beniadams
Level 1 (8 points)
iLife

Q: iPhoto library is locked and neither 'force quit' or rebooting resolved the problem. Any ideas?

iphoto has error message: library is locked. clicking repair or force quit or reboot has not resolved. How can I get the app to restart?

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), osx 10.9.5

Posted on Jul 9, 2016 10:00 AM

by Terence Devlin,Solvedanswer
Terence Devlin Terence Devlin
Level 10 (139,500 points)
iLife
A:

Can you give us the exact error message? The most common one usually says something about a locked disk. Is your library on an external? If so, what format is that?

 

Also, what version of iPhoto?

 

Assuming it's not on an external, try Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)

 

 

This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.

 

 

Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.


https://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/

Posted on Jul 9, 2016 10:40 AM

Close
beniadams

Q: iPhoto library is locked and neither 'force quit' or rebooting resolved the problem. Any ideas?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Terence Devlin,Solvedanswer

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Jul 9, 2016 10:40 AM in response to beniadams
    Level 10 (139,500 points)
    iLife
    Jul 9, 2016 10:40 AM in response to beniadams

    Can you give us the exact error message? The most common one usually says something about a locked disk. Is your library on an external? If so, what format is that?

     

    Also, what version of iPhoto?

     

    Assuming it's not on an external, try Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)

     

     

    This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.

     

     

    Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.


    https://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/

  • by beniadams,

    beniadams beniadams Jul 9, 2016 11:26 AM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iLife
    Jul 9, 2016 11:26 AM in response to Terence Devlin

    Terence,

    Thanks for your response and recommendation. The error message is: "This photo library is locked, on a locked disc, or you do not have permission to make changes to it." I am unable to tell you the iPhoto version since iPhoto is not responding because of the error msg. I downloaded the library mgr and was then able to see the photos but iPhoto itself remains locked.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 9, 2016 11:28 AM in response to beniadams
    Level 9 (50,297 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 9, 2016 11:28 AM in response to beniadams

    Or (as the message says) the disk is locked, follow the instructions given by Terence.

  • by Terence Devlin,

    Terence Devlin Terence Devlin Jul 9, 2016 11:44 AM in response to beniadams
    Level 10 (139,500 points)
    iLife
    Jul 9, 2016 11:44 AM in response to beniadams

    So, now use the Rebuild command

  • by beniadams,

    beniadams beniadams Jul 9, 2016 12:27 PM in response to Terence Devlin
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iLife
    Jul 9, 2016 12:27 PM in response to Terence Devlin

    Rebuild worked. Thanks.