How to access photo files in Finder?

Simple - you can not - and actually you never should have - directly accessed your photos inside the library

This is what iPhoto allowed us to do. Photos is supposedly such a great (and better?) replacement.

People, including myself, wanted to find out how to have that functionality in Photos (and other threads discuss other iPhoto functionality that is not in Photos).

Your "you can not" is information we have seen already.

Those of us who wanted this functionality were discussing it. Some of us may actually be unhappy about having to do x number of extra steps to do what was previously possible in one click.

If you do not agree with us expressing our opinions, then why are you expressing your opinions here? You can say, "Photos cannot do that" and move on, instead of opining and basically berating others for opinions on a topic.

Thank you.

Imran

You can access Photo images in Finder using the method of jonnybgood, Nov. 13, 2016:

His method avoids the multiple copies that result from "Exporting" photos to send them via email, etc.

This method works well for me, just as it did before I "upgraded" from iPhoto to Photos, although there are now more steps to do what iPhoto's "Reveal in Finder" did in one step.

1. Go to Photos Menu -> Preferences -> General.
2. Click the "Show in Finder" button in the dialog box.
3. Right-click the Photos Library and select "Show Package Contents", this will show a directory listing.
4. Select and open the folder named "Masters"
5. Use the Finder to locate the image you want. If you click on this darkened icon, you get a neat photo previewer.

But what is undoubtedly true is that the feature is available in Referenced Mode. So, stop saying it's not there. It's unfair to other users of the forum to be inaccurate.

NO, it's NOT. It may be for some items but it is not just always "there".

"So, stop saying it's.... there. It's unfair to other users of the forum to be inaccurate."

If you think I (or the original poster) are only a couple of guys asking about a certain lost functionality, then why are you compelled to jump in and lecture the (many) people asking about a functionality we are asking about?

Why not use the great knowledge you do have to help people like us when you have a solution to a problem, which I have been polite enough to appreciate you for, only to get more attacking, and in this case, also inaccurate, information or opinions?

Separately, I have provided those feature related opinions to Apple via the Feedback mechanisms as I always do.

Thanks.

Imran

The new Photos.app does not allow to reveal managed photos in the Finder, like iPhoto does.

You can only reveal referenced image in the Finder, that you manage yourself and have not been copied into the Photos Library.

if you want access to the original image files, that you imported, use "File > Export" to place a copy onto your Desktop.

The management of original files in Photos is much more complicated than in iPhoto, so it does not make much sense to reveal the originals. Photos can contemporarily have several copies of them - in the Masters folder, in iCloud, or in a folder with temporary items. And if you are using "Optimize Mac Storage", there may be no file to reveal at all, because the only copy will be in iCloud and not on your MAc.

What doesn't make sense is that you can access your Photos when attaching a file to a chat, or a support forum as I just discovered, yet you can't access them in Finder. It's obviously possible to do safely. It shouldn't be this hard.

LarryHN,

For attaching photos to emails or posting on social media, the method works fine and presents no "danger," as you put it.

Image files aren't being moved or changed, just copied directly to email or social media servers without the added clutter of "exported" copies on your hard drive that then have to be manually deleted.

Also, it would be helpful if we refrain from emotional comments about what others know or don't know, so we can keep this a civil forum regarding technical issues rather than personalities.

Thanks,

-Tom

And again from my answer over a year ago you use the media browser to do what you suggest which does not clutter up disk at all - you do not EVER go directly into the Photos library if your photos have any value to you and yes, having unknowledgeable people make very dangerous recommendations that often will not work at all is bad and needs to be explained to other so they do not lose photos by thinking the advice is valid - your advice is not valid at all

there are supported and very successful ways to access your photos - use them - either the Photo application, exporting from the Photos application or the media browser - although this is for iPhoto is is still most applicable to Photos - How to Access Files in iPhoto

It certainly would be helpful if people who have not idea how Photos work did not post invalid and dangerous advice here - of course there is a reason why you have NEVER helped a single person here while I have successfully helped tens of thousands -

LN

Let me be more clear about the obvious solution that is missing:

'Show these photos in Finder' even if that is a temp directory with temporary copies of the photos. You could even call it Pictures/scratch, allow photos to pile up and let the user modify or delete them as desired, noting that the originals are safely stored elsewhere. Perhaps 'Show temporary copies of these photos in Pictures/scratch'. How could you miss the need for this feature? Do your product design people use your own product? I imagine people taking screenshots of their images just to share them a lot of the time; not optimal.

