After a power failure while iPhoto was running, I get the message "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" and iPhoto will not open????
After a power failure while iPhoto was running, I get the message "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" and iPhoto will not open???? held down the option and the command and tried to run what was ticked off and it just sits there with a spinning wheel and does nothing, can I throw the app away and download a new one? or will it still not open?
, can I throw the app away and download a new one? or will it still not open?
You could, but the error message is indicating that your iPhoto library needs repairing.
Check, if iPhoto will run, if you launch it on a new library. Hold down the alt/option key, while you launch iPhoto. Select to create a new library from the panel that will show. Can you create a new library? If yes, try again to fix the library. Which options have you tried from the Library First Aid panel, when you launched iPhoto with the option and command key held down?
If you have not tried "Rebuild"; do that next. But be sure to make a backup of your iPhoto library, before you try this.
Similar Messages
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Yesterday when I opened iPhoto all of my photo's were missing. After many hours of frustrating time looking how to resolve, I decided to try again this morning. When I tried to open iphoto, I got the message I referenced above regarding the library is either in use or has become unreadable.
My photos are not in iPhoto anymore. There's nothing there. iphoto acts like its never even been set up. I have iPhoto '11 version 9.4.3. I have OS X Lion version 10.7.5. However, when I go to "All My Files" and then under "images", there are over 10,000 images. I see my photos (I guess it's all of them - i have no idea how many there were) and other "images" also. When i go to "pictures" I only see the 15 or so items I have scanned. In "iPhoto Library", there is 1 picture of what looks like a deck of playing cards with flowers on them - I don't know where that came from. But also in "iPhoto Library" under the heading "desktop", it shows a size of over 27GB and under "kind" it says "package". Still under desktop and "Photo Booth Library" it shows 53GB and under "kind" it says "Photo Booth Library". Before I opened iPhoto to view my photo's, I went to "empty trash" yesterday (not in iPhoto) and it showed over 65,000 items to delete. There were no more than 200 that I could actually see. So, I don't understand. I let it delete a couple of thousand before I stopped it because I didn't know what it was doing. I know - not too smart. I don't know if that has anything to do with iPhoto or not; I'm just throwing that out there. Today I went to "empty trash" and it now shows the 200 items that I can see in there. Don't know what happened.
I do have a time capsule but not sure if I’m using it correctly. If you were to tell me to restore to a certain point, I’d have to be walked thru the process.
I downloaded “iPhoto Library Manager”, not exactly sure how to use it, but got a message basically saying the library nor the database could be loaded and that album data file for the library “iPhoto Library” could not be read.
I’ve spent hours and hours and hours searching the web for answers but I’m scared to do much of anything thinking I could end up losing all my photos if I haven’t already.
Please help!
Thank you!
JamesApply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Since only one option can be run at a time start
with Option #4 and then #1 as needed.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
3 - Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments. However, books, calendars, cards and slideshows will be lost. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT -
This is super frustrating.
I tried to uninstall iPhoto and all related files and then reinstall but I keep getting the same result.
I have spent hours trying to fix this and nothing seems to work. I am pretty good with computers so I think this requires some expert help. I notice many people are stuck with this problem. Do I have to go and buy the disk from the store? How ironic that I was updating the software online so I could use photostream. Now the solution may be I need to go back to the "old school" way of doing things. Lucky I don't have a mac airbook. Lol.Re-installing the app is unlikely to help because the problem is with the Library and not the application.
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Rebuild iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. .
Regards
TD -
Hi, I have a brand new imac which i got today and when I open Iphoto all i get is the error message "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" any ideas? thanks
Are there photos in the Library? If not then just trash it and launch iphoto. It will make a new one.
If there are pics in it then Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one. -
Good Day. I have been trying to open my iPhoto and i keeps giving me the following error message " Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable " Then it suggests I push the Option and Command button at time of opening iPhoto and the 4 options given do not work as well. My operating system is OS X Vers 10.8.5. Not sure the iPhoto application as it won't open for me to tell.
Pls help . Im afraid of losing all my pics.Make a back up now. If you have any vaule in Your photos always have a back up.
Most Simple Back Up
Drag the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to another Disk. This will make a copy on that disk.
