Migrating large iPhoto library from my old mac to a new iMac

Hi there. This seems a little complicated, but hopefully I can explain my problem clearly and somebody will have faced this same problem.
I currently have a Macbook pro of approximately five years old and it is running an outdated version of iPhoto (6.0.6) and has just over 5,000 pictures in its library which have been edited and updated.I have recently purchased a new iMac (11,3) which is running iPhoto 11 (version 9.1.5) which so far has only about 30 photos in it which were loaded as a “test” import and could be removed if necessary.
What I want to know is how do I best go about transferring my old iPhoto library and its contents (critically, I obviously want to keep the 5,000 shots intact in their edited state) over to the new iMac so that I can view my whole photo library in iPhoto ’11?
I have actually moved the whole iPhoto library folder across to the iMAC hard disk and put it in a separate dummy folder, however, I am usure about exactly how to go about combining them as it would appear that iPhoto ’11 may have a different underlying file structure and I don't want to mess this up!
It had occurred to me that it might be worth upgrading iPhoto on my macbook Pro to iPhoto ’11 (I have recently upgraded to snow leopard so I have access to the App Store)....... Am I right in thinking that this provides a simple down-loadable upgrade all the way to IPhoto’11. Would this help me in any way what I am trying to do, do you think?
Be grateful for all advice on this.
Thanks,
Alan.

It's really simple.
I have actually moved the whole iPhoto library folder across to the iMAC hard disk and put it in a separate dummy folder,
Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and point it at this Library. Iphoto will upgrade the library to the new format.
Regards
TD

Similar Messages

Can some please provide instructions on how to import an iPhoto library from an old Mac to a new Mac without getting a bunch of duplicates? I tried transferring my pictures using an external hard drive and then copying it to the Pictures folder on my Mac

Can someone please provide instructions on how to import an iPhoto library from an old Mac to a new Mac without getting a bunch of duplicates? I tried transferring my pictures using an external hard drive and then copying it to the Pictures folder on my new Mac. I ended up getting a bunch of duplicates. My old Mac has an older version of iPhoto while the new Mac has iPhoto '11. Is that the cause of the problem? Please advise. Thanks.

Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.
Regards
TD

How do I transfer iPhoto library from an old Mac to a new Air and retain the Albums?

I just transferred my iPhoto library from an old Mac to a new Air by dragging the entire Library from my Pictures folder onto an external HD and then dragging from there onto my new Air. Transfer effected fine and all images now appear in iPhoto on the new Air. One problem: the Albums that were present on the left hand toolbar in iPhoto on my old machine are no longer there, so I have 50,000 images with no organization. Events are still there organized by date so that is something, but the Albums are not there and that is what I primarily relied on. Help please??

The left hand pane is the source pane. Were both Macs running the same version of iPHoto?
Try rebuilding the library with the option to Rebuild the iPhoto Library Database from automatic backup.
OT

How do I transfer my iphoto library from my old mac to my new one

I have backed up my pictures on a hard drive but the file is greyed out once plugged into my new laptop. Seems like this should be easier.

just to confirm, i too have done this successfully several times. What application r u trying to move into ? are you using the Import button in the application or dragging and dropping? let us know how u solve the mystery, thanks

I tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro (via external hard drive), but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. so i tried to just del

i tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro (via external hard drive), but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. so i tried to just delete all those images so i could try a different approach to transferring, but the new iphoto won't let me do anything and every time i try to delete anything it crashes (since the image amount is so high). please help!!
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), iphoto '11, version 9.4.2

To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:
Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...
But however you do choose to link the two machines...
Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.

I tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro, but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. now iphoto won't let me do anything to fix!!

i tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro (via external hard drive), but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. so i tried to just delete all those images so i could try a different approach to transferring, but the new iphoto won't let me do anything and every time i try to delete anything it crashes (since the image amount is so high). please help!!

See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1229?viewlocale=en_US - I doubt that it will solve your problem, though. You may want to post on the iPhoto forum - that's where all of the iPhoto experts hang out.
Good luck,
Clinton

After getting a new dell laptop, I was able to easily move my itunes library from my old mac to my new laptop,however now when I try to sync my music to my iphone,my songs have an exclimation point next to it and cant sync most of my music. HELP!

I recently was given a new dells windows 7 laptop. I then was able to successfully move my itunes library from my old mac to my new dell. Now I am trying to sync my whole library of music back onto my iphone 4, but when I try it says most of my music can not be located. I have exclimation points next to the majority of my music (I have 368 songs in my itunes acount). Please help me be able to sync my songs to my iphone. I am only able to sync about 31 of my songs.

Copy them from your old computer, or your backuo copy of your old computer. to your new one.
The music sync is one way - computer to ipod. the exception is itunes purchases.

I have just migrated all my files from my old Mac to my new Mac.

I have just migrated all my files from my old Mac to my new Mac. The CS2 apps are asking for my serial number which I have. But before I follow through on this will this procedure deactivate my old Mac's CS2 apps? I'd like to keep the old Mac active until I'm confident that there will be no glitches with software operation on my new Mac. In other words a shakedown cruise of app integrity on the new Mac. Please advise.

never migrate adobe files. properly install them using the installation files.
for cs2, don't use your installation files. use Error: Activation Server Unavailable | CS2, Acrobat 7, Audition 3
and you don't need to deactivate your currentle working cs2 programs.

I am trying to transfer my itunes library from my old Mac to my new Mac; however, all that transfers is the music I downloaded from itunes. It does not transfer the music I downloaded from my cd's.

