User profile for user: James Fernald
James Fernald Author
User level: Level 2
326 points

Albums function is SO slow in photos

I have been migrating and merging my old iphoto libraries into one big photos library. I have separated all videos into a separate library. The library is now approaching 100gb in pictures. The problem is a lot of albums were imported so I tried to put them into a folder but got the spinning rainbow wheel forever. I can scroll fine through the photos, but every time I open or move an album I get the spinning wheel. Any suggestions? I am using the latest version of Photos. I have had to force quit photos twice now - here is the error log.

Also, how big a library can we have in photos? Is 100gb too big?User uploaded file

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch,Early 2015), iOS 10.3.3, null

Posted on Apr 3, 2018 2:59 AM

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
200,531 points

Posted on Apr 3, 2018 6:32 AM

100GB is only too big, if your system drive is too full. Do you still have plenty of free storage on your system drive? At least 10GB, better 20GB.

Theoretically, you can a Photos Library with up to 1000000 items (photos and videos).

Is your Photos Library on your system drive or on an external drive. But be frugal with smart albums. They need to search the complete library, when they are updated. I would not create more of them than necessary.


The error message is showing that photos has been hanging, not crashing. It is hard to find the reason for a hang. Have you tried to restart your Mac? Try to restart in Safe Mode. This will clear some caches (Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support), then restart again normally.


If Photos is still lagging, repair the Photos Library, but make a current backup, before you do that.

See: Repair the library


Are the albums you are trying to move in the folder iPhoto Events? Some users have reported, that these iPhoto Event albums are behaving strangely and cannot be moved around. If they are causing problems, and you do not really need them, delete these albums.

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User profile for user: léonie
léonie
User level: Level 10
200,531 points

Apr 3, 2018 6:32 AM in response to James Fernald

100GB is only too big, if your system drive is too full. Do you still have plenty of free storage on your system drive? At least 10GB, better 20GB.

Theoretically, you can a Photos Library with up to 1000000 items (photos and videos).

Is your Photos Library on your system drive or on an external drive. But be frugal with smart albums. They need to search the complete library, when they are updated. I would not create more of them than necessary.


The error message is showing that photos has been hanging, not crashing. It is hard to find the reason for a hang. Have you tried to restart your Mac? Try to restart in Safe Mode. This will clear some caches (Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support), then restart again normally.


If Photos is still lagging, repair the Photos Library, but make a current backup, before you do that.

See: Repair the library


Are the albums you are trying to move in the folder iPhoto Events? Some users have reported, that these iPhoto Event albums are behaving strangely and cannot be moved around. If they are causing problems, and you do not really need them, delete these albums.

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Albums function is SO slow in photos

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