Help! Whole Iphoto library is gone.

So I have been having a few problems with the computer shutting down lately but I haven't noticed any major problems when rebooting. But then I went to open iPhoto and my entire library is gone. When I go into finder they are all still in folders under the iPhoto library but when I try to resync the folders to the iPhoto library while the application is open but it won't let me. I tried syncing a new set of pictures and it worked and saved to iPhoto but those are the only pictures that show when I open the application please help!!!

Your database has been corrupted.
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 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 6* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
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 on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Roll 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

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My IPhoto library is gone and I cannot find it. I have found an earlier version witha few photos but the big one is gone. Any ideas?

My IPhoto library is gone and cannot be found. There is an IPhoto in Applications marked "original". I can find the one I'm looking for using Time Machine but when I try to open it it says that it cannot be opened as there is a newer version installed. Any help would greatly be appreciated:-)

Download and use Find Any File to search for the file "Library6.iPhoto" which is in every iPhoto Library package. If you find more than one check both to see if one is your missing library.
OT

I just purchased Aperture and have 20,000 photos in my iPhoto Library. Can I import only certain events from iPhoto into Aperture or do I have to merge the whole iPhoto library?

I just purchased Aperture and have 20,000 + photos in my iPhoto Library. I see that I can create a unified library between the two. I am wondering if I can import only certain events from iPhoto (like only 2014 events) into Aperture or do I have to merge the whole iPhoto library? Are there any benefits to bringing the whole iPhoto library over to Aperture (iPhoto is SO SLOW for me, I wonder if it is because I have so many photos). Or, any detriment to only bring a few events over?
And, if I don't merge the two libraries, I assume that means I cannot do it at a later date?
Help. My local Apple store has had very few Aperture workshops, and the next one is like 2 months away.

Thank you so much for this information. Here are some responses/comments:
Disk space - it says 114.43 GB out of 499.25 GB free. I have no idea if that is enough.
iPhoto version is 9.5.1
Again, I am not sure how to know if I have 3rd party software...but I don't think I do. Is 3rd party software anything non-apple?
I will try rebuilding the library. if that doesn't help, maybe I need more memory...? That is what Apple suggested, but that, of course, means buying something else. I've already bought APERTURE, on their recommendation...
It wasn't, and they told me it was slow because I had too many photos for iPhoto to handle and that I should buy Aperture. Which I did.
What is your iPhoto version? Are you using the most recent version 9.5.1?
iPhoto can handle 20000 photos, no problem. Your computer can be slow for several reasons:
The most common problem for slowness - insufficient disk space. Don't let your free disk space drop below 20 GB of free space, better more. If the operating system does not have enough working space and the applications you are using, you will notice a very lagging behaviour.
Older or incompatible softweare can cripple your mac. Do you have any older third-party software installed, that might have installed incompatible kernel extensions?
Aperture might be slow or keep crashing, if you imported a corrupted image or incompatible video, that cannot be processed. Then Aperture will try over and over again to create previews and never succeed. You could test for this situation, by launching Aperture with the Shift-key held down. This will defer the generation of previews. If Aperture will launch and work better this way, you probably have some bad media in your photo library.
Another problem to check for is a corruption of your Aperture/iPhoto library. You have run the First Aid Tools to repair the iPhoto Library, but have you ever tried to rebuild the library? See this post by Old Toad: Rebuild iPhoto Version 11

My iPhoto library is gone

My iPhoto library is gone, and I don't know where.
My system was slow, so I ran the Disc Utility and it told me the disc needed repair. I took it to an Apple Store genius bar.
The "genius" told me the disc was dying, slowly. He got me to buy a portable hard drive. Then he sent me to sit in a theatre seat and told me to copy my important data files onto it.
I copied my documents, seemingly without difficulty. I tried to copy my iPhoto library. But for some reason the most recent 10 rolls of digital "film" did not copy.
Moreover, for some reason the entire iPhoto library is now missing from my original hard drive.
The "genius" wasn't too concerned. He spent 5-10 minutes looking for my iPhoto library, and shrugged. It's a consequence of an aging disc, he said, sending me on my way.
Now I'm at home trying to find my iPhoto library on my still-functioning computer. When I try to open iPhoto, it says, "Your photo library was not found. Do you want to find your iPhoto library folder?"
Yes I do. But where could it be? The "genius" looked in the obvious places. I keep searching under User, Photos, Libraries, things like that.
Any ideas? I could really use some help here.