Slightly more complex:
Use an app that will do incremental back ups. This is a very good way to work. The first time you run the back up the app will make a complete copy of the Library. Thereafter it will update the back up with the changes you have made. That makes subsequent back ups much faster. Many of these apps also have scheduling capabilities: So set it up and it will do the back up automatically. Examples of such apps: Chronosync or DejaVu . But are many others. Search on MacUpdate
In Library Manager the Rebuild command is under the File menu. There's also an excellent Help available.
Regards
TD -
I was editing photos in my iphotos and it froze on me. So I shut down my computer and when I restarted I now can not access them. It says Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable. What can I do to fix this?
What you're describing is the Finder window for your external hard drive. When you're in iPhoto and try to edit a photo what happens?
Are you saying that the photos for your iPhoto library are located on the external HD while your library is in the Pictures folder on the boot drive? That would indicate a referenced library. You can check to see if you're running a referenced library by checking the Advanced Preference pane in iPhoto:
Click to view full size
So based one the Advanced preference pane in iPhoto what type of library are you running. Where is the library itself located? It should look like this:
By default it should be located in your Users/Home/Pictures folder. However, it could be run on an external HD. -
I have my iPhoto set to an external drive, when it was in use the usb disconected as i was moving my mac air, when i re-conected a message said (your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable).
I have tried shutting it down and then re opening iPhoto but get the same message.
The reason for the external drive was there was not enough room on my hard drive, I have around 7000 photos on it.
is there a simple fix?
Regards
DaleThese are your options:
1. Restore the iPhoto library from the most recent backup that predates the issue.
Advantages: Always works, if library damage is causing the problem and the backup is intact.
Disadvantages: Impossible if you don't have a backup. All changes made since the backup are lost.
2. Repair or rebuild the library. Be sure to back it up first.
Advantages: May solve the problem with no loss of data.
Disadvantages: May fail. May take a long time if the library is large.
3. Scavenge the library with a third-party application called "iPhoto Library Manager," which you can find in a web search. From the application's menu bar (not the iPhoto menu bar), select Library ▹ Rebuild.
Advantages: All images and albums should be preserved.
Disadvantages: All books, calendars, and slideshows will be lost. -
Iphoto doesn t work. Message received: Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable.
I removed it and I tried several times to reinstall it without success.Some of your user files (not system files) have incorrect permissions or are locked. This procedure will unlock those files and reset their ownership, permissions, and access controls to the default. If you've intentionally set special values for those attributes, they will be reverted. In that case, either stop here, or be prepared to recreate the settings if necessary. Do so only after verifying that those settings didn't cause the problem. If none of this is meaningful to you, you don't need to worry about it, but you do need to follow the instructions below.
Back up all data before proceeding.
Step 1
If you have more than one user, and the one in question is not an administrator, then go to Step 2.
Enter the following command in the Terminal window in the same way as before (triple-click, copy, and paste):
sudo find ~ $TMPDIR.. -exec chflags -h nouchg,nouappnd,noschg,nosappnd {} + -exec chown -h $UID {} + -exec chmod +rw {} + -exec chmod -h -N {} + -type d -exec chmod -h +x {} + 2>&-
You'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. Type carefully and then press return. You may get a one-time warning to be careful. If you don’t have a login password, you’ll need to set one before you can run the command. If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator.
The command may take several minutes to run, depending on how many files you have. Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign ($) to appear, then quit Terminal.
Step 2 (optional)
Take this step only if you have trouble with Step 1, if you prefer not to take it, or if it doesn't solve the problem.
Start up in Recovery mode. When the OS X Utilities screen appears, select
Utilities ▹ Terminal
from the menu bar. A Terminal window will open. In that window, type this:
res
Press the tab key. The partial command you typed will automatically be completed to this:
resetpassword
Press return. A Reset Password window will open. You’re not going to reset a password.
Select your startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name) if not already selected.
Select your username from the menu labeled Select the user account if not already selected.
Under Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs, click the Reset button
Select
▹ Restart
from the menu bar. -
When accessingh iPhoto all I get is "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" How do I regain access to iPhoto. All I get is an instruction to "quit"
Hi LarryHN,
I was loading images via a flash memory card which was inserted into a USB holder – during the 'download' the connection was broken [faulty USB connection]. I then re-inserted the card via the USB holder the connection was 're-broken' with a screen message indicating that 'force eject' was an option. I clicked the 'force eject' option and when I re-inserted the card/holder 120 images [approx] were missing and when I tried to open iPhoto the screen messages detailed above were displayed.
