Richard Mac User

Q: How to link different Photos app library to iTunes?

Hi,

 

I transferred my large iTunes music library and Photos app pictures to an external drive. Now setting up the music was no problem (File - Add to library). The problem I have is telling iTunes where the Photos app pictures are. I am trying to load all the pictures onto the iPhone but I am unable to sync these photos. Any ideas (Photos is greyed out when I try to select it)?

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Aug 16, 2016 4:04 AM

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Q: How to link different Photos app library to iTunes?

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  • by tim_135,

    tim_135 tim_135 Aug 16, 2016 4:19 PM in response to Richard Mac User
    Community Specialists
    Aug 16, 2016 4:19 PM in response to Richard Mac User

    Hello Richard Mac User,


    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. 


    I understand from your post that you are unable to sync photos that you moved to an external hard drive through iTunes on your iMac to your iPhone. I like to sync my photos to my iPhone as well. In order to sync your photos to your iPhone through iTunes, the photos have to be on your iMac, not the external hard drive. 

    Keep your photos safely stored and up to date on all your devices

     

    As stated in the above article: 

    Sync your photos manually with iTunes

    You can set up iTunes to sync photos to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from the Photos app, or from a folder on your computer.


    Best Regards

  • by Richard Mac User,

    Richard Mac User Richard Mac User Aug 17, 2016 12:12 PM in response to tim_135
    Level 1 (27 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 17, 2016 12:12 PM in response to tim_135

    Tim,

     

    Thanks for the reply. Thats a pain as there are two very large photo folders and the main drive is almost full, hence transferring the photos to an external drive.

     

    My main drive (boot drive) is also external and photos synced OK when they were on there, so do photos have to be on the same drive as OSX or iTunes? If the same drive as iTunes can I delete iTunes and install it of the drive with the photos?

     

    Regards

  • by 000FFF,

    000FFF 000FFF Aug 18, 2016 12:11 PM in response to Richard Mac User
    Level 2 (327 points)
    Aug 18, 2016 12:11 PM in response to Richard Mac User

    Are you using iCloud Photo Library? If so, it will prevent you from syncing photos manually using iTunes. That could be a reason it is showing up as greyed out.

  • by Richard Mac User,

    Richard Mac User Richard Mac User Aug 18, 2016 12:15 PM in response to 000FFF
    Level 1 (27 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 18, 2016 12:15 PM in response to 000FFF

    000FFF, thank you for the suggestion, but no I don´t use iCloud. I am starting to think what I want to do is not currently possible and have sent a feature request to Apple.