Move photos from iPhoto on one computer to Photos on a different computer

Question

Level 1

8 points

Move photos from iPhoto on one computer to Photos on a different computer

I would like to copy all of the photos and any videos stored in iPhoto (47,274 files) from my wife's computer (Macbook Pro OS X 10.9.4) with iPhoto v. 9.5.1 to my iMac OS X 10.10.5 with Photos v. 1.0.1 in the most straightforward and safest way possible. Both computers are currently backed up using Time Machine to the same 2GB Time Capsule which is full with multiple incremental backups. I have 2 new 1TB external hard drives that can be used. The iMac (target computer) has 650GB free space. Her Macbook Pro has only 17GB free space. After the move, she intends to delete some, but not all of the photos and videos. What is the best way to do this?

Thanks

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4), null

Posted on May 6, 2016 4:33 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,020 points

May 6, 2016 4:48 PM in response to Flotown4

To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:

Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...

But however you do choose to link the two machines...

Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.

Then launch Photos and select the library you moved. That's it.

This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.

Reply

Answer 2

Flotown4 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 6, 2016 6:17 PM in response to Yer_Man

Thanks for your advice. It sounds very simple! One followup question before I start. After I have moved the iPhoto library to the new machine with the Photos app, when I choose to open the iPhoto library, will the Photos app want to convert the old iPhotos library to a new Photos library? I just wanted to know if I should expect that or not.

Reply

Answer 3

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

May 6, 2016 10:21 PM in response to Flotown4

Photos is a new and different program - so of course if you open an iPhoto libraries with it the library will be migrated to Photos leaving you with two independent libraries both accessing the same photos - Photos saves disk space by sharing images with your iPhoto or Aperture libraries - Apple Support

LN

Reply