I see my pics in albums tab but not photos tab. Why?

Question

I see my pics in albums tab but not photos tab. Why?

I am importing my pictures to Photos instead of iPhoto and and they will show up in the Albums tab only. Why are they not showing up under the Photos tab? I use an external hard drive for all my photos and videos and think I have it set up right. I just don't know what Im doing wrong. I've been trying to research this issue but I don't know how to ask the right question to find an answer. iPhoto seemed easier for an idiot like me. I had it working perfectly until Photos came along. Thank you for any help you can give me.

iMac with Retina 5K display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Dec 25, 2015 12:23 PM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,663 points

Dec 25, 2015 12:35 PM in response to HazelsHarbour

This problem has been reported a few times by others.

Make the following test: Select one of the photos that are not appearing in the Photos tab and ctrl-click it, then select "Show in Moment". Does it really not appear in the moment?

if yes, make a backup of your Photos library and repair it. See: https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.0/?lang=en#/pht6be18f93

If Photos is open, choose Photos > Quit Photos.
Press Option-Command and double-click the Photos icon in the Applications folder (or click the Photos icon in the Dock).The Repair Library window opens.
Click Repair to rebuild your photo library.

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,663 points

Dec 25, 2015 1:34 PM in response to HazelsHarbour

If I need to repair my library how do I back up my photos that are already on an external hard drive and will the Repair Library fix an external hard drive?

This Help Page explains how to make a backup of your Photos Library: https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.0/?lang=en#/pht6d60d10f

Either make a duplicate of the photos Library on a different drive by dragging the library there, or include the drive with your Photos Library into your Time Machine backup.

When I look at the Photos tab it says I have 30,023 Photos and 565 Videos. Not sure where the missing photos are.

The photos may not be showing because of a corruption of the library, then repairing miht help , or the photos may be hidden. Hidden Photos will show in the albums, but not in the Photos tab.

Look into the "Hidden Photos" album; it will show in the album section, if it is not empty.

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Dec 25, 2015 12:51 PM in response to HazelsHarbour

Either

1 - you are looking in the wrong place - select one, right click and show moments to see where it is (often you look in the wrong place due to an incorrect photo date - if Moments open but the photo is not there see 2

2 - or you have a corrupted library - for this backup your Photos library and hold down the option and command keys while launching Photos and repair the database

LN

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Answer 4

Dec 25, 2015 1:06 PM in response to léonie

So I tried the "Show in Moment" and it took me to the photos tab and nothing was there. I also tried on a picture that I knew was in "moments" and it took me right to it. If I need to repair my library how do I back up my photos that are already on an external hard drive and will the Repair Library fix an external hard drive?

I just looked my Albums tab and it says I have 31,142 pictures in it. When I look at the Photos tab it says I have 30,023 Photos and 565 Videos. Not sure where the missing photos are.

Thank you for your help. Merry Christmas!!

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Answer 5

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Dec 25, 2015 2:54 PM in response to HazelsHarbour

If you are not always keeping a good current backup they you are in great danger and will lose your photos sooner or later - you must always have a current backup - TimeMachine is a good way to do this

for this purpose simply making a copy of the Photos library even on the same disk will work since this only a short term backup

LN

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Answer 6

Dec 25, 2015 1:12 PM in response to LarryHN

Thank you for you help Larry. I posted a reply to another user and it wouldn't let me post a response to you. Please see my response. I am grateful for any help!

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