Alert: Photo cannot be Opened?

I am using iPhoto 08 with a Canon Powershot S5 (8MP) and when I try to transfer my photos from the camera to iPhoto, I get a message saying:
Alert: The Photo *Insert file name* could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found.
But after clicking cancel a few times, it transfers the file anyway.
*This also happens if I take the file from image capture and put it into the iPhoto library*
What do I need to do to remove the message?

delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your User/Library/Preferences folder and see if that will help. Next rebuild the library as follows: launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. Select the first three options.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

Similar Messages

Thumbnails appear in iPhoto, but photos cannot be opened on its own

Hello-
I had an older camera that I have since replaced. When I uploaded the photos to iPhoto initially, they were uploaded fine. However, now when I go to open them in iPhoto, I can see them only as a small thumbnail. When I double click on the image, the photo does not appear- rather a circle with an exclamation point in it. Is there any way to save these photos? Thank you!

The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
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.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new *iPhoto 08* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.
Regards
TD

Iphoto 6 "photo cannot be found,etc.

Somehow about 300+ of my 3400 photos now have been lost except for the thumbnails that have been degraded from 2272 X 1704 pixels down to 1/4 of that. They can only be viewed in Preview - can't e-mail or anything else either. I kept getting the msg. "the volume for 105-057_crw cannot be found or "photo cannot be opened because original item cannot be found". Many times trying to view a thumbnail in a folder with that conflicting number I would get a different photo.
Backup can't be done because I get those messages a million times b4 I can burn the library. The photos with duplicate i.d. numbers (probably from different cameras) are now gone after doing the rebuilding.
I guess the only thing left is repopulating. Can anybody advise - will it help or likely aggravate?
In short Iphoto has really screwed me up. I brought a lot of this over from windows (canon program) and now have lost a lot of new pictures. A lot I didn't like about the PC but this stinks.

Hi CM -
Not sure that this will solve all your problems, but I wanted to pass along a discovery I had (posted previously on another thread, but I thought it closely enough related to repost).
I was receiving the consistent error, "couldn't find DSCN####.JPG". The files in question were there, could be found using spotlight in the find file dialog and otherwise, but iPhoto would not accept them. I was able to open them using other apps, duplicate them, repair permissions, etc etc so on and so forth.
Stop. Look. Listen. The file name being identified by iPhoto was "....JPG", and the file name was actually "....jpg". I manually changed the case on the file tag to "JPG". iPhoto now accepted the file. Repeat. Identical performance.
After doing about as many as I could stand this way I made sure changing the case of the filename before the tag didn't make a difference (or at least sure enough for me, YMMV). Then I got Automator to Rename Finder Items - Change Case. On the entire Data folder.
Came back in the morning and it was done. Ran thru the remainder of the Upgrading Thumbnails task that iPhoto was running. Had to tell it which file was which on a random selection of files -- was quicker just to select the file it wanted than to try to figure out why it couldn't find them for itself. Once that was done, my library is all better.
Computers are such dandy labor-saving devices.
HTH
j
TiBook 667, G4 MT 800 DP, PB 17 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Thumbnail pictures cannot be opened, black exclamation mark appears

Numerous photos cannot be opened any more, when I click on the little previews I see only a black surface with an exclamation mark. How can I fix this problem ?

The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
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 Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
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

Finder-My Pictures; photos won't open

v. 10.9.2, MacBook Pro:
1. Am I correct in assuming that a white circle and the photo name is a directory?
2. These photos cannot be opened in Finder-My Pictures no matter which View is used.
3. They can be opened in All My Files.
4. How did they get the white circle?

What do you do? Start by providing detailed information
what version of iPhoto>|? Of the OS? what ahs recently changed? why do you think this might have happened? where is your iPhoto library located? Do you have a good, current backup (you should is yoru phoots have any value to you)
LN

I downloaded the new iphoto to my macbook pro. Now when I open it, there is a message telling me that "your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup." What do I do I had 16,000 pictures.....PLEASE HELP!!!!!

I downloaded the new iphoto to my macbook pro. Now when I open it, there is a message telling me that "your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup." What do I do I had 16,000 pictures.....PLEASE HELP!!!!!

Try download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
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.

I uploaded photos in .jpg format to my iPad, but now all of those photos appear as .ithmb files and cannot be opened, even on the thumbdrive they originated from. How do I get them back to .jpgs?

I uploaded photos in .jpg format to my iPad, but now all of those photos appear as .ithmb files and cannot be opened, even on the thumbdrive they originated from. How do I get them back to .jpgs?

Sorry, should've mentioned some more information. I synced the ipad to the folder of photos. The original photos had file names like "_MG_4865.jpg" and after syncing the folder in Itunes, all files were now found in a folder called "iPod Photo Cache" which was filled with many folders with labels like "F23" etc. (There were ALOT of photos.) In those folders there are several files with names like "T343.ithmb". Not a .jpg to be found and I can't view any of the photos.

Ibook G4 using iPhoto 5. Some photos in library cannot be opened. An error -couldn't open file. it may be corrupt or a file format that preview does not recognize. HELP!!

I have an ibook G4 using iphoto5. Some photos in my library cannot be opened. It hasn't always been this way. I have tried to click and drag to a folder in finder and when i do i get an error !Coundn't open the file. It may be corrupt or a file format that Preview doesn't recognize. Can anyone help in solving this problem?

