Photos app slow to open, constantly beachballing

Question

Level 1

43 points

Photos app slow to open, constantly beachballing

I upgraded to El Capitan from Snow Leopard. Most everything went well and is working except the Photos app. It never takes less than20 - 30 seconds to open, and while doing so I get a beach ball. Any action in Photos (import photos, create album, etc.) takes a very very long time and inevitably causes another beach ball "hang".

I do not have this problem using iPhotos within El Capitan, and never had this problem with Snow Leopard.

I read the forum about similar problems but did not find any of the proposed solutions to solve the problem. I have done a Photos rebuild several times but it makes no difference. I've restarted the Mac several times, run Disk Utility and everything seems okay.

This is so frustrating and makes using Photos app almost impossible. I do not automatically upload to icloud and have unchecked the preference to do so.

I'm attaching an Etre report in case it will help.

Thanks for any suggestions you can offer.

EtreCheck version: 3.0.6 (315)

Report generated 2016-10-09 07:46:16

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 2:23

Performance: Excellent

Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Problem: Beachballing

Description:

Photos app VERY slow to open even after rebuild. Constant beach balling with any action. Downloads take extremely long time.

Hardware Information: ⓘ

iMac (27-inch, Mid 2010)

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

iMac - model: iMac11,3

1 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 CPU: 2-core

8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok

BANK 0/DIMM1

Empty

BANK 1/DIMM1

Empty

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Video Information: ⓘ

ATI Radeon HD 5670 - VRAM: 512 MB

iMac 2560 x 1440

System Software: ⓘ

OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G1004) - Time since boot: about 16 days

Disk Information: ⓘ

WDC WD1001FALS-40Y6A0 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 999.35 GB (820.46 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5670SC ()

USB Information: ⓘ

Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

Logitech USB Receiver

Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard

Apple Card Reader

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Silicon Labs CP2102 USB to UART Bridge Controller

MediaTek Inc MT1887

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Firewire Information: ⓘ

OWC Elite Pro U3FW 800mbit - 800mbit max

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

OWC HD (disk1s2) /Volumes/OWC HD : 2.00 TB (1.43 TB free)

Configuration files: ⓘ

/etc/sudoers, File size 1242 but expected 2299

Gatekeeper: ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions: ⓘ

/System/Library/Extensions

[loaded] com.Logitech.Control Center.HID Driver (3.9.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

[loaded] com.Logitech.Unifying.HID Driver (1.3.0 - SDK 10.6 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

[not loaded] com.MCCI.SLAB_USBtoUART (V1.02.2 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

[not loaded] com.Maxtor.driver.PowSecDriver (4.3.16 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

[not loaded] com.cy.iokit.Morpheus (1.4.0 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

[not loaded] com.maxtor.iokit.IOFireWireMxBt (4.2.6 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.kext.wwan (v3.0.15 (004) - 2016-09-15) [Support]

[loaded] com.silabs.driver.CP210xVCPDriver64 (2.9.0d1 - 2016-09-15) [Support]

/System/Library/Extensions/NovatelWirelessWWAN.kext/Contents/Plugins

[not loaded] com.NovatelWireless.driver.NovatelWirelessUSBCDCECMControl (v3.0.15 (004) - 2010-06-09) [Support]

[not loaded] com.NovatelWireless.driver.NovatelWirelessUSBCDCECMData (v3.0.15 (004) - 2010-06-09) [Support]

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.3G (v3.0.15 (004) - 2010-06-09) [Support]

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.3GData (v3.0.15 (004) - 2010-06-09) [Support]

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.DisableAutoInstall (v3.0.15 (004) - 2010-06-09) [Support]

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.NWVBE (v3.0.15 (004) - 2010-06-09) [Support]

System Launch Agents: ⓘ

[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks

[loaded] 148 Apple tasks

[running] 83 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[not loaded] 46 Apple tasks

[loaded] 148 Apple tasks

[running] 96 Apple tasks

Launch Agents: ⓘ

[running] com.Logitech.Control Center.Daemon.plist (2014-06-19) [Support]

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2014-07-09) [Support]

[running] com.brother.LOGINserver.plist (2013-10-06) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2016-09-17) [Support]

Launch Daemons: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (2014-02-15) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-08-29) [Support]

[loaded] com.barebones.authd.plist (2014-03-02) [Support]

[running] com.fitbit.galileod.plist (2015-10-30) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-01) [Support]

[loaded] com.klieme.TimeMachineScheduler.plist (2014-01-28) [Support]

[loaded] com.novatelwireless.NvtlServer.plist (2010-04-16) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2016-09-17) [Support]

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2014-02-23) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2010-02-18) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2014-03-08) [Support]

[running] com.akamai.single-user-client.plist (2016-09-01) [Support]

[loaded] com.nchsoftware.prism.schedule.LikeSurvey.plist (2014-11-23) [Support]

User Login Items: ⓘ

PhotoSync Application (/Applications/PhotoSync.app)

