iPhoto Not Importing - Unreadable Files

This is an old thread, so here's a late 2017 update TO THE ORIGINAL ISSUE with something else to try if you encounter this error:

Be certain your device screen is unlocked before attempting to import photos by direct cable connection into iPhoto.

The clue was that Photos 2.0 requests that you unlock your device if the screen is locked when attempting to import via cable connection.

iPhotos does not make that request, and even though the device is displayed as connected in the left column, it simply fails to import any image with any format when the device is locked and displays the 'unreadable file' error message.

The same images from the same device (iPhone SE ) imported immediately and without error once the screen was unlocked.

My configuration details:

Mid-2011 i5 iMac on macOS Sierra 10.12.6

iPhoto 9.6.1

Photos 2.0

iPhone SE on iOS 11.2.1

Directly connected to iMac USB 2.0 port with genuine Apple Thunderbolt cable

I was importing photos from a digital camera and had the same problem. It seems to work ok if you only import 100-200 at a time. I did it by year and it seemed to work

Late post in 2018!

Thanks for this info, created new library and tried to import memory card. Didn't work first time. Took card out, wiped it - !! - and tried again, putting card in MacBook carefully this time! Then it worked. Didn't delete photos, when requested if I wanted to, note, just in case! Then went to first library and deleted all the videos that wouldn't import.

I can now access them on the second library but the first library STILL comes up with an error message every time I go to iPhoto! Annoying, keeps asking me whether I want to import them, can't get past it, makes an album but when you look at it, it says no photos, completely baffled. Will live with it as don't want to waste any more time, but expect it's filling up the old machine with junk commands that one day will need cleaning out! But at least I can see the precious films now in the second library.

Thanks for advice, if you know how to get rid of the error message, anyone, let me know.

I just did the same thing. Did you ever figure out how to get your stuff back? The last time I imported from the Go Pro it worked fine.

Hi Kostby,

I am having this problem with my iPhone 6, so thank you very much for posting the update!

Kostby, I forgot to mention this worked. . . thanks!

Terence. I'm having a similar problem with my iPhone 6+ and Photos.

I ran your test, created a test library, and I received the same error message when I tried to import a video that wouldn't work with my original library: unreadable file. And then it wouldn't import.

I just took that video yesterday.

What does that tell you?

First make sure you're using the latest version of iPhoto for the Mac.

One option is to open iPhoto on your Mac, choose the unreadable photos and then File > Export...

Make the options look like this

For the destination, choose a location you can remember, such as a new folder on your Desktop.

Import one photo, and determine if it can be synced to your iPhone without complaint.

If that works, delete the apparently corrupted photos, and then import the ones you just exported. You can then delete the folder on your Desktop containing the photos you exported.

The reason the photos became unreadable is unknown, but be advised that using a number of ill-conceived yet extremely popular "cleaning" utilities will corrupt iPhoto Libraries, resulting in permanent and irretrievable loss of the original photos.

As a Test:

Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library'

Import a few pics into this new, blank library. Is the Problem repeated there?

Post back with the result.

Hello Terence, I recently had to replace my 2011 iMac Hard Drive, and I restored from a time machine back-up. This same problem is now happening to my iPhoto. I can import pictures, but it will not import any video. When I created a new library as you suggested, it imported videos just fine. What can I do to fix my current iPhoto library? Thanks.

Option 1

Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.

If that fails:

Option 2

Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)

This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.

Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.

Regards

TD

Thank you for the advice. Option 1 did not fix the problem. I am currently creating a new clean time machine backup before I try option 2. Hopefully that will work.

iPhoto Library Manager worked like a charm! I am back up and running 100%. Thank you Terence!

Going out on a limb here but hoping i might be able to get some help. I had the similar issue except using Apple Photos. I attempted to import GoPro video from the micro SD card via Apple Photos. I'm an idiot I know but for whatever reason I had faith it would import alright so I check that box of "Delete after import." Sure enough I get the Unreadable file, unable to import 48 files, when I got to look back on the Micro SD card, all of the video files are gone. Any guesses or ideas where they maybe on the computer. They are not showing in the trash nor am I able to do a search in Apple Photos to see if maybe they actually did get imported.

Thanks in advance