Use as system photos library won't work on library migrated to external drive

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Use as system photos library won't work on library migrated to external drive

I migrated my photos library to an external drive to free up space. I launch photos while holding the option key. Photos does not "see" the library on the external drive so "Choose Library" is grayed out. I select "Other Library" and point it to the photos library that has been copied to the external drive. It opens and I can see all my photos. I then go to preferences and select "Use as System Library". That becomes grayed out. I then exit photos. When I renter photos it still does not recognize that I chose the external library as my system library and I have to repeat the whole process again to no avail. My external drives are Seagate 4 TB that came preformatted as OS X Journal (Extended). The photos album was upgraded from iPhoto and now I am also copying the iPhoto album to the same external drive in case that has some data that allows photos to designate my external drive photos album as my system photo album. I would prefer to delete it however because that takes up 500 GB of harddrive space too. I have searched the internet and other forums to no avail -- seems to just work for everyone else. Please help!

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Apr 16, 2016 7:07 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 27, 2017 10:47 AM in response to Platina Member

I had the same problem. I moved the pictures folder to the top level of the external drive (originally had it inside of another folder), and it works now.

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Answer 2

LarryHN

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106,142 points

Apr 16, 2016 7:11 AM in response to jmarotta

Is this the format you see when you get info on the drive?

preformatted as OS X Journal (Extended).

I've not seen that - the correct format is Mac OS extended (journaled)

Please verify what your actually is

LN

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Answer 3

léonie

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Apr 16, 2016 7:15 AM in response to jmarotta

Is your external drive directly connected or is it a network volume?

Are you the only user of this disk?

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Answer 4

jmarotta Author

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Apr 16, 2016 8:04 AM in response to LarryHN

Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

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Answer 5

jmarotta Author

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Apr 16, 2016 8:05 AM in response to léonie

The external drive is directly connected via USB. I have allowed all users to read/write on the disk.

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Answer 6

léonie

Level 10

200,699 points

Apr 16, 2016 8:25 AM in response to jmarotta

Create a new Photos Library on that drive, just for testing. Can you make a new library your System Library on that drive? Does Photos recognize it the next time you open Photos?

This way we will know, if the problem is caused by our library or by the drive.

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Answer 7

jmarotta Author

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Apr 16, 2016 8:47 AM in response to léonie

Ok created a new photo library entitled Test Photo Library on Ext. drive. Made it system photo library. Closed photos and when I reopen said "Cannot find the system photo library named 'Test Photos Library.photoslibrary'". So apparently it is unable to find any library on the external drive for some reason.

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Answer 8

léonie

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200,699 points

Apr 17, 2016 5:24 AM in response to jmarotta

Now test, if Photos can remember a system photo Library, if it is on your system drive on the Desktop. This way you can see, if it is really the external drive, or if Photos cannot write the preferences files where it is storing the location of the system library.

If Photos cannot remember the location of the system photo library at all, you may need to delete the Photos preferences files and restart the Mac.

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Answer 9

jmarotta Author

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Apr 16, 2016 2:17 PM in response to léonie

Photos was able to locate a new library "Test Photos 2" that I created and saved on the desktop.

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Answer 10

jmarotta Author

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Apr 16, 2016 2:39 PM in response to léonie

I also created another test library on the second seagate drive I have (which I called Backup Drive) and low and behold photos was able to remember it's location no problem. So my plan is move the photo library to that drive. Confirm it can open and reopen again. Then reformat the drive that was not allowing photos to remember its library location (Which I called Primary Drive) and instead use that as a backup drive for time machine. Sound good?

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Answer 11

léonie

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200,699 points

Apr 17, 2016 5:24 AM in response to jmarotta

Then reformat the drive that was not allowing photos to remember its library location (Which I called Primary Drive) and instead use that as a backup drive for time machine. Sound good?

That should work.

But it would be safer to find the reason why the first drive is not working as expected. Do you have any Seagate software installed on that drive, that might be interfering?

Check the drive thoroughly with Disk Utility before you use it as your backup drive. A backup drive, that is not working reliably would give you a false security.

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Answer 12

jmarotta Author

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9 points

Apr 17, 2016 5:23 AM in response to léonie

Thank you so much for all your help figuring this out. After reformatting I was able to create a library and photos was able to find the library and use as system library on both drives. I used to Disk Utility to reformat the drive that was giving me the issue and then verified the disk as well. It all seems to be in order. Thanks again!

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Answer 13

léonie

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Apr 17, 2016 5:41 AM in response to jmarotta

That's great! You're welcome 🙂

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Answer 14

Sep 27, 2016 11:21 PM in response to léonie

My photo library already on external drive. And I already checked it as a System Photo Library in Photo settings. But every time when I restart Photo I have to do it again. I mean I have to open Photo's settings and click on "use as system library" again.

I would like to try deleting Photo's preferences files but I don't know how. Please advice.

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Answer 15

léonie

Level 10

200,699 points

Sep 27, 2016 11:33 PM in response to Platina Member

Is the external drive you are using always connected to the Mac using a wired connection or is it wirelessly connected? Is the drive always connected before you start up your Mac? Photos needs your System Photo Library, even if you are not working with Photos. The system photo library should be available as soon as you sign into your Mac or Photos will look for a different library.

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