SE Media Sync Helper Application (/Applications/Sony Ericsson Media Sync.app/Contents/Resources/SE Media Sync Helper.app)

Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper Application (/Applications/Fitbit Connect.app/Contents/MacOS/Fitbit Connect Menubar Helper.app)

LOGINserver Application (/Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/Server/LOGINserver.app)

InstUtilLaunch Application (/Library/Printers/Brother/Utilities/InstallUtility.app/Contents/Resources/Inst UtilLaunch.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

Java Applet: 11.4.2 (2007-09-18)

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2015-09-28) [Support]

Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-08)

AdobeExManDetect: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 - SDK 10.7 (2014-07-09) [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 2.3.8.1 (2011-01-13) [Support]

Musicnotes: 1.17.3 (2009-06-26) [Support]

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-22) [Support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-13) [Support]

RealPlayer Plugin: Unknown

Silverlight: 5.1.50428.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-29) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-08)

Flash Player: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-13) [Support]

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.7 (2012-06-10)

AdobePDFViewer: 11.0.10 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-22) [Support]

CouponPrinter-FireFox_v2: 1.1.10 - SDK 10.6 (2013-11-16) [Support]

Scorch: 6.2.0 (2012-02-01) [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 101 build 13 (2016-09-17) Check version

User internet Plug-ins: ⓘ

iGetterScriptablePlugin: 2.9.2 (2013-11-04) [Support]

Safari Extensions: ⓘ

ClickToFlash - Marc Hoyois - http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoplugin/ (2014-07-06)

iGetter Extension - Presenta Ltd. - http://www.igetter.net/ (2013-06-21)

Slick Savings - Spigot, Inc. (2013-12-05)

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ

Akamai NetSession Preferences (2016-09-01) [Support]

Flash Player (2016-08-29) [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV (2011-01-13) [Support]

Growl (2010-07-24) [Support]

Java (2016-06-22) [Support]

Logitech Control Center (2014-08-28) [Support]

TimeMachineScheduler (2012-07-29) [Support]

Time Machine: ⓘ

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 178.89 GB

Destinations:

OWC HD [Local]

Total size: 2.00 TB

Total number of backups: 145

Oldest backup: 10/15/14, 5:08 PM

Last backup: 10/9/16, 6:41 AM

Size of backup disk: Adequate

Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk used 178.89 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

100% Mystika3

10% backupd

6% coreaudiod

6% Finale 2014.5

5% Adobe InDesign CS6

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ

1.05 GB firefox

824 MB kernel_task

311 MB mdworker(17)

221 MB Mail

197 MB LWC2

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

829 MB Free RAM

7.19 GB Used RAM (2.98 GB Cached)

1.30 GB Swap Used

Files deleted by EtreCheck: ⓘ

Oct 9, 2016, 07:35:13 AM - ~/Library/Safari/Extensions/Amazon Shopping Assistant.safariextz

Oct 9, 2016, 07:35:13 AM - ~/Library/Safari/Extensions/Ebay Shopping Assistant.safariextz

iMac (27-inch Mid 2010), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Oct 9, 2016 7:58 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

216,100 points

Oct 9, 2016 8:57 AM in response to Janita

Where is your Photos library located? If it's on an eternal HD how is that HD formatted and connected to your iMac? The library must be on a volume that is formatted OS X Extended (journaled) and connected directly to the iMac via USB, Firewire or Thunderbolt cable.

Do you have Mystika running when you're trying to open Photos? It's taking up most of the CPU cycles.

Reply

Answer 2

Janita Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 9, 2016 9:46 AM in response to Old Toad

Photos library is located on the iMac's hard drive, although I do have Time Machine running auto backups. Mystika is seldom running and it makes no difference if any other apps are open when trying to access Photos or not...same long wait and spinning beachball. I've run Activity Monitor to check if something was interfering with Photos opening and nothing shows up that is any sort of a red flag.

Thanks (by the by) for the quick reply!

Reply

Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

216,100 points

Oct 9, 2016 9:51 AM in response to Janita

How big is the library, i.e. # of images? Do you have the iCloud Photo Library enabled? It could still be uploading files to the iCPL. Also it could be still searching for faces.

Do launch Activity Monitor and watch it as you launch Photos. That can give you an indication of which process within Photos that is slowing it down.

Reply

Answer 4

Janita Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 9, 2016 10:11 AM in response to Old Toad

I have about 9374 images in Photos. (Don't know if this is significant but the same photo library in iPhotos didn't slow it down one bit.) iCloud Photo Library is NOT enabled.

I tried to get you a screen shot of Activity Monitor during the opening of Photos...the attached is about in the first 15 seconds of opening; at one point (20 seconds?) % CPU for Photos was about 73%.

Reply

Answer 5

Old Toad

Level 10

216,100 points

Oct 9, 2016 10:17 AM in response to Janita

Boot into Safe Mode, Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode, and launch Photos there. Do you get the same slowness? Reboot normally and try again. Any difference?