Search for
library6.iphoto
that's the main database file. Wherever that is, your Library is. Use an app like EasyFind to search the disk. It's slower than Spotlight but will search locations that Spotlight won't.
Regards
TD

My whole iphoto library has been deleted! ***!

all my photos in my iphoto library are gone after updating iphoto

There's a forum for iPhoto issues and I suggest that you bring your query there. But before you do, have a think about what you've written. Is there anything in there that might allow someone to help you? The only possible answer is to restore from your back up if that's all you're offering.
There are 9 different versions of iPhoto and they run on 9 different versions of the Operating System. The tricks and tips for dealing with issues vary depending on the version of iPhoto and the version of the OS. So to get help you need to give as much information as you can. Include things like:
- What version of iPhoto.
- What version of the Operating System.
- Details. As full a description of the problem as you can. For example, if you have a problem with exporting, then explain by describing how you are trying to export, and so on.
- History: Is this going on long? Has anything been installed or deleted? - Are there error messages?
- What steps have you tried already to solve the issue.
- Anything unusual about your set up? Or how you use iPhoto?
Anything else you can think of that might help someone understand the problem you have.

From some reason (i'm not sure why..) my whole iphoto library got deleted. I restored the whole library from my backup. The photos are blank but steel have the photo info. (date, res., size etc.) Do you know what's the prob.? why can't i see my pics.

from some reason (i'm not sure why..) my whole iphoto library got deleted. I restored the whole library from my backup. Now all the photos are blank but steel have the photo info. (date, res., size etc.) Do you know what's the prob.? why can't i see my pics.

It's says that file does not exist. How come? And why does it still show the image info.?
Where can i find those files (i have a daily backup)
The original image files are missing form your iPhoto library or iPhoto cannot find them, because the link to the originals has been broken. The image info is stored in the internal libraries, independent of the original files. That is, why you are still seeing them.
I restored the whole library from my backup.
Try restoring from an older backup, from before you first noticed the problem.
How large is the library, that you restored? Is the file size large enough to hold all your photos, or has the size been reduced? If the library is still large, the photos may still be inside, even if iPhoto cannot find them.
It's says that file does not exist. How come?
What happened, before your iPhoto library got deleted? Which applications have you been running, or which new software have installed or upgraded? Have you moved the library to a different disk or tried to use it from different user account or access it over the network?

HELP! All photos in iPhoto library are gone

This is weird.... I have all of my photos in a folder in my Pictures folder under "iPhoto Library," but none of them are in my actually iPhoto library. I have tried to drag the photos back in, no luck. I have tried to open my iPhoto application while holding down option, then again by holding down option + command. Nothing.
My files are in .jpg form, isn't that compatible with iPhoto? I don't want to lose these!

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 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 6* library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
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 on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Roll 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 library is gone!

Hi! I can't find my iphoto library anywhere on my computer or ED. I turned on Time Machine a few weeks ago in an attempt to back up files and things but it never actually backed anything up because there wasn't enough space available. So, I googled safe files to delete to be able to make room and once I did that I trashed them and emptied it. Now my iphoto library can't be found. iphoto is on the dock but when I click on it it says iphoto can't be found. I have looked everywhere on my computer and ED and found nothing! I hope and pray I haven't permanently lost all my pictures.
Is there a FREE file recovery that I can download that will get deleted trash files back? Or any other way to get deleted trash files?

see if this link helps iCloud Photo Library beta FAQ - Apple Support base off that if you didn't back them up it may be gone.

All of my pictures from my iPhoto library are gone after upgrading to Mavericks

I just upgraded to Os X Mavericks and now all of my pictures are gone from my iPhoto library, and of course I am unable to access this version of iPhoto on OS X Mavericks.
I tried to find them using a different application or in Finder, and in both cases "iPhoto Library" is in Gray and no contents are available. My system memory doesn't seem to be reflecting the number of photos I have either.
If I go back to my old operating system will it work? If not, I have lost all my pictures since February of 2011. I have been crying nonstop for an hour trying to figure out what to do.

