Photos app keeps importing the same photos

Question

Level 1

26 points

Photos app keeps importing the same photos

see also Photos app keeps importing same photos

I had this issues for a few months now, I thought I had managed to over come by finding and deleting the few files it said it had a problem with "could not load assets" whatever that is ?

I guessing that somehow these files have not been tagged internally as being in the cloud so that every time I connect it tries to re-import (and I end up with duplicates), but again fails to index that fact in the library. In effect constantly looping and trying to re-import on the same photos.

Even deleting all the files on the phone that are affected (and in theory, across all devices and the cloud) the problem still repeats.

Re-built photo library several times and all mac & iphones 6s are up to date OS X El Capitan V 10.11.6 & iphone 12.01

I wonder if updating the Mac OS to macOS Mojave, would cure the problem ?

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), +Ipad Air; ITouch; Classic; Iph6

Posted on Oct 11, 2018 2:56 AM

Reply

Answer 1

⚠️

Top-ranking reply

léonie

Level 10

198,779 points

Oct 11, 2018 5:17 AM in response to goslings

Are all your devices syncing with iCloud Photo Library or only the iPhone or only the Mac? How are you using iCloud Photo Library?

If your iPhone is syncing with iCloud and "Optimize Storage" is enabled, Photos cannot remember, which photos already have been imported, because the photos may be moved between iCloud and the device and will appear as new photos and you may not even see all new photos when you try to import. If the iPhone is syncing with iCloud Photo Library (or iCloud Photos in iOS 12), I would use iCloud Photo Library to import from the iPhone and not import manually using a USB connection.

Reply

Answer 2

goslings Author

Level 1

26 points

Oct 11, 2018 9:33 AM in response to léonie

clearly there is something wrong then as this is what is now happening, and it did not before. some of the photos "it thinks" it needs to import are rather old.

Trying to go through and delete any duplicates is rather painful. Is there no way to do this in photos ?

Other than looking at last import and right clicking show in moment and deleting the obvious duplicates

thanks

Reply

Answer 3

goslings Author

Level 1

26 points

Oct 11, 2018 8:18 AM in response to léonie

I have an ipad, iphone & imac all used to sync with iCloud photo library and this has been working fine for past 2 years, I have not changed any options, as far as I am aware. I do not import manually other than when connecting iphone to mac via cable and it fires up photos asking what I want to import. I do this circa every few months but only to check for OS upgrades really, everything else is done over WIFI for both iphone & ipad.

thanks

Reply

Answer 4

léonie

Level 10

198,779 points

Oct 11, 2018 8:27 AM in response to goslings

I do not import manually other than when connecting iphone to mac via cable and it fires up photos asking what I want to import.

If you are importing all photos using iCloud photo library, ignore that Photos will launch and ask you to import new photos. There cannot be any new photos or videos to import, if the photos and videos have been transferred by iCloud Photo Library. You are only risking to create duplicates. Quit Photos, when it opens without importing any thing.

Reply

Quick Links

Photos app keeps importing the same photos

Similar questions