new Photos app sharing library across users

How do I share one Photos (v 1.0) library with multiple users on one Mac? Currently, I have a 115 GB iPhoto (v 9.6.1) library that I share across users on one Mac. It's stored in the shared folder, and all family members have access. After installing the new Photos app and upgrading my library, I moved the new Photos app library into our shared folder, and changed permissions to allow read & write access for a second user, but it still will not open in that user's account. I must avoid duplicating the iPhoto library in each user account because I don't have enough disk space for 3 115GB libraries.

OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7, 8 GB

Posted on Apr 10, 2015 10:09 AM

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139 replies

Oct 26, 2015 10:11 AM in response to Rufulo

Anyone dealing with digital media knows that duplication of files is a bad practice.

I wonder how Apple (and their devoted fans) do not understand this and propose that to share the family photos, all family members sitting on the same computer should have copies of the whole library, synced via iCloud.


They say that in OSX El Capitan they have updated the Photos app.

Did anyone try it whether the new version solves this problem?

Nov 1, 2015 11:42 AM in response to LesMikesell

Other sharing that we want to do includes sharing a smart contact list. Businesses would want this ability very much - with appropriate security.


And calendar sharing could be improved upon.


If they want us to use iCloud - they should make it easy to share libraries on iCloud as well. (We need separate iCloud accounts for "Find my iPhone", but the same iCloud account to share our photos).

Nov 9, 2015 7:52 AM in response to Rufulo

We make this work using the drive partition method. I created a second partition on our internal hard drive named Media and marked it "Ignore permissions on this volume." Our Photos library and iMovie library live there.


My wife and I DO use Fast User Switching. With iPhoto, that meant making sure to close iPhoto before switching accounts. With Photos, I found that we additionally have to close iTunes before switching. I assume because iTunes accesses the Photos library to sync photos to our iPhones, apparently in some way different to how iPhoto worked.


It would be great to have more seamless sharing, but this works well for us for now.

Nov 15, 2015 3:02 PM in response to LesMikesell

I moved yesterday from 10.6.8 to 10.11.1 and stumbled upon this problem. I used to share the same iPhoto library with my wife's user account simply through Users/Shared folder. After a little tinkering I've found a solution which seems to work so far. I repaired with Photos the old iPhoto library, then moved it to Trash. I changed ownership and permissions on the new Photos library: I added my wife (read/write) but it didn't work; then I changed also everyone access from "read" to "read & write" and let wheel only read access. Logging into my wife's account I had to repair once more the Photos library, but now the changes I made seem to stick. A good question is: until when? I'll let you know.

Nov 18, 2015 10:48 AM in response to Rufulo

Got it!


1. Create a further Account

2. Copy or move your Photo Library to the new Account

3. Give all other Users Read and Write Permissions and perform this on all Subfolders (CMD+i)

4. Log out from this Account and forget it

5. Give the Photos App on all Accounts the right path to your new Library (ALT+Photos App)

done


keep in mind! if you open Photos App, all other users can't, respectively photos must me closed on their accounts.

i will write another time a little script to handle this.


ah! it takes often up to 10 seconds till photos shows photos

Dec 13, 2015 4:23 PM in response to Neemeenoo

Neemeenoo, although I will agree with the suggestion that you ought to send feedback to Apple (I do that endlessly, in fact), I disagree about venting your feelings here. You have the LIBERTY to do that. Keep it up. Don't back down, either in your posts here or in sending feedback to Apple. I don't care if Apple reads these forums or not. I sometimes respectfully spout off here. There's no harm in that at all.


Apple Photos really doesn't need a lot of improvement. It's a constant battle now. And the only reason we even care to come here and comment is because we love Apple. If we didn't love Apple, we'd show them apathy, rather than lovingly guide them with constructive criticism. And by posting here, we encourage others to follow our lead. So keep it up!

Dec 13, 2015 4:38 PM in response to JDW1

You may disagree but you are dead wrong - read the TOU - this is specifically only a place for experienced users to help others - is is Specifically NOT a place to RANT or post anything other than technical questions - and you have no freedom or liberty here - it is a Apple forum and only they have control and only they set the rules - you are a guest and you are expected to follow the rules - Apple Support Communities Use Agreement


If you want the freedom to RANT then set up your own forum with your own rules - when you use this forum you are expected to follow the rules here - a really simple concept


LN

Dec 13, 2015 4:52 PM in response to LarryHN

Take a deep breath, Larry. It's going to be alright. Calm down. Be friendly. No need to get bent out of shape.


I can only add that when we take it upon ourselves to become "legalists" (living the LETTER rather than the SPIRIT of the law), we ourselves often discover we too are occasionally in violation of the very rules we worship. I have often felt "uncomfortable" by mega-pointers in this forum, for many years, actually. I've never felt that way from "regular" users such as myself. A large number people in this forum with a gazillion points to their name seem to write English well, but they all too often include a jab or give an air of intimidation in their words that cuts their reader the heart. Such would technically be a violation of Section 2 of the Agreement, which states:


"Be polite. Everyone should feel comfortable reading Submissions and participating in discussions..."


And that's all I will say on this topic or in this thread. Good day.

Dec 13, 2015 6:02 PM in response to JDW1

You missed quiet a bit


Submissions

  1. Stay on topic. Apple Support Communities is here to help people use Apple products and technologies more effectively. Unless otherwise noted, do not add Submissions about nontechnical topics, including:
    1. Speculations or rumors about unannounced products.
    2. Discussions of Apple policies or procedures or speculation on Apple decisions.

And of course you also violated the "be Polite" section that you posted - mine was very polite, informative and accurate


So I guess that since you who is posting personal attacks vs my posting acurate information that you are the one who needs to take a deep breath and to quit getting bent out of shape


have a great week


LN

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new Photos app sharing library across users

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