Importing multiple iPhoto libraries into a "single" Photos lbrary

Photos can open each of your iPhoto Libraries in turn, but it cannot merge libraries.

If you have access to Aperture, merge your iPhoto Libraries using Aperture, before you convert them to Photos Libraries.

If you are using iCloud Photo Library and sign up for enough cloud storage to hold all your photos, you can merge the libraries in iCloud. If you designate each library in our as your iCloud Photo Library, all photos will upload to iCloud and sync back to your current library, so the last library you use as the iCloud Photo Library will be holding all photos and albums. But it will require a paid iCloud subscription, if your libraries are large.

Otherwise you will have to export the photos from the separate libraries and import them into the merged library.

You can simplify this by investing in PowerPhotos. It lets you browse multiple Photos Libraries in a convenient way with having to open Photos and move photos between libraries. You can merge libraries and keep the albums and metadata tags.

Fat Cat Software – PowerPhotos

The manual is here: https://www.fatcatsoftware.com/powerphotos/Help/table%20of%20contents.html

philby7 wrote:

Importing multiple iPhoto libraries into (1) only Photos library?. I would like to combine all my "iPhoto" libraries into the new "Photos" library.

You may want to review Photos on-line help before creating only one library - as your Photos system library is the one that synchronizes through the Icloud to all devices - you may want to reconsider lumping all your eggs in one basket.

photo getting started

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204655

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204410

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204264

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204414

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204476

On the other hand, Photos cannot search across libraries or create projects or albums across libraries, so having the library split into smaller entities makes it difficult to work with photos.

If a smaller iCloud Photo Library is desired, I would simple create a small, second library with selected photos to be synced to the devices.

léonie wrote:

On the other hand, Photos cannot search across libraries or create projects or albums across libraries, so having the library split into smaller entities makes it difficult to work with photos.

If a smaller iCloud Photo Library is desired, I would simple create a small, second library with selected photos to be synced to the devices.

Supposedly you should be able to search them through Spotlight.

Besides keeping most of your pictures private -- it simply an IT fact that the bigger the database the more likely it will have a problem. As apple gave both IPHOTO and PHOTOS the ability to have more than one library - it implies they recognize that fact.

I doubt that Apple or any beta tester really tested loading the maximum number of pictures you can load into a Photos library so the greater the number of pictures the more likely you are in virgin territory when it comes to performance.

As apple gave both IPHOTO and PHOTOS the ability to have more than one library - it implies they recognize that fact.

That is not necessarily because of performance problems.

You will want to have more than one Photos Library, if you want to separate photos for different tasks.

i have one library with the photos I am using for my job and a different library with private photos.

Another reason to split the library would be, if it simply does no longer fit on the drive and you want to avoid to turn it into a referenced library.

Apple does not document the maximum size of a photos library. But iPhoto and Aperture could both work well with libraries up to 1000000 photos, and and since Photos can open iPhoto Libraries and Aperture Libraries, the limit is at least 1000000 photos.

You will notice the size of the library mainly when making backup copies of the library, when you need to repair it, or during the initial migration. But when working with a huge Photos Library and searching it, the indexing of the library is so good, that the size does not really matter. Splitting the library into smaller entities and having continually to switch between libraries when you need photos from several libraries will slow you down more.

It is not compulsory to use iCloud Photo Library. I am using it, because I like to have my Photos Library in sync between all my Macs, but if you you are using just one Mac, there is not much advantage in uploading the photos to to iCloud.

léonie wrote:

Apple does not document the maximum size of a photos library. But iPhoto and Aperture could both work well with libraries up to 1000000 photos, and and since Photos can open iPhoto Libraries and Aperture Libraries, the limit is at least 1000000 photos.

As an it person - the number represents a unique ID - assigned to a picture as it is imported the utility - - There may be as sub field that is available for change count -- as some users may choose to delete pictures that did not come out the way they wanted it to - a large unique key field should prevent a id being used twice -- and if it is 7 numbers than the maximum before a message or crash would be 9,999,999.

philby7 wrote:

Thanks, appreciate the effort. Had not considered the size of the iCloud library.

Your welcome -- Broadband listed speeds are for downloads - the uploads are equal to a salmon swimming upstream.

Also with Icloud as with any cloud based saving - your privacy on the server is dictated by the laws of the country it resides in.

I tested with Aperture - it gave an error message if I imported more than 1000000 photos. i did not have the time yet to test this in Photos or iPhoto.

Great you could get the libraries organized. 🙂