to deal with it until today. I would think after deleting 200 .mov files it would've freed up some space?? I apparently have 0 KB free.

Icelyn

Level 1

47 points

Jun 11, 2015 3:55 PM in response to Icelyn

250 GB, 0 free. I think if I could empty the iPhoto library trash it would free up the space??

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,984 points

Jun 11, 2015 10:52 PM in response to Icelyn

250 GB, 0 free.

You have a major problem - I cannot stress this enough - a very big problem.

OS X needs about 10 gigs of hard drive space for normal OS operations - things like virtual memory, temporary files and so on.

Without this space your Mac will slow down as the OS hunts for space on the disk, files will be fragmented, also slowing things down, apps will crash and the risk of data corruption - that is damage to your files, photos, music - increases exponentially.

Your first priority is to make more space on that HD. Nothing else can be done until you do.

Purchase an external HD and move your Photos and Music to it. Both iPhoto and iTunes can run perfectly well with the Library on an external disk.

Again, I cannot stress this enough. It sounds like your iPhoto Library is damaged from being on an overfull disk. You need to make a lot of space on that disk and you need to do it first before doing anything else.

Here's how to move an iPhoto Library:

Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

1. Quit iPhoto

2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.

3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.

4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.

Regards

Icelyn

Level 1

47 points

Jun 15, 2015 6:49 AM in response to Yer_Man

Thanks Terence,

You always come through for me. You deserve MVP of the forums. 🙂

I'm currently attempting to do as you instructed. My iPhoto library is 84 GB. Hopefully everything will go smoothly. Thanks again!!

Icelyn

Level 1

47 points

Jun 16, 2015 4:56 PM in response to Yer_Man

Umm, well. The first time I tried option key while launching iPhoto I got the same original error message. So I rebooted. Now I have a white screen and nothing else. =/ Ideas?

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,984 points

Jun 17, 2015 4:41 AM in response to Icelyn

You've made space on the disk?

Icelyn

Level 1

47 points

Jun 17, 2015 6:42 AM in response to Yer_Man

Not yet. My computer just does a white screen. How do I fix it or access anything on it like this?

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,984 points

Jun 17, 2015 7:46 AM in response to Icelyn

You best ask that one on the forum for whatever version of the OS you have... Explain that the disk had 0mb free...

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iPhoto Unable to write to library Check that you have permission to write to the library directory.