Open the App Store and upgrade iPhoto to the Mavericks version. Installing OS X does not do anything to your iPhoto Library.
The iWork apps are free with a new iOS device since 1 SEP 2013. They are free with a new Mac since 1 OCT 2013. They are also free with the upgrade to OS X Mavericks 10.9 if you had the previous version installed when you upgraded.

Freaking OUT!! I have a desktop (IMac) and my IPhoto library is gone! Events gone, albums gone, faces gone!!! I can't even find the folder for IPhoto Library under Pictures under my hardrive. I have no idea how long it's been this way!

Ok so here's what has happened. I got on the Mac to open IPhoto. It opened, but no files PERIOD! No albums, events, photos, faces. They were all empty. I had TONS of albums and photos. I have no clue how long it's been this way, probably a couple of weeks since I've been on it. Ac couple of things come to mind that might have caused or had something to do with...IPhone 4 had to be restored and a back-up and upgrade occurred. Also, I deleted files off my camera while connected. Not sure the culprit, but VERY UPSET! I have never set up Time Machine and have no other back up. I downloaded and purchased File Salvage but I have to get an external hard drive before it will do it. I put the application install CD in last night thinking that if I reinstalled it would help but then I got scared and shut Mac down half way through. I couldn't even find the file IPhoto Library. When I open IPhoto it say IPhoto 9 but when I "get more info" it says IPhoto 8.1.2 or something like that. Please HELP!!

Try an All Images Search:
In the Finder:
Command - f
Kind: Images
Size: Greater than 300kb (This is to avoid all the thumbnails, icons and so on.)
Set it to search the Mac.
As to why? The most likely answer is user error, I'm afriad. It does point up the importantce of always having a back up.
Regards
TD

Need help saving iPhoto library from damaged hard drive

Trying to help my wife, she has the following:
MacBook Pro running OS X Lion version 10.7.3
iPhoto 11 version 9.2.2
Her hard drive failed last week and she had a ton of photos on it, of course not backed up.
We took her machine to the local Apple Store, they confirmed they couldn't recover the data and they installed a new hard drive in the MacBook. We took the old hard drive to my local PC supplier who's very clever, he worked on the hard drive and was able to copy all my wife's documents to another storage device.....but, he couldn't copy the iPhoto library and is requesting some help.....he doesn't know much about Macs, nor how iPhoto works.
I've read a lot of the posts on this forum and am learning about how the iPhoto library works....and how it requires a Mac based back up hard drive in order to copy it. Okay, here are my questions:
1. My PC troubleshooting guy can see the iPhoto library icon on the damaged hard drive, he says its a huge file. It appears we would need to supply him with a Mac formated back up hard drive, then he could just move that iPhoto library icon (which contains all photos) to the new back up drive. Is this correct?
2. Once we have this old iPhoto library on the new back up hard drive, we could bring it home of course, but then I need to get it into the new hard drive on my wife's MacBook Pro. I'm assuming I can plug this back up drive into my wife's machine, then import the old library into her machine. How do I do this properly?
3. If I bring the old library into the new MacBook Pro hard drive, will it erase the existing iPhoto library on her new hard MacBook Pro hard drive, or will it combine them somehow? She has added of course some pics to the new iPhoto library already, but if we have to delete them it won't kill us. The old stuff that got recovered from the damaged drive is more important.
Thanks ahead.....now to the experts?

Thanks Terence.....
regarding this point:
3. use the paid version ($20) of iPhoto Library Manager to merge the Libraries. that way you won't lose anything.
I have another access to her new photos, whereby I could reload them onto her MacBook if we lose the new library.....so I'll save the $20 and just reload them.....two more questions:
1. So, if I drag the iPhoto library folder from the new back up hard drive to the Pictures Folder in Finder, will that overwrite the existing library folder on her MacBook?
2. After I drag this folder into finder, will iPhoto recognize everything? I assume yes....just checking.
thanks ahead!