The only solution to corrupted files is to restore from your back up.
Regards
TD

I can't use Photobooth - when I open the app, I get the message: "Photo Booth couldn't save your photos - Photo Both encountered an error when trying to save your photos. You photos cannot be saved at this time."

I can't use Photobooth - when I open the app, I get the message: "Photo Booth couldn't save your photos - Photo Both encountered an error when trying to save your photos. You photos cannot be saved at this time."
i tried adding user macintosh hd/users/your_user/pictures/"photo booth" but still photo booth is not working and even images in photo booth cant be deleted they keep coming back

Back up all data.
This procedure will unlock all your user files (not system files) and reset their ownership and access-control lists to the default. If you've set special values for those attributes on any of your files, 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.
I've tested these instructions only with the Safari web browser. If you use another browser, they may not work as described.
Step 1
If you have more than one user account, and the one in question is not an administrator account, then temporarily promote it to administrator status in the Users & Groups preference pane. To do that, unlock the preference pane using the credentials of an administrator, check the box markedAllow user to administer this computer, then reboot. You can demote the problem account back to standard status when this step has been completed.
Triple-click anywhere in the following line on this page to select it:
{ sudo chflags -R nouchg,nouappnd ~ $TMPDIR.. ; sudo chown -R $UID:staff ~ $_ ; sudo chmod -R u+rwX ~ $_ ; chmod -R -N ~ $_ ; } 2> /dev/null
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.
Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window (command-V). I've tested these instructions only with the Safari web browser. If you use another browser, you may have to press the return key after pasting.
You'll be prompted for your login password. Nothing will be displayed when you type it. You may get a one-time warning to be careful. If you don’t have a login password, you’ll need to set one before you can run the command. If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator.
The command may take a few minutes to run, or perhaps longer if you have literally millions of files in your home folder. Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign (“$”) to appear, then quit Terminal.
Step 2 (optional)
Take this step only if you have trouble with Step 1 or if it doesn't solve the problem.
Boot into Recovery. When the OS X Utilities screen appears, select
Utilities ▹ Terminal
from the menu bar. A Terminal window will open.
In the Terminal 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 boot 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.

I just upgraded to Yosemite, downloaded iPhoto 9.6 and get this promptYour photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup. Suggestions?

I just upgraded to Yosemite, had to upgrade my iPhoto so downloaded iPhoto 9.6. My photo library needs to be upgraded to work with this new version of iPhoto but when it started to upgrade, this prompt appeared -Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup.
Suggestions?

Try download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
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.

Many 3rd party apps that I have used before now will not open with the alert "XYZ application cannot be opened because the identity of the developer cannot be confirmed" Why now?

Many 3rd party apps that I have used before now will not open with the alert "XYZ application cannot be opened because the identity of the developer cannot be confirmed" Why now since I updated Mavericks?

The format in which a developer has to sign his application in order for it to be recognized as signed has changed. Update the applications, wherever possible.
To make a one-time exception to the security policy, follow these instructions. They apply to Installer packages and other installable items as well as applications.

"Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened"

"Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup."
THIS IS THE MESSAGE i just got!! i was importing photos off my digital camera.
I NEVER HAVE HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE?
And i got this message..
as far as "back up" uhhhh never did that on my I photos pictures. what can i do!?!
Ann L
LasVegas

Using iPhoto 08?
Easiest solution: restore from your back up. When you say "uhhhh never did that on my I photos pictures" then you're telling us that you don't really care about them. Only a fool has any important data on a computer without a back up.
Try these in order - from best option on down...
1. Do you have an up-to-date back up? If so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from the back up to the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) allowing it to overwrite the damaged file.
2. Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. (In Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
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.
3. If neither of these work then you'll need to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new *iPhoto 08* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.

When trying to open iPhoto I get: "Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup."

I am trying to open iPhoto i get this message: "Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup." I don't know what to do... Please help

What happens when you restore your backup as suggested?
LN

I am getting a message that my iphoto library cannot be opened because I mades changes to my photos in a newer version of iphoto and I need to quit and use the newest version of iPhoto. but i cannot update it and or access my photos. Help. thanks.

I am getting a message that my iphoto library cannot be opened because I mades changes to my photos in a newer version of iphoto and I need to quit and use the newest version of iPhoto. but in update, it says i have no updates. i dont even remember making changes in iphoto.Help. thanks.

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 Library Manager it's the FIle -> Rebuild command)
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

I just installed Yosemite. iPhoto is gone, and Photos does not open. Instead, I am prompted to update to the latest version. The App Store tells me that is not available in the US. What do I do? Cannot access any photos.

I just installed Yosemite. iPhoto is gone, and Photos does not open. Instead, I am prompted to update to the latest version. The App Store tells me that is not available in the US. What do I do? Cannot access any photos.

Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the Drive
Boot to the Recovery HD: Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Reinstalling OS X Without Erasing the Drive
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions: Upon startup select Disk Utility from the main menu. Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions as follows.
When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility and press the Continue button. After Disk Utility loads select the Macintosh HD entry from the the left side list. Click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If Disk Utility reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit Disk Utility and return to the main menu.
Reinstall OS X: Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.
Download and install the OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 Combo Update.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.
Alternatively, see:
Reinstall OS X Without Erasing the Drive
Choose the version you have installed now:
OS X Yosemite- Reinstall OS X
OS X Mavericks- Reinstall OS X
OS X Mountain Lion- Reinstall OS X
OS X Lion- Reinstall Mac OS X
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet
if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.

Alert: Photo cannot be Opened?

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