The 'Show in Finder' in preferences is near useless since A) it takes so many steps and B) you have to navigate and browse to find the photos that you already identified in Photos. This is simply passive-aggressive against your users; not (usually) the Apple way.

I mean Photo is super basic. For example, I want to use Final Cut Pro to mix Movies and pictures. I have an Album in photo with pics and video. Do I really have to export 191 photos and videos, then import to Final cut pro?

Both Final Cut Pro and iMovie are giving you access to your Photos Library in the Media panel.

For example in Final Cut Pro X 10.2.3 you would browse your Photos albums like this:

In iMovie it is similar. I can browse the photos and videos in my photo libraries from iMovie and drag them to the timeline of an iMovie project without having to import them to iMovie.

The good integration of native Apple applications is one reason why I am not switching to a third-party photo database application. I like the integration of the Apple applications with the Media Browser. It is easy to access videos, audio, photos from other applications, as long as all applications have been updated to the newest versions.

Go to Photos Menu -> Preferences -> General. Click the "Show in Finder" button in the dialog box. Right-click and select "Show Package Contents", this will show a directory listing. Select and open the folder named "Masters" 😉

Photos is not designed for access to the Master image files via the Finder. Any time you need a photo for outside the library export it, either the original or edited version, to the desktop and go from there.

This iPhoto user tip (which is also applicable to Photos) describe it more detail: Exporting From iPhoto

Simple - you can not - and actually you never should have - there are supported and very successful ways to access your photos - use them - either the Photo application, exporting from the Photos application or the media browser - although this is for iPhoto is is still most applicable to Photos - How to Access Files in iPhoto

LN

Yes I most certainly know that iPhoto and Photo are different programs and in both it is exactly as I stated - it is for iPhoto but is mostly applicable to Photos - what part of that is confusing to you?

although this is for iPhoto is is still most applicable to Photos - How to Access Files in iPhoto

Bottom line is that in either program you do not and should not use the finder to access your photos - you use the application , the media browser or export them

And of course Léonie and I are right - that is why we have provided so many correct answers

Have a nice day

LN

Exactly as answered over a year ago

there are supported and very successful ways to access your photos - use them - either the Photo application, exporting from the Photos application or the media browser - although this is for iPhoto is is still most applicable to Photos - How to Access Files in iPhoto

LN

SylFlood wrote:

After reviewing this whole thread, nothing suggested gave me what I wanted: To copy my iPhone media files to my Mac.

in desperation I plugged my iPhone 5s into my old iBook G4 just to see what would happen. The result: an instant solution, thanks to Nikon's PicturePerfect Transfer program. I installed it when I bought a new Nikon SLR 10 years ago. It immediately prompted me to decide if I wanted to transfer the 1800+ media files from my iPhone to the old laptop. it even let me create a new folder on my Desktop. Next stops are external drive backup and Amazon Prime Photo.

It seems that Nikon's desktop software is still available. I cannot verify that you'll get the same satisfying result with the updated program, but it's worth a try versus the total frustration I've experienced for the first 75 minutes of this process.

http://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/download/sw/20.html

Ok - But this thread has nothing to do with copying photos form any IOS device to a Mac - it is about accessing Photos stored in Photos for Mac on a Mac - which is not supported and can not be safely done - glad you found a solution your totally different issue but it have nothing to do with this thread in any way which is why you found nothing in it to assist you

What you want is easily done in a number of different ways depending on what system you have - if you start a new thread for your different issue with details on your system and your specific issue then someone will help you - see Writing an effective Apple Support Communities question for help in writing a question that works

LN