How can I merge photos libraries?

Actually a new thread it by far the best way to ask a new question and in your case reading the thread you threadjacked would have been good - as explained several times in this thread there is no way to totally merge Photos libraries - the closest is using iCloudPhoto Library and the other close (less close but still close) way is with PowerPhotos - from a post a couple back from yours

the only way to mostly merge libraries is using iCloud Photo Library or PowerPhotos

And two users can not share a single library except using the same Apple ID with iCloud Photo Library or having the library on an external drive with ignore ownership checked - Sharing photo libraries among multiple users - Apple Support

LN

Yes that is a way to add photos to your library - it is not in any way merging libraries - you not only lose organization but you also lose photo history and the ability to revert to the original photo and unless you are careful about exporting you can lose metadata too - and you still have eh issue that you can not share that library between two users except using an external drive or ICPL both using the same Apple ID (which would allow you to almost completely merge the libraries

And two users can not share a single library except using the same Apple ID with iCloud Photo Library or having the library on an external drive with ignore ownership checked - Sharing photo libraries among multiple users - Apple Support

LN

It is not possible to transfer photos to iCloud Photo Library in sections - it is all or nothing so to do it you must have enough iCloud Storage for your entire merged library plus any other iCloud storage you are using

To merge libraries you must log into iCloud with the same Apple ID from each user - each Apple ID has a separate iCloud account so to merge libraries you must all use the same APple ID as posted

And two users can not share a single library except using the same Apple ID with iCloud Photo Library or having the library on an external drive with ignore ownership checked - Sharing photo libraries among multiple users - Apple Support

LN

For some things two separate libraries are preferable.

• If you do not want all photos syncing to iCloud.
• If you have two totally unrelated sets of photos.
• If you want one small library with your favorites on a portable computer and a full archive on a Desktop computer.
• If you have two users taking photos. It is much easier, only to import selected photos from the other user into the own library than to have to agree which photos are to be kept in the joint library and which to mark as favorite.
• Smaller libraries are easier to back up or to copy to a different drive.

Only make sure you are having all photos you may ever want to use together in a project in the same Photos library.

Rather than do the annoying thing of starting a new Thread, I though it would be more sensible to continue on this one for my query.

On my Mac I have 2 Users set up - me and my wife. I'm the admin and I want to combine my wife's Photos library with mine (mine will then be the sole Photos library). Ideally I'd like to maintain the albums my wife has created in her Photos library. Would that be possible? She doesn't have any edited photos so that's not an issue.

What would be the best way to do this?

Thanks Larry. What about this slightly long-winded way - can my wife:

1) drag and drop ALL her photos from her Photos app into a folder on the desk top.

2) save this folder to an external drive.

3) I go into my account and photos app and drag and drop all the photos from her folder into Photos.

I know now I'll lose all the folders etc but I'll then get her to re-create them. It'll take a very long time, I know, but the 2 positives are we'll have all the photos in one library, and she'll be out of my hair for some considerble time 😉 :lol

Thanks LN. I don't want to share libraries across accounts. I just want one library on my mac account. So in future any photos my wife wants to add she adds to my Photos library.

I might trial the drag and drop method and see how it goes. Fingers crossed.

I don't want to share libraries across accounts.

Then why did you state differently?

On my Mac I have 2 Users set up - me and my wife.

I might trial the drag and drop method and see how it goes. Fingers crossed.

and this will not merge anything - it will give you a low quality preview of the photos with limited metadata and no edit history - it is not even close to a solution

again (posted many times in this thread) - you seem to not want to read and follow the advice here - why did you bother to ask if you refuse to pay attention to the answers?

as explained several times in this thread there is no way to totally merge Photos libraries - the closest is using iCloudPhoto Library and the other close (less close but still close) way is with PowerPhotos - from a post a couple back from yours

Drag and drop gives you a very poor partial addition of photos

LN

Thanks LN and apologies for my lack of knowledge and confusion.

I think I'll use the iCloud method. I currently have 5gb of storage on there so I'll transfer the photos in sections.

Also, I guess I'll have to log into my iCloud account on my wife's account on the mac, right?

kirgizbaev wrote:

I have two libraries one is 180GB and second one is 250GB with more than 60k photos and videos. I would like to have one click solution in Photos app.

Ok - and the people in **** want Ice Water - neither of you are going to get your desires at this time - as explained several times in this thread there is no possible way to merge libraries, one click or many

the only way to mostly merge libraries is using iCloud Photo Library or PowerPhotos

And mostly is an important word there

LN

OK. Finally I think I get it. I'll give PowerPhotos a trial this weekend. If that fails, we'll just have to stick with 2 photos libraries until such time Apple gives us a full solution.

Thanks LN for putting up with our lack of knowledge 🙂

Several GB would not be a problem. There is no way to merge Libraries in Photos. If you want them merged, you need to merge them before updating.

How do you merge libraries before updating?

I allready migrated to photos and I need to merge them…

Mow What?

One alternate if you have more space available,

• Export the photos from Photos to normal file system (Pictures/Desktop etc)
• And import them into your primary Photos library.
• Then delete the library from which you've exported the photos and merged