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Can I delete my iPhoto Library after migrating to Photos?

My iPhoto Library is about 450 GB in size. This morning I migrated it to Photos. After a reboot my Mac started complaining that I have no disk space left (I have a 1 TB drive in my MacBook Pro). It appears that the Photos migration process duplicated my iPhoto Library and I now have two photo libraries, each measuring 450 GB, based on looking at the Finder's Info windows for each library. But I understand there's some fancy, convoluted new file storage methodology being used with the new Photos library, so I'm not clear on precisely where my actual, precious photo files are.

My compulsion is to just delete the old iPhoto Library, since I've migrated to Photos and I won't be using iPhoto anymore. But there's this niggly feeling that Apple had made it more complicated than that, that I now must have an iPhoto Library and a Photos library taking up space on my hard drive and totally confusing my file management practices. I was hoping this transition would be easy, clear, and safe but Apple has made it complicated and worrisome for some reason.

Bottom line: can I delete my old iPhoto Library? Or would this be a catastrophic action?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1), 1 TB, 16 GB, 2.8 GHz i7, Iris Pro

Posted on Apr 9, 2015 6:32 AM

Best reply

marconey

Level 1

100 points

Posted on May 11, 2015 11:35 PM

Neilster,

I just arrived here from that article. Funny, even though the article makes it clear that Photos doesn't COPY and create a second library, thereby doubling the storage space, it doesn't address the nagging question; should a user keep his iPhoto library, as an eyesore, even after migrating to Photos. Yes I can see why Apple might have done it this way - just in case people wanted to use iPhotos post migration just for some reason. But let's say I have completely made up my mind to move to Photos, why would I want to keep the second alias (so to speak) around?! The way I answered this question was to move my iPhoto library to the Trash (so I could bring it back in case, Photos said it couldn't find the referenced iPhoto library!). Photos didn't complain so I went ahead and deleted the iPhoto library. Now my mind doesn't bother me anymore 🙂

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25 replies

Jul 27, 2016 7:45 AM in response to Andrew Robulack

I just deleted my Iphoto library after almost 2 years of Photos usage and of course a migration between the two before that. The problem is after doing that, I found out that I lost videos and I am ****** off. I'm trying to recover them with Yodot Recovery but it's not a free product. Don't delete your Iphoto Library without a backup !!

Thank you Apple.

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,350 points

Jul 27, 2016 3:32 PM in response to ibrismiss

I see. You deleted the Library and it's Apple's fault. Okay.

LarryHN

Level 10

106,110 points

Jul 27, 2016 4:33 PM in response to ibrismiss

Right - never do anything without having a good, current backup - that is why TimeMachine comes free on every Mac - Apple can lead you to water but they can not make you drink - using the supplied software is upt to you

Jul 28, 2016 5:29 AM in response to Yer_Man

You obviously didn't read completely my post or maybe I wasn't clear enough. 2 years ago when Photos came out, I migrated my pictures and videos from Iphoto. They were all in Photos and I didn't use iPhotos anymore.

To save some space 2 years later, I went in iPhotos and delete all the pictures and videos. It didn't affect most of my pictures and videos in Photos except for a few videos (2 years) I lost. I called the support and they told me it wasn't supposed to happen and it was maybe a bug and they are looking into it. So no I'm not blaming Apple just like that.

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,350 points

Jul 28, 2016 7:41 AM in response to ibrismiss

But you didn't check before you deleted? And you didn't back up? So it's Apple's fault. I see.

Jul 28, 2016 8:27 AM in response to Yer_Man

Check what ? Do you even read my posts ? I'm saying there's a bug and Apple admitted it. For the backup that's what I was saying In the first post, I should have done one.

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,350 points

Jul 28, 2016 10:34 AM in response to ibrismiss

Check that the videos had come over to the Photos Library? No?

Jul 28, 2016 11:13 AM in response to Yer_Man

They were in the Photos Library before I deleted the Iphoto content, I was actually watching a specific video the night before with the kids so I'm sure. Anyway, I will let you guys know what the support says.

2balive

Level 1

8 points

Oct 2, 2017 12:31 AM in response to Andrew Robulack

Also, can I delete the the iPhoto app?

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,350 points

Oct 2, 2017 5:43 AM in response to 2balive

If you have no use for it, yes.

Can I delete my iPhoto Library after migrating to Photos?