MM Answers: how to migrate the Photos library to an external disk or use it on more than one computer?

Today we continue with our column MM Answers.

The question of the day:

How to migrate the Photos library to an external disk or use it on more than one computer?

The photo library

All of your photos, after being imported, become part of a single file, called “Fototeca”. As with iTunes, the space occupied by your photo collection is significant and we often have no way to store the entire library on your computer. Another justification for this migration when the user needs to access their photos on more than one Mac.

Backup, again. Ever!

Your information is important. As always, I suggest that you make a complete backup of your computer to an external disk or to an AirPort Time Capsule other than the drive that receives your photo library.

Backing up via Time Machine

Preparing for migration

To start the migration process, open the Finder and click on "Images". Locate the photo library, represented by the cone below:

Pictures Library

If you have more than one photo library and you don't know which one is your main one, check the Photos application itself, following the following path: Photos Preferences General and identify the path in the item “Photo Library Location”. The most common: (username)> Images> Photo library.

Photos works just like the old iPhoto, allowing you to access one photo library at a time. By default, your photo library file is managed by Photos itself. If you want to check if this is really configured this way, open the application, go back to Photos Preferences General and make sure that the option “Copy items to the Photos library” is checked.

If your option was cleared, don't worry. It is possible to consolidate the Fotos files in one place. Just follow the following process:

  1. Select the files you want to move to the photo library;
  2. Comes Consolidate File and wait.

Migrating to an external drive or another computer

Quit Photos, connect your external disk that receives the copy and drag the “Photo Library” file onto it. Depending on the size of your library and the speed of your external drive, the procedure may take a few good minutes (or even hours).

Photos library in the Finder

Obviously, if the idea is to transfer your photo library to another computer without using the Migration Assistant (located in / Applications / Utilities /), just throw it from the external drive to the new machine.

Opening your new library

After copying is complete, follow these steps to open the new library:

  1. Press the key Option and click on the Photos icon.
  2. When the message to choose Photos library is displayed, click on the “Choose Photo Library” button.

Choosing a Photos Library for OS X

  1. Select the photo library file you just moved to the external disk by clicking on "Choose Photo Library".
  2. Wait for Photos to open with your photo library.

System Photo Library

The “Fototeca do Sistema” is your main photo library. As the main one, photos from Photo Sharing are downloaded directly to it. If you have moved your photo library or simply created a new photo library and want it to become the primary one, you need to set this in the Photos Preferences.

If you only have a photo library, this is the System Photo Library. Otherwise, the first photo library you create or open in Photos will be the System Photo Library. If you have more than one library, you may need to designate a System Photo Library so that other apps can access the photos and videos you want to use.

  1. Open Photos in your new main photo library;
  2. Comes Photos Preferences General;

Photos preferences for OS X

  1. Click on the “Use as System Photo Library” button.

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