Upload to iCloud Photo Library from external HD?

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Level 1

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Upload to iCloud Photo Library from external HD?

Thanks in advance for any help here:

Running El Capitan, 512gb MacBook Air. My current library is 191gb and is synced / uploaded to iCloud photo Library succesfully.

I have another 350gb library of older photos and videos on an external drive that I'd like to merge / include. Obviously I don't have the HD space for this, but with the optimization feature in Photos I'm hoping it's possible to store it all in iCloud (I have the 1TB upgrade) and have it in a single accessible library. If i try ti import them to my HD first, I won't have the room. I cannot find a way to upload them directly from the HD.

There is an option to create another library, but can they then be merged eventually and all viewed without having the external disk plugged in?

Thanks again.

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11), 512GB HD

Posted on Oct 3, 2015 8:18 PM

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Answer 1

Hisham

Level 2

440 points

Oct 4, 2015 5:08 AM in response to Jarrags

Hi there

My understanding is that you can merge them as long as you are using the same Apple ID. In general photos don't get deleted unless you do so directly. If you choose the same settings, it should work.

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Answer 2

Oct 4, 2015 5:53 AM in response to Jarrags

Yes you can merge them. You'll need to open the library on the external drive, make it the system library and let it sync. Once finished you will then need to open the first library, make it the system library and enable optimisation and let it do its thing.

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