Q: Transferring Photos library to new Mac via iCloud
I purchased a new iMac to replace an aging MacBook Pro. Rather than do a Migration Assistant, I opted to do a fresh install of things since the MBP had years and years of junk on it. Anyway, from the MBP, I uploaded the very large Photos library to iCloud (which ultimately took over two weeks).
On the new iMac, in Photos, I checked "use iCloud" and "download full resolution origiovals to this Mac." Now I see in Preferences in Photos (on the iMac), it says "now UPLOADING 13,500 files to iCloud".
I am confused by this, since there are no native photos on the iMac, so what, exactly, is it attempting to do? Shouldn't all the photos be coming down from the Cloud, not going up to it?
Alternatively, if I deleted the existing PhotosLibrary file on the iMac and copied the PhotosLibrary file from my old MBP, and continue to sync with iCloud, would the process be smart enough to to know tha all those photos are already in iCloud and don't need to be reuploaded (or risk getting duplicates of everything)?
Life was so much simpler before I decided to (try to) link photos between my Mac, iPhone, and iPad via iCloud. C'mon, Apple. What happened to "it just works""
iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)
Posted on Feb 8, 2016 4:22 PM
Photos can also consolidate referenced photos into the library, just like Aperture. But it cannot relocate referenced photos to a different folder outside the library.
if you have enough storage on your new mac, connect the drive with the referenced photos, to your new mac, select all referenced photos in Photos on the the new mac, then use the command "File > Consolidate". That will copy the referenced images into your Photos library on the new mac and turn them into managed photos. This way, you can use the photos with iCloud Photo Library as well.
If you want to keep the photos referenced, you could try to copy them manually to a folder on the new mac, and when you click on a thumbnail in Photos you should get a a prompt to locate the referenced files. But it will be a lot of work. Relocating was much easier in Aperture.
Posted on Feb 12, 2016 10:44 AM