Current software is: iPhoto v9.2.3; Snow Leopard v10.6.8.
Using TD's Option 1:
i.e. “hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database” resulted in .
"Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" with a window request “quit”
& Option 2 “Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function”.
Resulted in the following message:
“The library could not be loaded because an error occurred. The library database could not be loaded; no such table RKVersionFaceContent. The album data file for the library 'iPhoto Library' could not be read” - [my italics]
Followed your instructions, re. 'new library' and it worked perfectly. All I have to do is select 'iPhoto Library2' and proceed as normal.
Thank You very much for your excellent advice and solution.
p.s. And this is completely 'off the wall' as I don't expect a positive outcome, but is it possible that all the images 'deleted' from my flash memory card could be somewhere in/on my HDD? If so, how would I proceed to recover them?
Many thanks again.
im.higgs boson -
Suddenly iphoto gives me error message 'your photo library is either in use by another app or has become unreadable'. What can I do?
What version of iPhoto? Assuming 09 or later...
Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In early versions of Library Manager it's the File -> Rebuild command. In later versions it's under the Library menu.)
This will create an entirely new library. It will then copy (or try to) your photos and all the associated metadata and versions to this new Library, and arrange it as close as it can to what you had in the damaged Library. It does this based on information it finds in the iPhoto sharing mechanism - but that means that things not shared won't be there, so no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your events, albums and keywords, faces and places back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD -
when I open iphoto the following message appears 'Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable'
Reboot you system, if you have not already done so - this should take care of the "in use by another application" part of the message.
If the problem persist you will need to create a new library or to repair your library, or to restore it from your backup.
If you do not yet have any images in your iPhoto Library simply move it to the Trash and hold down the option-key while launching iPhoto again. This will give you the option to create a new iPhoto Library or to pick another one, if you have other libraries.
To fix your current library, or to restore it from backup, if you already have pictures inside that you need to save, see Terence Devlin's posts here:
Re: Why do I keep getting asked to repair my iPhoto library?
Re: when I open iphoto I get an error message that says Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable,
Regards
Léonie -
I can't open iPhoto. Message reads "Your Photo Library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable".
Try the following:
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down to open the First Aid window. Be sure to follow the circled recommendation in the screenshot.
2 - run Option #4, Rebuild Database. -
when I open iphoto I get an error message that says Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable, I have tried restarting computer and opening iphoto whilst holding down option and command key, but then I get the following message-Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup. Please can anyone help?
Make a back up now. If you have any vaule in Your photos always have a back up.
Most Simple Back Up
Drag the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to another Disk. This will make a copy on that disk.
Slightly more complex:
Use an app that will do incremental back ups. This is a very good way to work. The first time you run the back up the app will make a complete copy of the Library. Thereafter it will update the back up with the changes you have made. That makes subsequent back ups much faster. Many of these apps also have scheduling capabilities: So set it up and it will do the back up automatically. Examples of such apps: Chronosync or DejaVu . But are many others. Search on MacUpdate
In Library Manager the Rebuild command is under the File menu. There's also an excellent Help available.
Regards
TD -
Having the same issues with iPhoto as an OP in another thread. When I try to start iPhoto I get the following error, "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable."
I have tried rebuilding the database with no joy to resolving the issue. The library has not been moved to another drive so I have not bothered with the "LockId" process someone recommended.
Following the instructions provided by Linc Davis in another thread....
Command Line In Terminal: "find ~ $TMPDIR.. \( -flags +sappnd,schg,uappnd,uchg -o ! -user $UID -o ! -perm -600 \) 2>&- | wc -l | pbcopy"
I get the following response.
319
Does anyone have suggestions for what I can do to get iPhoto back up and running?
SYSTEM:
Hardware: iMac9
OSx Version: 10.6.8Went thru the "rebuild library" process again. This time I selected to rebuild the library from an automatic back up. When I did that a screen came up saying "Upgrade or Quit - The photo library needs to be upgraded to work with this version of iPhoto". I selected Upgrade and everything seems fine now.
Not sure why anything would require an upgrade as I haven't done anything to upgrade iPhoto. Hope this is not a virus.
My Mac seems really slow. If anyone can recommend a cleanup process, I'm interested in going that route.
Thanks for the help here on the community forums! -
How do I re-open and get back into my iPhoto if this message appears: "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable"? What do I do?
Rebuild your iPhoto Library:
iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library
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