Megelll

Q: Relocate my photos library to a different internal HD

I want to permanently relocate my 200GB "photos" library to another internal HD. It is taking too much space on my startup disk. When I simply "drag and drop" the folder it only copies it of course.

Mac Pro

Posted on Sep 15, 2016 6:44 AM

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Q: Relocate my photos library to a different internal HD

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  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Sep 15, 2016 6:51 AM in response to Megelll
    Level 10 (104,081 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 15, 2016 6:51 AM in response to Megelll

    Once it's copied it you can delete the original.

     

    Of course you could always just move it by holding down the ⌘ key while you drag and drop.

  • by léonie,Apple recommended

    léonie léonie Sep 15, 2016 7:24 PM in response to Megelll
    Level 10 (107,891 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 15, 2016 7:24 PM in response to Megelll

    When I simply "drag and drop" the folder it only copies it of course.

    Drag and drop the  Photos Library to the other internal drive. Then double-click it to open it in Photos and test it thoroughly.  Once you are satisfied that it is working in the new location, delete it from the internal drive.

     

    Moving a library can occasionally result in file errors, and it is safer not move the library instead of copying the library. You may end up with an unreadable version on the destination drive.

     

    To use a Photos Library on a different drive, the drive needs to have the file system "MacOS Extended (Journaled)", otherwise you may not be able to use the library there.

  • by Megelll,

    Megelll Megelll Sep 15, 2016 7:26 PM in response to Megelll
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 15, 2016 7:26 PM in response to Megelll

    OK -  Simple enough. Thank you! I thought I had to "redirect" Photos to somehow "look" for the library in a diff location.

  • by LarryHN,

    LarryHN LarryHN Sep 15, 2016 8:09 PM in response to Megelll
    Level 10 (85,054 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Sep 15, 2016 8:09 PM in response to Megelll

    You do once it is safely there on a properly formatted volume - to switch to it either double click on the library in the new location or hold down the option key while launching Photos and use the select library window to select it

    LN