To backup Photos to USB, can I just copy/paste Photos Library.photoslibrary to flash drive?

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Level 1

14 points

To backup Photos to USB, can I just copy/paste Photos Library.photoslibrary to flash drive?

As stated, I'm trying to backup the new Photos library (once iPhoto) onto a Mac-formatted USB drive.

I don't have edits or care about the organization, as long as each picture retains an exif, which it should. I saw somewhere something about a masters file, but only after I began this process.

Found the file Photos Library.photoslibrary, and merely copied and pasted that into the drive. It took a very long time to complete, but I'd already begun the process and was wary of interrupting it and corrupting files or my drive, which has happened to me several times with Mac things. Grr.

Can I now drop this file back into a different Mac, and resurrect all my pictures in their original size/resolution? My worst nightmare is that after hours of downloading, I'll be left with only thumbnails.

Also, what happens if I open this in a PC?

Many thanks!

JHM

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2009), OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Feb 16, 2016 7:32 PM

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Answer 1

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Feb 16, 2016 10:02 PM in response to JuicyHMouse

Probably and not at all

Mac formatted is not a format - if the USB is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) then everything should work on any mac using the same or newer version of Photos - the way to verify is to hold down the option key while launching Photos and selecting the library on the USB and testing it

As to the PC - Nope - there is no PC application that can open the PHhotos library that I've seen

LN

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Answer 2

JuicyHMouse Author

Level 1

14 points

Feb 22, 2016 6:44 PM in response to LarryHN

Thanks Larry,

Sorry I don't have the lingo down, I do mean that my drive is "journaled".

To clarify, I don't give a hoot about the proprietary photos library structure or associated data, but what you're saying is if I attempt to open it on a PC I won't be able to access the picture files? That's all I want, just those original JPEGs that were imported into Photos. And those exifs.

Thanks again for your response! I am so *not* a Mac person, so I appreciate the help and the terminology correction.

-JHM

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Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

Feb 22, 2016 7:27 PM in response to JuicyHMouse

On a PC you probably can access the original photos in the masters folder - I have no PC experience but I believe you need special software to be able to read an volume formatted Mac OS extended (journaled)

As to the "Lingo" - since that is the only thing we have to communicate with here it is critical and must be acurate

LN

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