Photos for Mac: The export operation failed to create a file for the image identified

this message appeared and gave a list of photos/videos (file names only, no preview or anything):

When you see such an error message, take a screenshot, so you have a list of the filenames.

Then enter one of the filenames into the search field in Photos to search for the filename.

It will show you the photo, that cannot be exported.

Try to export the photo again with "File > Export > Export unmodified original". Does that work or give the same error message? If the error message is "failed to create a file" it could be, that there are duplicate filenames or illegal (invisible) characters in the filename, or the file system of the destination drive is incompatible, for example formatted "case sensitive".

I just noticed, the error message in your screenshot next to the list of files says "no se ha podido cargar la imagen", so the image could not be loaded. The file may be missing or damaged.

The files with "_tmp" in the name may not be the original files you are seeing in Photos, but intermediate files created during the export.

It may be easier to find the files in your library, if you search with a smart album:

• File > New smart album
• Then set the rule to "filename contains tmp"

As a test: If you select one of the files that do notget exported to the external drive - can you export it to your system drive (to the Desktop) with "File > Export > Export unmodified original"? If yes, try to open the file in Preview.

Long filenames are a problem, when a drive is formatted MS-DOS (FAT32).

File with long filenames cannot be stored on such a drive. The early versions of DOS allowed only 8.3 filenames (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8.3_filename).

Export the files first to a folder on your Mac, then rename them to shorter names and only then copy them them to your external drive.

In the long run, I would change the file system format on the external drive to MacOS Extended (Journaled), if you do not need it on a windows computer as well.

You could also rename the photos directly when exporting from Photos, for example by using the "Sequential" file naming preset.

and what is the format of the external drive? I don’t understand what is a “format”

The "format" refers to the file system of the drive. The file system determines, how the files are stored on the drive. If you never checked the format of the drive, it may be using a filesystem, that is incompatible with a photos library. You can see the file system format, if you select the icon of the drive in the Finder and enter the key combination command-I (⌘I). In the upper section of the Info panel (General), you can see the format. What does it say? For example - my system drive is showing the format "APFS" in the "General > Format" line. What does your external drive show?

What the filename (including the filename extension) of one of the items that failed to export?

Can you edit the image in Photos? If you neither can edit the image nor export it, the file may be missing.

The problem is i dont know which files specifically did not get exported

gave a list of photos/videos (file names only, no preview or anything): The export operation failed to create a file for the image identified

The photos in that list are the ones that were not exported - it is the only way to know which ones were not exported

Where is your Photos library located? Where exactly are you exporting these photos to and what is the format of the external drive?

LN

The files may still be in your Photos Library. Try to search with FindAnyFile for the missing files.

Download FindAnyFile here: http://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/index.php

The free trial will suffice for now.

In the search field enter the start of one of the missing filenames. Can Find Any File find it?

The Photos.app creates thumbnail files and previews of the edited versions. That can be used for browsing, even if the originals are no longer available. If you can identify the photos that failed to export in the browser in Photos, you could try to drag the thumbnails from the Photos window to the Desktop.

Do you have any idea what could have caused the loss? Just to prevent it from occurring again?

Some cleaning applications can do this. Stay away from duplicate finders and cleaning applications, that will modify the library directly. They can damage a Photos Library beyond repair.

Again

what is the format of the external drive?

The best wild guess is that it is not correctly formatted but only you can answer that question

LN

You explained that over 24 hours ago (almost 24 hours before their latest post - since it is a very likely cause of the problem until they answer your and my question the best answer to this mornings post by the OP

Your further ideas to fix this would be much appreciated.

is for them to provide the critical information requested by you and me

Sorry that upsets you but since the OP is impatient for an answer they need to provide that to get one - I can not provide further ideas until the OP answers yesterday's requests

LN