HT204410: Adjust the size of your Photos library to store it in iCloud Photo Library

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Cid Gillispie

Q: how to copy photos from external drive to photo libary

My photos are stored on an external drive.  I would like to copy them to Photos library.  How do I do this?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Dec 31, 2015 3:08 PM

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Q: how to copy photos from external drive to photo libary

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  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Dec 31, 2015 3:28 PM in response to Cid Gillispie
    Level 10 (106,821 points)
    iLife
    Dec 31, 2015 3:28 PM in response to Cid Gillispie

    Are the photos on he external drive image files in files and folders or are they in a photo library - an iPhoto Library or an Aperture library?

     

    If the photos are image  in files and folder, use the command "File  Import" in Photos and select the folder with the photos on the external drive in the file chooser panel.

    In the Import panel "Review for Import" select the items you want to import.

  • by Cid Gillispie,

    Cid Gillispie Cid Gillispie Dec 31, 2015 3:47 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 31, 2015 3:47 PM in response to léonie

    They are in iPhoto Library on the external drive.  I don't cut/paste the library but rather copy it to the Photos library

    Thank you

  • by LarryHN,Helpful

    LarryHN LarryHN Dec 31, 2015 5:48 PM in response to Cid Gillispie
    Level 10 (84,565 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Dec 31, 2015 5:48 PM in response to Cid Gillispie

    To migrate an iPhoto library to Photos drag it to the Photos icon in the Dock

     

    LN

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Dec 31, 2015 4:24 PM in response to Cid Gillispie
    Level 10 (106,821 points)
    iLife
    Dec 31, 2015 4:24 PM in response to Cid Gillispie

    Do you already have a Photos Library and want to import an additional library into our existing library?

    You cannot merge libraries in Photos. You can convert the iPhoto Library to a Photos Library as LarryHN described and then switch between the two libraries by double clicking the library you want to open, or export the photos from the smaller library with "File > Export" and then import the photos into your main Photos library.

    Or, if you signed up for enough cloud storage you can merge the libraries in iCloud by making both libraries your iCloud Photo Library intern. this will merge them in iCloud and the merged library will download to your system photo library.