Alpesh Gor

Q: iPhoto and Photos backup

Hi guys,

 

I want to backup my iPhoto and Photos library.

 

My question is, as I am using the Photos app now rather than the iPhoto app do I need to backup BOTH the iPhoto library AND Photos library? Or do I just backup the Photos library?

 

Within the Photos app I have a folder titled 'iPhoto events'. Does this mean that all my iPhoto pictures are now incorporated into the Photos app?

Posted on Mar 7, 2016 6:14 AM

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Q: iPhoto and Photos backup

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  • by Keith Barkley,Apple recommended

    Keith Barkley Keith Barkley Mar 7, 2016 8:17 AM in response to Alpesh Gor
    Level 5 (6,407 points)
    Mar 7, 2016 8:17 AM in response to Alpesh Gor

    Yes, the database is different in both so they both need to be backed up.

  • by Old Toad,Apple recommended

    Old Toad Old Toad Mar 7, 2016 12:06 PM in response to Alpesh Gor
    Level 10 (141,304 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 7, 2016 12:06 PM in response to Alpesh Gor
    Within the Photos app I have a folder titled 'iPhoto events'. Does this mean that all my iPhoto pictures are now incorporated into the Photos app?

    Yes, all images in the iPhoto library at the time of migration are now in the Photos library in those albums and also in the Photos and All Photos windows.

     

    Moments in Photos are the new Events, i.e. groupings of photos sorted by date taken.

     

    When the iPhoto Library was first migrated to Photos there is a folder created in the sidebar titled iPhoto Events and all migrated iPhoto Events (which are now Moments) are represented by an album in that folder.

    PsimulatedEvents.png

    To open the sidebar if it's not already open use the Option+Command+S key combination.

     

    NOTE: It's been reported by several users that if the Event albums are moved out of the iPhoto Library folder in the sidebar they may disappear.  It's not widespread but several users have reported that issue.  Therefore, if you want to assure that you keep those Event albums don't move them outside the iPhoto Events folder.

     

    There's a way to simulate events in Photos.

    When new photos are imported into the Photos library go to the Last Import smart album, select all the photos and use the File New Album menu option or use the key combination Command+N.  Name it as desired.  It will appear just above the iPhoto Events folder where you can drag it into the iPhoto Events folder

     

    When you click on the iPhoto Events folder you'll get a simulated iPhoto Events window.

    Albums and smart albums can be sorted by Title, by Date with oldest first and by Date with newest first.

     

    OTsig.png

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Mar 7, 2016 12:29 PM in response to Alpesh Gor
    Level 10 (85,032 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 7, 2016 12:29 PM in response to Alpesh Gor

    Depends

     

    Each database is totally separate so if you are not using one then it does not need to be backed up but once - BUT the smartest plan is having an hourly backup of everything using TimeMachine with its default settings and a second backup on a different drive of everything at least once a day (I use Carbon Copy Cloner for that backup)

     

    If you are only making  occasional random backups Murphy's law guarantees that you will not have what you need when you need it

     

    LN

  • by Alpesh Gor,

    Alpesh Gor Alpesh Gor Mar 8, 2016 8:27 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Apple Music
    Mar 8, 2016 8:27 AM in response to LarryHN

    Thanks guys.

     

    So, if I have my iPhotos pictures already in my Photos app, would it be safe to then DELETE the actual iPhoto library from my HD?

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Mar 8, 2016 8:30 AM in response to Alpesh Gor
    Level 10 (85,032 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 8, 2016 8:30 AM in response to Alpesh Gor

    yes - but unless it has been several months it is not advised since it is hard to undo if you want or need it in the future and there is no real reason to - the space savings are very minimal unless you have deleted a lot of photos from Photos

     

    LN

  • by Alpesh Gor,

    Alpesh Gor Alpesh Gor Mar 8, 2016 8:43 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Apple Music
    Mar 8, 2016 8:43 AM in response to LarryHN

    Hi Larry,

     

    I have backed up the iPhoto library to an external HD and will keep it there in case anything goes horribly wrong.

     

    On the HD on my Mac, the iPhoto library is taking up 80GB of HD space. The Photos library is taking up 100GB of space.

     

    If I delete the iPhotos library it'll free up a fair bit of space.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Mar 8, 2016 8:55 AM in response to Alpesh Gor
    Level 10 (85,032 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Mar 8, 2016 8:55 AM in response to Alpesh Gor

    Not really as most of the space is both libraries being hard linked to the same files -  Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support   - but again it is your choice - it will not save much but unless you need it it will not be a problem either

     

    Up do what you think is best - just be aware that "he space savings are very minimal unless you have deleted a lot of photos from Photos"

     

    LN

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Mar 8, 2016 8:57 AM in response to Alpesh Gor
    Level 10 (141,304 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 8, 2016 8:57 AM in response to Alpesh Gor

    On the HD on my Mac, the iPhoto library is taking up 80GB of HD space. The Photos library is taking up 100GB of space.

     

    If I delete the iPhotos library it'll free up a fair bit of space.

    As Larry said the two libraries share much of that space.  I imagine you might free up around 20 GB of space by deleting the iPhoto library.  But that's better then nothing.