Can't enable iCloud Photo Library on Mac.

In regard to Photos>Preferences>iCloud tab, I get this message:

Yes, you first have to make your current library the System Photo Library by enabling it as the System Photo Library in the General pane. Then you should be able to enable it in the iCloud pane.

I have just discovered this thread as I have come across the problem and the comment about making the system photo library in General pane worked for me. However, my problem is that I'm now being asked to upgrade my iCloud storage, but I should have enough. It seems to be adding what my local Photos file size is to my existing iCloud quota.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

At which point I open Photos with the default system library located on the Mac SSD and nothing happens.

In Photos open the Photos > Preferences > iCloud tab.

Can you enable iCloud Photo Library in this Panel? Make sure "Use as System Photo Library" is already enabled in "Photos > Preferences > General". The option "Use as System Photo Library" should be grayed out.

Suggestion - simple - upgrade your storage as the message you received stated - once this upload is complete you may be able to downgrade your storage plan again but until you upgrade and do the upload you can not use iCloud Photo Library

You have 129.25 GB to upload and only 80.22 GB of storage - it is pretty clear that that will not work

LN

It seems to be adding what my local Photos file size is to my existing iCloud quota.

That is what happening. Photos will use the worst case estimate, that all photos in your current library are differnet from the photos in iCloud, when it is estimating the required storage for the additional upload. Are all your photos from your local library already in iCloud? Or does your local library contain photos that are not yet in iCloud?

If all most of your photos are already in iCloud, you can create a new, empty library and make that your iCloud Photos Library. Then your photos will download from iCloud to your new library. and no upload will be necessary. Just save your current library on an external drive, so you can export the most recent photos from that library, that might be missing in iCloud, and add the missing photos to your new iCloud photo library. If your current library contains projects (books, calendars, slideshows) you have to saye the current library, because the projects do not sync with iCloud and cannot be restored from iCloud Photo Library.If you did not yet upgrade to Photos 3.0 on High Sierra, you will also lose the named faces, because they do not sync back from iCloud with Photo 2 or 1.

Thanks for your replies and help. I have it sorted now.

I removed the un-synced pics that I took on my DSLR and uploaded them to iCloud, then upgraded my iCloud storage and let it go to work. It took many hours, but all looks good now.

Cheers

Mark

You're welcome 🙂