Home Sharing Photos with Apple TV using iTunes 12.1.2 and Photos and Photos 1.0

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Home Sharing Photos with Apple TV using iTunes 12.1.2 and Photos and Photos 1.0

I have upgraded to OS X 10.10.3 and am using Photos 1.0 and iTunes 12.1.2

Previously I was able to share photos from my iPhoto library to my Apple TV (black versions) and select individual albums to share. My photos are stored on an external drive due to the size of the library.

I would do this using the command

File --> Choose Photos to Share With Apple TV

Now with Photos 1.0 and iTunes 12.1.2, I am unable to select the Photos library on the external drive when choosing a folder that the Photos Library resides in.

Does anyone have a solution to this?

Mac Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Apr 20, 2015 2:50 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 22, 2015 1:07 PM in response to Shireres

I have this exact question too.

Since "upgrading" to Photos, with nothing else changed, home sharing on etc, there doesn't seem to be a way to share particular albums with the Apple TV.

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Answer 2

Shireres Author

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Apr 25, 2015 2:56 AM in response to Shireres

I've solved the problem.

In Photos, Select Preferences. In the General Tab, make sure that the path to your external Photos library shows in the Library Location. Then click on the Use as System Library Photo Library button.

In iTunes 12.1.12, you will now be able to select your specific albums as before.

I updated my Apple TVs to the latest updates.

The specific photo albums can be accessed in Apple TV now.

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Answer 3

Apr 25, 2015 8:52 AM in response to Shireres

Thanks - the strange thing is that there used to be a menu item for "Photos" under the computer menu in the Apple TV, but there isn't any more.

It is the same on both Apple TVs (both running the latest software). I've restarted both Apple TVs and the Mac running iTunes and it never shows up.

I do see the photos as an option to use for the screen saver, so I know that the Apple TVs both see the iTunes library. But there is no option that I can find to just do a slideshow from them like there used to be.

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Answer 4

Shireres Author

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Apr 25, 2015 11:28 AM in response to Christian Riley

Yes, initially the Photos option did not appear on the Apple TV after selecting the Computer.

After closing Photos and iTunes, and then rebooting the Mac [and restarting the Apple TVs] the Photos option appeared again.

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Answer 5

Apr 25, 2015 11:33 AM in response to Shireres

I'll try that again - although I did do it a few times. ;-)

I disabled and reenabled home sharing. But I'll try it all again!

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Answer 6

Shireres Author

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Apr 25, 2015 11:43 AM in response to Christian Riley

This is the link to the Knowledge Base entry about designating a System Photo Library in Photos

Designate a System Photo Library in Photos - Apple Support

It explains more clearly my earlier post.

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Answer 7

Apr 25, 2015 12:21 PM in response to Shireres

Yeah, I'd already designated the system library, but thanks.

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Answer 8

Shireres Author

Level 1

11 points

Apr 25, 2015 3:20 PM in response to Christian Riley

In iTunes 12.1.2, when selecting Share Photos from:[within File -> Home Sharing -> Choose Photos to Share with Apple TV...], you will now want to Select the Photos app rather than manually using the choose folder option in the dropbar.

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Answer 9

Jun 5, 2015 12:24 PM in response to Christian Riley

I have the problem that I can see my Videos and Music etc on my Apple TV, but not my Photos. The menu option isn't there:

Videos >

Music >

TV Shows>

[but not Photos>]

Any ideas?

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Answer 10

Jun 5, 2015 12:55 PM in response to mboursnell

I had done all the suggestions mentioned above, but I just ended up restarting the AppleTVs, and the computer and eventually they showed up. :-)

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