How do I transfer my itunes library from my old Mac to my new Mac? When I try all that transfers is what I downloaded from Itunes. It does not transfer the music I downloaded from my cd's/.

iTunes: How to move [or copy] your music [library] to a new computer [or another drive] - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4527 - a somewhat bewildering and not always easily understandable set of options.
Quick answer if you use iTunes' default preferences settings: Copy the entire iTunes folder (and in doing so all its subfolders and files) intact to the other drive. Open iTunes and immediately hold down the Option (alt) key (shift on Windows), then guide it to the iTunes Library.itl file in the moved iTunes folder.
For the record there's this reference for iTunes 11 but it really doesn't strike me as having the specifics you need. iTunes 11 for Mac: Move your library to another computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12168
Windows users see tip at: https://discussions.apple.com/message/18879381
2011 Transferring your iTunes library - http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/moving-your-itunes-library-to -a-new-hard-drive/ - An article with good background information, particularly if you are not sure your media files are all grouped for quick solution above. Unfortunately it uses the single term "transferring library" for two very different moves; relocating just your media (not recommended unless you really need this configuration) and relocating media+database (really your whole "library"). Make sure you understand the difference before electing to move only media.
If you put it in the default location of Macintosh HD > Users > *User Name* > Music then you don't even need to start with the option key held down, iTunes will automatically look for it there. (Make sure there isn't anything already in the iTunes folder there that you want to keep since you will be replacing it with the one you are moving.)

I am trying to move my itunes library from my old pc to my new imac, home sharing is on and I can see the shared library. My problem is that when I check the shared library to import it to my imac I cannot import it. Can anyone help me?

I am trying to move my itunes library from my old pc to my new imac, home sharing is on and I can see the shared library. My problem is that when I check the shared library to import it to my imac I cannot import it. Can anyone help me?

You need to transfer the iTunes Library from the most recent backup you made before the hard drive was replaced.
You can't transfer the full iTunes Library from the iPad back to iTunes.
There are third-party Windows applications that will transfer data from an iOS device, but they don't re-create the iTunes Library exactly as it was before.

HT4889 If I transfer iphoto library from a hard disk to a new iMac will all my events and albums stay unchanged?

If I transfer iphoto library from a hard disk to a new iMac will all my events and albums stay unchanged?

They should, yes. You should have a full and complete backup as well, of course.

Tried to copy my iphoto library from my old mac and I get 7 times more photos???

I had under 5,000 photos in my old iPhoto library on my old mac pro desktop.
After I tried to import the old library into my new iPhoto library (on my new mac i7 running Mavericks), iPhoto ended up with over 35,000 photos.
iPhoto was literally creating events for single photos when the old iPhoto library never had such events. I already tried doing a search in this forum and googling but didn't come across a similar issue. The names of the events were gibberish as in the names of folders you would see if you controlled clicked and selected "show package contents" and drilled way down.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Sounds like you imported the library into iPhoto on the new machine.
Never import one Library to another. Every version and thumbnail is imported like a distinct photo, you lose all your Albums, Keywords etc., the link between Original and Previews is destroyed, the non-destructive editing feature is ruined and so on. In summary: it's mess.
To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:
Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...
But however you do choose to link the two machines...
Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.

How do I get my iTunes library from my old mac to my new one?

How do I get my iTunes and for that matter iPhoto libraries from my old mac 15" Tetherball iMac running OS 10.4.11 iTunes ver. 9.0.2 to my new iMac running 10.6.2 but also using iTunes ver. 9.0.2? I used the migration assistant, and a firewire cable, to move my "Music" folder to the new mac, but it insisted that I create a new user on the new mac for the data, rather than giving me a choice to move it into my user account. Also, based on some info from The Missing Manual and the Take Control books I created a separate user that is not an Administrator on the computer to be my primary login. When I simply tried to copy the music folder - iTunes failed to open. And because I am not an admin I can't access the new folder to copy it while I am in my non-admin user on the new computer. I have looked through as many of the posts as I could wade through and didn't see anything quite as simple as I think my problem is. Thanks, in advance.

Did you use Migration Assistant to move all you contents or did you create a new account on the new Mac before transferring?
I had a similar problem when I got my MBP as I created an account on the new Mac at the store to confirm that the MBP was ok. Mistake. I got how home and had loads of issues so I ended up reinstalling the system on the new MBP and using Migration Assistant to move ALL my stuff from the old to the new.
Another choice is to clone your old Mac to an ext HD then swap that cloned HD with the HD in your new Mac.
Regardless of which way you go make sure you de-authorize your old Mac before getting rid of it.
MJ

How do I migrate Thunderbird POP messages from my old Mac to my new Mac without going through gmail?

Bought new Mac last November. Need to migrate 5 years' worth of Thunderbird POP messages from my old Mac to my new Mac. For security reasons, I do NOT want to upload everything through gmail, but copy them directly through a flash drive. Don't know where to find the Thunderbird POP message files inside Mac OS. Help?

Hello,
See:
*[https://support.mozilla.org/kb/moving-thunderbird-data-to-a-new-computer Moving Thunderbird Data to a New Computer]

HT5037 iphoto in my new computer doesn't recognize my iPhoto library from my old mac laptop how do i fix it?

I just got a new mac computer to put all my pictures from my old mac, but it wont allow me to open the pictures in the new iphoto. It keeps saying that you need to prepare your library. its need to be upgrated so i did all the steps but still wont work, ive tried a whole bunch of different ways to open it but wont work. Any ideas as to how i can finally make it work?

Sorry but unless you provide us with details no one can help
On each system What version of iPhoto? Or the OS? what is the exact error message? What exactly have you tried?
LN

Migrating large iPhoto library from my old mac to a new iMac

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for