jefvdv

Q: Faces gone from Mac app

Hi,

 

My faces are gone from my Mac app. I can still search for it on both Mac and iOS. But when I navigate to it via Albums -> Faces I'm presented with a "Get Started" dialog.

 

I believe I reinstalled my Mac and downloaded all photos from iCloud again half a year ago. I've read Faces don't sync to iCloud but you can search for them because they're connected to invisible smart albums which do sync.

 

However, I do have a 45Mb Person.db file within my Photos Library. I can find all my Face names when I text search in that database. So I believe I still have the database file, but Photos app doesn't seem to recognize it.

 

Any ideas?

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on May 27, 2016 7:03 AM

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Q: Faces gone from Mac app

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  • Helpful answers

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 27, 2016 7:08 AM in response to jefvdv
    Level 10 (84,200 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 27, 2016 7:08 AM in response to jefvdv

    As you described face albums do not sync to iCLoud Photo Library so when you deleted your library and replaced it with a download form ICPL you of course did not get the faces albums and if you want them you have to recreate them - you can still search for a face using the search window or a smart album as the information is there

     

    LN

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie May 27, 2016 7:22 AM in response to jefvdv
    Level 10 (105,736 points)
    iLife
    May 27, 2016 7:22 AM in response to jefvdv

    Only the searchable faces tags sync to iCloud, but not the faces thumbnails. If you name photos, the tags will help to name more photos automatically.

  • by jefvdv,

    jefvdv jefvdv May 27, 2016 9:06 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 27, 2016 9:06 AM in response to LarryHN

    Thanks for your answer. Yes I do know. But I still have the Person.db file which contains all the Faces information but Photos app doesn't seem to recognize it. There is no way I can force to accept it?

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN May 27, 2016 9:19 AM in response to jefvdv
    Level 10 (84,200 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 27, 2016 9:19 AM in response to jefvdv
    There is no way I can force to accept it?

     

    No - there is no way to force that

    Again

     

    if you want them you have to recreate them - you can still search for a face using the search window or a smart album as the information is there

     

    Only the searchable faces tags sync to iCloud, but not the faces thumbnails. If you name photos, the tags will help to name more photos automatically.

     

    LN

  • by léonie,Helpful

    léonie léonie May 28, 2016 2:07 AM in response to jefvdv
    Level 10 (105,736 points)
    iLife
    May 28, 2016 2:07 AM in response to jefvdv
    There is no way I can force to accept it?

    This person.db is a database file that needs to embedded in the correct library. It is referencing files in the old library that you deleted.

    Do you have a backup of the previous  library with the named faces? Then restore that library. You can try to merge it with your current library in iCloud.