barneyhairball

Q: Where are my photos in Time Machine?

I use the Photos app to save my photos. When I click on the Photos application in TM, all I see is the front sheet so to speak of Photos app, not my photos.  Where are they located in TM, or aren't they?  I got rid of iPhotos ages ago cos it's old.  Please advise.

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 26, 2016 1:03 PM

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Q: Where are my photos in Time Machine?

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  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Aug 26, 2016 1:14 PM in response to barneyhairball
    Level 10 (84,205 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 26, 2016 1:14 PM in response to barneyhairball

    If you are backing up your Photos library with TimeMachine then your photos are in the Photos library in TimeMachine - you do not directly access them (or anything else) in teh TimeMachine backup - you must use the TimeMachine application to restore things from a TM backup - Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support  --  http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html

     

    After restoring your library you can access it using Photos - be sure to restore to a different location so you do not overwrite your existing library

     

    This is no different for iPhoto or Photos - or any other program - that is how TM works

     

    LN

  • by barneyhairball,

    barneyhairball barneyhairball Aug 26, 2016 1:44 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 26, 2016 1:44 PM in response to LarryHN

    Thank for your reply.  But ...

     

    When I 'Enter Time Machine' the 'Photos.app' is visible on the left hand side under 'Favourites' along with lots of other things.  When I click on 'Documents' for example, the line it is in, goes a different colour, namely, dark brownish.  I can open a single Word file, but when I click on 'Photos.app' its just like I never clicked on it, as in nothing happens, not even an error  message, or a different colour.  Is this right?  All the other things in the left hand side come to life, but 'Photos.app' is dead. How do I know TM is working and actually backing up my photos? Any advice?

  • by LarryHN,Helpful

    LarryHN LarryHN Aug 26, 2016 2:59 PM in response to barneyhairball
    Level 10 (84,205 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 26, 2016 2:59 PM in response to barneyhairball

    The Photos application has nothing to do with your Photos - as noted above

    your photos are in the Photos library in TimeMachine

    By default the Photos library is in your pictures folder - if it is not then it is where ever you put it and only you know that

     

    and you do not click on anything in the TimeMachine back up - you restore them

     

    again as posted

    you do not directly access them (or anything else) in teh TimeMachine backup - you must use the TimeMachine application to restore things from a TM backup - Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support  --  http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html

     

    After restoring your library you can access it using Photos - be sure to restore to a different location so you do not overwrite your existing library

     

    This is no different for iPhoto or Photos - or any other program - that is how TM works

    The detailed  instructions for use  and a set of user generated FAQs are in the links I provided you

     

    LN

  • by barneyhairball,

    barneyhairball barneyhairball Aug 26, 2016 3:04 PM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 26, 2016 3:04 PM in response to LarryHN

    Thanks.  But the Photos.app is still dead in TM when the others are not. And, I can see a Word file in TM just by clicking on it but not any photos.  I so appreciate that people like me seem a dummy, but no doubt the majority of posts are from people like me.  Please be patient, we are trying our best to understand what is obvious to people with lots of points.  Very grateful for your replies, I'll get there in the end.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Aug 26, 2016 3:26 PM in response to barneyhairball
    Level 10 (84,205 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 26, 2016 3:26 PM in response to barneyhairball

    No-- you refuse to follow simple instructions

     

    read carefully - you DO NOT CLICK on or RUN anything from the TimeMachine backup - you ONLY use the TimeMachine application to restore things - in this case your Photos library to a new location

     

    THird try

    The Photos application has nothing to do with your Photos - as noted above

    your photos are in the Photos library in TimeMachine

    By default the Photos library is in your pictures folder - if it is not then it is where ever you put it and only you know that

     

    and you do not click on anything in the TimeMachine back up - you restore them

     

    again as posted

    you do not directly access them (or anything else) in teh TimeMachine backup - you must use the TimeMachine application to restore things from a TM backup - Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support  --  http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html

     

    After restoring your library you can access it using Photos - be sure to restore to a different location so you do not overwrite your existing library

     

    This is no different for iPhoto or Photos - or any other program - that is how TM works

    The detailed  instructions for use  and a set of user generated FAQs are in the links I provided you

    Follow the instructions for RESTORING using the TimeMachine application - to NOT click on anything within the TM backup to run it

     

    LN

  • by barneyhairball,

    barneyhairball barneyhairball Aug 27, 2016 9:44 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 27, 2016 9:44 AM in response to LarryHN

    I take it you don't teach for a living!  I'm not trying to restore.  I just wonder why I can see my Word docs as I created them, but not my photos.  I suppose I just want to make sure TM is working.  I'll just accept I can see my Word docs but never my photos.  I have one more question, but I'll just create a new post. Thanks for your interest.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Aug 27, 2016 10:39 AM in response to barneyhairball
    Level 10 (84,205 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 27, 2016 10:39 AM in response to barneyhairball

    And you do not learn at at all

     

    You can not access your photos unless you restore them as you have been told in detail with detailed instructions on how to do it

     

     

    how are is it - You can NOT access your photos in a TM backup unless you restore them first

     

    Good Luck

     

    LN

  • by barneyhairball,

    barneyhairball barneyhairball Aug 27, 2016 11:25 AM in response to LarryHN
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 27, 2016 11:25 AM in response to LarryHN

    After a drink or two my initial reaction is to laugh.  You are priceless!  I'm sure we will have many happy years together.  But ...  You are still not answering why I can access and see my Word docs but not my photos!  Maybe you don't listen and cannot answer a question.  Maybe you don't know the answer!  God forbid!  Over and out.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Aug 27, 2016 11:55 AM in response to barneyhairball
    Level 10 (84,205 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Aug 27, 2016 11:55 AM in response to barneyhairball

    As to how Word operates as in teh proper forum - You ask about Photos and the answer is you can not - why? Way bey0ond yoru abilities but basically because TM does nto make copies of things - ut only copies changes adn those have to be reassembled by the TM software - but even more because that is how it works and how it is documented and it you do not follow directions you will get poor results - we can help you learn if you are capable of doing so - we can not and do not care to make you understand Apple's decisions - you have the same choice we do - follow their rules of do not use their software - no real need to understand why they make the decisions they do

     

    and if you want a good relationships with anyone when you ask answers adn get correct answers you will be very far ahead in life if you refrain from attacking them and calling them names just because you can not learn

     

     

    attacks like this do not invite good will and assistance

     

    I take it you don't teach for a living!

    Bye

     

     

    LN

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Aug 27, 2016 4:45 PM in response to barneyhairball
    Level 10 (105,756 points)
    iLife
    Aug 27, 2016 4:45 PM in response to barneyhairball
    But ...  You are still not answering why I can access and see my Word docs but not my photos!

    Word documents are documents. They are appearing in the Time Machine backup as a single item just like in the Finder. Your Photos Library is not a document. It is a package of several related files ad folders, and it is showing in the Finder and your Time Machine backup as a singe item. The internals ofthat package are not easy to read for humans, because they are connected by the database files, so it is best to let photos find the image files.