Reply

Answer 6

Janita Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 9, 2016 10:41 AM in response to Old Toad

Okay. Did the safe boot and here's the result.

After reboot in safe mode, Photos app took 1:18 seconds to open. In comparison, iPhoto (with same number of photos in library) took 11 seconds.

Restarted in normal mode: Photos took 47 seconds to open; iPhotos 6 seconds.

(I really appreciate your ongoing help. Thanks so much!)

Reply

Answer 7

Old Toad

Level 10

216,100 points

Oct 9, 2016 10:57 AM in response to Janita

Does your iPhoto library have the same photos that the Photos library has or do you have some newer photos in your Photos library?

Reply

Answer 8

Janita Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 9, 2016 11:39 AM in response to Old Toad

I have three new photos in Photos; I haven't been using it because it is so slow! : >)

Reply

Answer 9

Old Toad

Level 10

216,100 points

Oct 9, 2016 11:51 AM in response to Janita

Then try the following:

1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and run the following two First Aid routines:

Repair Permisisons

Rebuild Database

2 - make a copy of the iPhoto library.

3 - drag the copy of the library onto the Photos icon in the Dock and do another migration to Photos.

4 - test the newly migrated Photos library to see if it's experiencing the same poor performance as your current library. However, remember it will take some time for the faces recognition process to complete which can slow down the library temporarily.

Reply

Answer 10

Janita Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 9, 2016 11:52 AM in response to Old Toad

Thanks. I'll give it a try later on this afternoon or evening and let you know the results. Thanks for your patience!

Reply

Answer 11

Janita Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 10, 2016 6:50 AM in response to Janita

I followed your instructions and successfully imported the iPhoto library. It appears to have made a significant difference in how quickly Photos opens, so thank you SO much.

I do, however have one more question (I hope it's a easy one). Selecting Photos from the side bar loads all the photos by "Moments". If I select "All Photos" under the Albums heading in the sidebar, I get the beach ball and after approx. 3 or 4 minutes very faint outlines of photo "squares" appear, but no photos. Clicking on a outline just causes the beach ball to start all over, but no photo ever appears. However, clicking on an individual album shows all the photos in that album just fine.

Is this because "All Photos" only works in iPhotos, and "Moments" in Photos is its replacement?

And once again, thank you so much for all your help. I look forward to learning how to use Photos!

Reply

Answer 12

Old Toad

Level 10

216,100 points

Oct 10, 2016 9:57 AM in response to Janita

The All Photos view is organized by the date the photos were added to the library. Since the Photos view works as expected the All Photos view should also. Try repairing the library according to the instructions in this Apple document: Repair Your Library.

Warning: If you use iCloud Photo Library with Photos, this action will cause Photos to upload all your pictures again (from Fix missing or incorrect thumbnails in Photos - Apple Support).

Reply

Answer 13

Janita Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 10, 2016 11:19 AM in response to Old Toad

I did the rebuild. No change; "All Photos" still only shows faint outlines for where the photo images should appear. And now it takes (by the stopwatch) 51 seconds to open. Is this because it scans for Faces every time I open it? I'm stumped!

Reply

Answer 14

Old Toad

Level 10

216,100 points

Oct 10, 2016 1:38 PM in response to Janita

Boot into Safe Mode, Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode, and try Photos and iPhoto from there. Any improvement?

Reply

Answer 15

Janita Author

Level 1

43 points

Oct 10, 2016 6:48 PM in response to Old Toad

I apologize for not being able to respond sooner--I was away from the computer most of the day. I tried your suggestion to boot into safe mode and discovered the following:

Photos took 1:56 to load and most of the time the beach ball was spinning. But it did load and looked fine.

All Photos took 5:37 to load but I discovered that all the photos except 100 loaded into the top "half" of the window, and were finally visible if I scrolled upward. It is odd that about half of the window (the bottom half) shows the outlines--nothing loaded and the bar at the top said all but about 100 were loaded...there was no beach ball so I presume loading was complete. There were definitely far more than 100 "outlines" in the lower half of the window so I don't think it was still trying to load. (And in any event, 5 + minutes is a long time to wait for loads.) In the bottom half of the window, there is one outline that appears to be a video (it has a .06 time/length of video), and maybe 20 lines below that one is a single photo; clicking info presents a blank info box and then the Photo app hangs. After 10 minutes I had to do a force quit as the beach ball was not going away.

In comparison, I opened iPhotos and all photos loaded in 12.63 seconds.

Restarted the computer in "normal" mode and the results were similar: Photos loaded in 53 seconds; All Photos took 5:28.

Should I just give up on using the Photos app? I hate to keep troubling you for help because I'm sure there are far more serious issues you're working on to help others, but I do sincerely appreciate all your suggested fixes and your willingness to keep trying. Thanks for all your input, and if you can think of anything else I'm of course willing to try. I will be at work for the next couple of days so won't be able to reply immediately, but I will check whenever I can.

Thanks so very much. It does seem to be quite the puzzle!

Reply