Photos keep seeing old pics as new, importing ad nauseum.

I submitted a bug report to Apple's system on this issue and it was sent back as a "duplicate", so they are aware of the bug. Hopefully they'll have a fix soon.

I was having the same problem. I talked to the people in the Photos department this afternoon. The solution is to make sure there is NOT an X in this box in Photos at the top (It says "Open Photos for this device.")

Although the iPad or iPhone will still show up if you open Photos while it is attached, it will not automatically import the images. This is clearly a bug, but if you have Photos in iCloud turned on, then all the photos are automatically uploaded whenever there is a Wi‑Fi connection from the device. Don't be fooled by photos that you have already uploaded!

I can't believe this thread hasn't produced a clear answer. I am ditching the Photos App for good, it's just too frustrating. This one's on Apple.

I'm also having this issue. Only started after the new Photos App came into play. I don't see what the issue was with iPhoto. Never had a problem with it. I may resort back myself.

TThere is a clear answer to this issue. Check my answer above. Do NOT check the box "Open Photos for this device." Since I have done that, I have not had any more duplicates. Of, course, it is also important to remember that ALL photos are being uploaded wirelessly, so ignore any upload messages in Photos. The solution is not perfect, but it works. Being able to use plugins in Photos is worth the minor hassle!

Can anyone explain why Apple is ignoring this problem?

Even though there is a workaround, it seems embarrassing for Apple to have this bug and not fix it. This bug occurs in my iPad Air 2, so it's not limited to iPhone..

Apparently I have been re importing and duplicating pictures from as early as 2007, and I discovered my late sister's picture in a April 2016 folder when I went to Hawaii.

Must have been her ghost.

Clay

Pat I understand what you are saying, I have done the same. But the fundamental issue is not being addressed: If the photos have uploaded via the cloud, the library should still recognize (when device is plugged in) what it has already imported, whether the import is via clod or hard wire. Google Photos and Light Room can regognize and when you plug in they only import was hasn't uploaded through the cloud. Apple Photos still has a bug in that it recognizes imports via wire in a different way than imports via cloud and thus thinks they are different photos.

Clay

it is apples contention that while the fix may seem simple it is in fact a very complex issue. They claim that the fix requires completely changing the wai Photos recognizes a photo but that their engineers are hard at work lol. They need new engineers.

I've had the same issue with my iPhone for years. Happened all through iPhoto and Photos. It's happened across multiple iPhones and models. It has to be related to the photo database rather than the iPhone or photo app itself.

I've never found a solution.

TThat is correct. The issues is in the core of the software, in the way it recognizes photos. It recognizes duplicates by file name and the way it is programmed it sees a different file name on the same photo if it uploaded through the cloud than it does if it plugged in directly. I understand that it must distinguish between cloud uploaded photos and hard wired imported photos. I dont understand why they can't easily fix the way it seeing them to prevent these duplicates. Best thing to do is buy a Mac app named Silent Sifter. It's not just a fuplicate remover, it compares files over the whole computer and is able to recognize the ones double imported without bringing up all similar images as double imported. Most apps, like Gemini, either offer you exact copies based on file names (Doesn't help here, because the file names are inherently different in photos if the same photo was imported two different ways. Sifter is able to recognize the exact same files imported two different ways without attempting to trash all the ones that look close the same. It will also scan your entire computer and take one clean copy of each photo and place it in a seperate folder. When it's done you have one folder with only one of each photo. It will continue to scan that folder daily for duplicate imports. With that in place you don't have to worry about it anymore.

Thanks Ziggy.

Clay

I am not familiare with that program but your description sounds like it will destroy a Photos library

It will also scan your entire computer and take one clean copy of each photo and place it in a seperate folder. When it's done you have one folder with only one of each photo.

Any change to the name or location of a photos within the Photos library by any program will corrupt the photos library and cause data loss

For duplicate identification and procession in Photos you would be well advised to stick with tested , safe programs which include

PowerPhotos

Duplicate Annihilator for Photos

PhotoSweeper for Photos

LN

IT leaves originals in place but marks them for you to decide what to do. Works great. I have a masters in engineering. I can promise you that it won't hurt you in any way. The program is specifically designed to to address the issue at hand. That said, if an app can recognize the difference, no reason Apple can't fix it.

TThe great thing about it, if you are are familiar enough with your computer, is you can define every parameter: what folders, libraries, online databases....it searches, what it then does with the originals. You can have it save one copy of every photo to as many libraries and folders as you want. It will only mark the duplicates and access through its software to delete them if you wish so you don't have to hunt them down. It will then continue to mark and create paths to duolicates via the photos big for you. Once I trusted it I put it on fully automated. It now cleans for me automatically to. I keep a copy of my library (150k photos) in Apple Photos, Google Photos, and Dropbox. It has done a perfect job. Best 20 buck Ive spent on an app. It is far more customizable than anything else and is the only one with active monitoring.

Larry

i recomend it to you because it sound like you know a good deal about computers. If one is not familiar enough with a computer to set it up properly it won't hurt the library but it won't achieve anything either. The beauty of the app is in its ability to search as many libraries as you wish and do whatever you wish with its searches. That said, one must a good idea of how their computer creates libraries...to get good results.