Q: Duplicate Files?
Bear with me, I'm a new user with a multi-part question:
I used to import photos from other devices (not all Apple) by emailing them to myself and downloading them to a file on my MacBook Air desktop. From there I would "import" them using the Photos app.
Eventually I noticed I had more pics in my Photos library than I did in that file I used to download them. I knew this meant I had duplicates in the Photos library and I didn't want to go through all of them to delete them; so I started a new Photos library.
Also, I've noticed that when I delete a pic from that folder, it still shows up in my Photos library. Likewise, when I delete a pic from my Photos library I can still find it in that folder.
Questions:
When I "import" pics FROM a file on my own hard drive (in this case the file used to download emailed pics) TO my Photos library does it make duplicate files? In other words, should I erase that folder because all the pics in there have been duplicated to my Photos library?
When I import pics from my iPhone (through the USB) or camera (from SD card) where on my hard drive are those pics?
As I previously mentioned, I created a new Photos library. Is the old library taking up space on my hard drive? In other words, can I delete the old album without changing the content on my new album?
Thank you in advance for the help!
MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2), null
Posted on Jun 4, 2015 9:27 AM
Questions:
When I "import" pics FROM a file on my own hard drive (in this case the file used to download emailed pics) TO my Photos library does it make duplicate files? In other words, should I erase that folder because all the pics in there have been duplicated to my Photos library?
Yes, if you did not change the default settings in Photos, any photo you import to Photos will be stored inside the Photos library. In that case you can delete the folder you imported. Photos will manage the image files inside the Photos Library.
See this Help page: https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.0/?lang=en#/pht12e7a8015
As I previously mentioned, I created a new Photos library. Is the old library taking up space on my hard drive? In other words, can I delete the old album without changing the content on my new album?
The old library will still be on your hard drive and need space. Deleting the old library will not delete the contents of the new library. Have you reimported all photos to the new library? Before you delete the old library check, if you have photos, that are only in the old one.
You can switch between libraries by dragging the library you want to open onto the Photos icon.
Or by holding down the alt/options ley when you launch Photos.
Posted on Jun 4, 2015 9:54 AM

