sksripathy

Q: Storage Issues with Photo Library

Hi All,

 

I just erased my MAC and reinstalled the OS.  Instead of using the Time Machine Back Up, I wanted to start fresh, but just bring a couple of things over.  I brought over the Photo Library from my back up.  However, I noticed something strange - the photo library "file" shows that there is 51GB of data, but when I actually launch the application, and look at all the photos/videos, it only shows 5GB of data.

 

I can't figure out the discrepancy.  Any support would be appreciated!

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013)

Posted on Jun 26, 2016 4:09 PM

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Q: Storage Issues with Photo Library

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  • by léonie,Apple recommended

    léonie léonie Jun 26, 2016 5:05 PM in response to sksripathy
    Level 10 (108,977 points)
    iCloud
    Jun 26, 2016 5:05 PM in response to sksripathy
    I brought over the Photo Library from my back up.

    How did you do that?  Did you restore the Photos Library from the backup by entering Time Machine?

    and look at all the photos/videos, it only shows 5GB of data.

    Is that what the Info panel is showing, when you select the Photos View and open the Info panel?

     

    After restoring a Photos Library I would repair it as described here: 

    https://help.apple.com/photos/mac/1.0/index.html#/pht6be18f93

     

    Important: You should back up your photo library before repairing your library.

     

    • If Photos is open, choose Photos > Quit Photos.
    • Press Option-Command and double-click the Photos icon in the Applications folder (or click the Photos icon in the Dock).The Repair Library window opens.
    • Click Repair to rebuild your photo library.

    Make sure, Photos is opening the library you restored and not a default library it created in the Pictures folder.

    You can see the path to the library in the Photos > Preferences > General: The first line is showing the Library Location.

  • by LarryHN,Apple recommended

    LarryHN LarryHN Jun 26, 2016 5:21 PM in response to sksripathy
    Level 10 (85,678 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 26, 2016 5:21 PM in response to sksripathy

    Instead of using the Time Machine Back Up, I wanted to start fresh, but just bring a couple of things over.  I brought over the Photo Library from my back up.

    How exactly did you do that? You can not use TimeMachine backups directly - you must use the TimeMachine application to restore files from a TM backup - Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support  --  http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html

     

    LN

  • by LACAllen,

    LACAllen LACAllen Jun 26, 2016 6:47 PM in response to sksripathy
    Level 5 (5,581 points)
    iCloud
    Jun 26, 2016 6:47 PM in response to sksripathy

    That is what would be called "overhead"

     

    A library's overall size is greater than the size of it's photo files simply added up together.

     

    Thumbnails, edits, album data and may either things are in a library. The actual photo files are only one component.