HT204476: Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries

Learn about Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries
lokinex

Q: Photo Optimization and doing away with the external drive

I have about 150GB of photos that I store on an external drive with what used to be iPhoto. I had to do this since my only mac is the macbook air. Since photo came out I purchased iCloud space to cover it and turned on the awesome "optimization feature", and all my photos are backed up.

 

I assume this will allow me to migrate my "system library" back to my macbook air.

 

I am very very cautious not to loose my photos nor destroy what little diskspace my macbook air has remaining, so I pose these questions:

 

1. Can I dictate how much of my macbook air drive is optimize-able? I would prefer it to take up as little space as possible.

2. What is the step by step process to do this migration without (a) loosing photos and (b) not overwhelming my lack of diskspace?

 

Notes:

 

I considered just re-assigning a new system library but online literature indicates that this will erase my existing photos online. It took a LONG time to get all those pictures uploaded to the iCloud.

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2011), OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Jun 17, 2015 7:29 AM

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Q: Photo Optimization and doing away with the external drive

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  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Jun 17, 2015 7:50 AM in response to lokinex
    Level 10 (105,761 points)
    iLife
    Jun 17, 2015 7:50 AM in response to lokinex

    1. Can I dictate how much of my macbook air drive is optimize-able? I would prefer it to take up as little space as possible.

    2. What is the step by step process to do this migration without (a) loosing photos and (b) not overwhelming my lack of diskspace?

    You cannot control the use of optimized storage.  From the reports we have seen here, Photos will store optimized versions locally, and simply stop with downloading from iCloud, when the remaining storage does not suffice.

     

    To migrate your Photos library back to your internal drive I would do the following: 

    • With your Photos library on the external drive selected as the System Photo Library syncing with iCloud Photo Library disable "Optimize Storage".  Wait until all photos have been downloaded again to your external drive.  All Photos will still be in iCloud.
    • Then sign out of iCloud Photo Library.
    • Create a new, empty Photos Library on your internal drive. Enable it as the System Photo Library.
    • Enable iCloud Photo Library again. Enable "optimize Storage".
    • Let the photos download to your internal drive.  If the download should stall because of lack of space, you can switch back to the full version on the external drive.

     

    This way you will have a full, working version of your library on your external drive, so you can work with it, when the internet is not available.  And an iCloud version on your internal drive.