psuarmy

Q: Two Macs, Two Users accounts - One Photos Library?

I have two mac computers.  My wife and I both have our own user accounts on each computer.  I want us to both be able to access our photos library on either computer.  The problem I have is that the photos library has to be in a "default library folder" in order to use iCloud to sync the two libraries.  But if you put the libraries in one of the accounts default location the other cannot use the library without restoring permissions every time we use it.  I have to current versions of Mac OS and Photos.

 

Even though Apple products "Just work" this never has.  Now that I have two Macs it is even worse.  I am not going to pay for iCloud storage.  I need to do this locally.  Additionally I cannot plug a HDD into my router due to its location.

 

Please someone tell me how to set this up. 

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Feb 25, 2016 4:35 AM

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Q: Two Macs, Two Users accounts - One Photos Library?

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  • by léonie,Apple recommended

    léonie léonie Feb 25, 2016 4:45 AM in response to psuarmy
    Level 10 (105,791 points)
    iCloud
    Feb 25, 2016 4:45 AM in response to psuarmy
    The problem I have is that the photos library has to be in a "default library folder" in order to use iCloud to sync the two libraries.

    You can use My Photo Stream or shared albums, even if the library is on an external drive.  It does not need to be in the Pictures folder. Open the library on the external drive and enable it as the System Photo Library. You have only to make sure, that the drive is plugged in to a USB port or another wired connection and that the file system of the external drive is MacOS Extended (Journaled).  Then you can enable the "Ignore Ownership" flag for the drive, and two users can use the library o the drive alternately.

     

    It still works like described here for iPhoto:  iPhoto: Sharing libraries among multiple users

  • by psuarmy,

    psuarmy psuarmy Feb 25, 2016 4:57 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 25, 2016 4:57 AM in response to léonie

    I have a iMac and a Macbok Pro.  Can I plug a small HDD or thumb drive into the back of the iMac and still access it through the MBP?  Or do I need to have a HDD on both computers?

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Feb 25, 2016 5:09 AM in response to psuarmy
    Level 10 (105,791 points)
    iCloud
    Feb 25, 2016 5:09 AM in response to psuarmy

    You have to plug it in alternately into the Mac where you want to use the library. Photos is still a single user application. Only one user at a time can open the library in Photos. And it not documented by apple if you can access a Photos library on a remotely mounted drive.  For iPhoto Libraries and Aperture libraries it is documented that accessing the library over a network can cause library corruption and data loss (for example iPhoto: Issues with FAT32-formatted drives  or Use locally mounted Mac OS X Extended volumes for your Aperture library).   But with respect to Photos there is no support document telling us, if a library on a network volume will work.

  • by Ann Arbor Dude,

    Ann Arbor Dude Ann Arbor Dude Mar 6, 2016 6:10 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 6, 2016 6:10 AM in response to léonie

    OK - - I think this should be simple - but I'm stretching my "comfort zone". My scenario is:

     

    ONE Apple ID.

    ONE Photos Library (not Aperture or iPhotos) on a USB connected, Apple-formatted WD Drive.

    TWO Macs - an iMac and a MacBook Pro (accessing the library ONE-at-a-time)

     

    Am I safe in "***-u-me"ing that I can carry the drive and my MacBook to another location, access/edit the library, bring it back to my iMac and carry on normally?

     

    If this is safe, what about iCloud Synch for my Photos Library? It's probably worth $3 a month to have off-site backup (in addition to my iMac's Time Machine) in iCloud - but will I be able to access that library on the MacBook with and/or without the physical drive being present?

     

    I think I read that the Library must be the "SYSTEM Photo Library" to successfully view photos via my new AppleTV. If the iMac and MacBook BOTH have this library designated as the System Library, does that mess anything up?

     

    Finally, will the AppleTV be able to access the iCloud-resident library without presence of the physical drive on which the library resides?

     

    Feedback will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Mar 6, 2016 6:26 AM in response to Ann Arbor Dude
    Level 10 (105,791 points)
    iCloud
    Mar 6, 2016 6:26 AM in response to Ann Arbor Dude

    I don't use Apple TV, so I will ignore that part of the question.

     

    You can use the drive alternately on both Macs, if the ignore ownership flag is set, as described here:  iPhoto: Sharing libraries among multiple users - Apple Support

    Move the iPhoto library to an external drive

    1. Connect an external USB, FireWire, or Thunderbolt drive which has enough free space to contain the library.
    2. Select this drive in the Finder.
    3. Choose File > Get Info.
    4. In the Info window, find the Sharing & Permissions section. You may need to click the disclosure triangle to see the details for this section.
    5. Click the lock in the lower-right corner of the Info window. Enter an administrator name and password when prompted.
    6. Select the option to Ignore Permissions on this volume (usually selected by default).
    7. Copy your iPhoto library to this drive.

    portable drive

     

    If this is safe, what about iCloud Synch for my Photos Library? It's probably worth $3 a month to have off-site backup (in addition to my iMac's Time Machine) in iCloud - but will I be able to access that library on the MacBook with and/or without the physical drive being present?

    You can enable iCloud Photo Library for a drive on an external volume,  but ifs the drive is not mounted, you can only access the iCloud Photo Library using the web interface at www.icloud.com.