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My Photos library uses iCloud Photo Library, and is on Dropbox to use on three Macs. On each one I cannot open it, even using the restart/Cmd/Option approach - I get this msg:
Photos must quit because the photo library has become unavailable or its data is corrupt.
Any help please?
iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017), macOS High Sierra (10.13.2)
I tested a few times with a small Photos Library in Dropbox. It stopped working, as soon as I opened it on another computer and the changes synced back.
Apple advises against, see: Updating from iPhoto to Photos for OS X - Apple Support
If you store your Photos library in a location that's part of a cloud service (for example, Dropbox, Box, or Google Drive), your library might be damaged by the syncing process. As a result, you could lose photos.
To see your photos on all your devices, you can use iCloud Photo Library. To back up your library, you can use Time Machine.
I tested a few times with a small Photos Library in Dropbox. It stopped working, as soon as I opened it on another computer and the changes synced back.
Apple advises against, see: Updating from iPhoto to Photos for OS X - Apple Support
To see your photos on all your devices, you can use iCloud Photo Library. To back up your library, you can use Time Machine.
Why? Because you have the library on a drive that will not work for the library - it can only be on a local drive formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) or APFS - Where is it safe to store a Photos Library? Requirements for the external drive
Dropbox will destroy Photos libraries
LN
Referenced files can be combined in a smart album.
Now select all images in this album and use the command "File > Consolidate".
This will copy all original image files into the Photos Library, provided the original image files can be found by Photos.
Thx for replies. I don’t think Dropbox is the issue. Dropbox is a folder on my iMac and my photo library - since iPhoto and aperture and Photos since day 1 - has always been on there with no problems - must be 15 years+ ?
And for 15 years you have been very lucky. Now your luck has run out.
When you put the library into the dropbox folder it is synced to the Dropbox servers. These are not formatted correctly for these databases and so the library is liable to be corrupted from being written to on there.
Thanks - but confusing! SO I have iCloud Photo Library on, and the options to store there and use on each iMac and iPhone.... so is my library on BOTH Dropbox (as in the Photos preferences) AND iCloud? If so, how do I get each iMac to only sync with the iCloud version... and each other?
BTW - the Dropbox Photos library did just repair, so I'll copy it to my Pictures folder... assume that will sync w iCloud? It is only 45Gb though, whereas it was 186Gb before..
iCloud Photo Library will need a local Photos Library somewhere on your Mac, either in your Pictures folder or on a locally mounted external drive. To make the version of your library you copied out of Dropbox your iCloud Photo Library, double click the copied version to open it in Photos, then open the "Photos > Preferences > General" and click "Use as System Photo Library", if this option is not grayed out. Then open "Photos > Preferences > iCloud" and enable iCloud Photos Library.
If so, how do I get each iMac to only sync with the iCloud version... and each other?
Keep the library out of Dropbox. Your Macs and your mobile devices will sync with the iCloud version of your library, if iCloud Photo Library is enabled. iCloud will store the full version of your library and sync this library with the local libraries on your devices, so the Photos Libraries on all devices will be identical.
It is only 45Gb though, whereas it was 186Gb before..
Has it been 186Gb before you started the iCloud Sync, or before you moved it back from dropbox? Or before you started the Repair? It is hard to tell, if the syncing with Dropbox damaged the library so bad, that photos have been lost, or if the syncing with iCloud removed originals.
iCloud Photo Library can reduce the size of the local library , when you use "Optimize Storage". That is intended.
Do you have a backup of the library from before you moved it to Dropbox?
I think I'm lucky - found another backup of the Dropbox Photos file in my Pictures folder from few weeks ago - that has repaired and is full-size... so I'll switch to this as the Sys Photo Lib and forget the Dropbox one . Thanks!
so... home tonight to iMac 2 - was thinking that I'd see a synced Photos library file in Pictures, as all my iMacs have iCloud all options on... but nothing in there. Which file do I appoint the Master and how do I / should I expect to see the file here in iMac2?
I will check - they are in different locations. I guess only one machine should have “make system library” checked and the others should have all the iCloud options checked?
But can I ask - does the library copy across to the new Pictures folder location on machines where it wasn’t previously, if all iCloud options are checked in Sys. prefs?
Kind Regards,
Mark ****
****
<Edited by Host>no - all systems have to have the library you want to sync set as the system library for that system - ICPL only works with the system library
But can I ask - does the library copy across to the new Pictures folder location on machines where it wasn’t previously, if all iCloud options are checked in Sys. prefs?
It does not "copy" anywhere - it syncs with the system library on each connected system
LN
Hi - new question: Using the "new" library now in Pictures foldeer, I get this msg;
"1,877 referenced files in your library will not upload to iCloud Photo Library.
Select referenced files in your library and choose “Consolidate” from the File menu to copy the original files into the library."
How can I batch-select all 1877 referenced files? How to spot a referenced file?
and is on Dropbox
It cannot be on Dropbox. The library has been corrupted from being there.
You cannot share a Photos Library like that. It's not designed for that kind of usage.
Good Luck 🙂
What are the iCloud settings and status on each device
LN
Photos library will not repair, will not open