Iphoto library is gone and I can't access iphoto in time machine!

I've lost my iphoto library - and I've looked (searched for .jpgs) and the photos are no longer on my computer. It must have been when I deleted a folder I'd called iphoto library 2 which was a copy of a couple of albums - or at least I thought that's what I deleted. And then I emptied the trash. And now it seems that those 2 albums are the only ones left in iphoto.
So I felt sick to my stomach - but I thought thank goodness I do time machine back ups from time to time... BUT I can't seem to find them on my time machine backup either. I opened time machine with iphoto open but I can't access anything behind the front (current) window. And I only just learned that if iphoto is still open time machine can't back up your iphoto library properly (am I the only one this is news to?)
I hope someone can help. Thanks!
(iphoto'09 8.1.2 )

In addition to the links that Larry provided, you can restore your iPhoto Library from Time Machine as described here:
iPhoto '11: Restoring from Time Machine with iPhoto '11 (9.2 or later) and OS X Lion 10.7.2 (or later) - Apple Support
The procedure should work even with iPhoto '09 and Mac OS X (10.6.8).

Desperate for help: My iPhoto library is "unreadable"

HELP!
Earlier I tried to open my iPhoto library and it prompted me with a weird message that I've never seen in all of my years using the software. I forget the exact words of the alert because this occurred like two hours ago, but it was something along the lines of needing to upgrade my software in order to view my current library. Although I have an up-to-date version of iPhoto '08, I continued.
Now, my iPhoto library quite literally went back in time; I don't have any of the photos I've imported since 2007, and the ones that are there are unnamed and unorganized.
I was able to locate the images on my hard drive, but when I try to import them to the library, I get an error message: "The following files are unreadable because they are an unrecognizable format," or "The following files are unreadable or are already located in the library."
I'm desperate to get those photographs back into my library, and I have tried everything. I downloaded a software called iPhoto Library Manager, and I've tried to rebuild iPhoto directly, but I kept getting error messages. Does anybody have any advice?

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
iPhoto will not import pics from the active iPhoto Library - a sensible protection against duplication.
Your database file is damaged, and as iPhoto Library Manager cannot rebuild it, you’ll need to either
1. Restore from your back up
or
2. Create a new Library and start over:
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

After running "Applejack" most of my iphoto library is gone!

Let me qualify that statement by saying that when i open iphoto, only a few of my photos are shown to be left in iphoto.. BUT.. when i go to users> me> pictures> iphoto library> originals: all of my photos are there! Why are they not being shown when i open iphoto? And what would applejack have to do with changing what shows up in opening iphoto?

mrhoggle
Try rebuilding the database. Hold down the apple and option (or alt) keys and launch iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose the top three options. See if that helps.
Applejack may have inadvertently caused the problem by deleting the cache files.
Regards
TD

TD or Old Toad pls help: Renamed iPhoto Library File....no pics in iPhoto6

I am working on my parents computer... they have iPhoto 6 and I renamed the iPhoto Library folder in Finder. Obviously this is not a good idea since now there is no content (pics) in iPhoto.
This action made a new folder (with the new name) in Finder's 'pictures' file. So, I tried to copy and paste (or maybe I highlighted & moved it, can't recall) the contents of the newly named folder back under the 'iphoto library' folder however, that did not make the photos reappear in iPhoto.
After moving (I think I highlighted & dragged) the file contents of the newly named folder back in the 'iPhoto Library' folder, I deleted the newly named/created file.
The individual pics seem to be in the modified & originalsfolder but I do not know how to get them back into iPhoto..
I attempted to rebuild the iPhoto library but it seemed like an empty request since the computer didnt do anything when this option was selected.
I know there is a solution but I dont know the smartest nextstep. I have read related discussions that almost provide a solution.
Currently, I need to figure out a way to:
1) get what seems to still exist in the modified & original folders back into iPhoto even if it means loosing album names, keywords. I am hoping this route doesn’t wipe out dates from when the images were taken. If there is a way to get them back into iPhoto this route, I need instructions.
or,
2) I have a back up of the entire HD on an external HD. Would itbe best to somehow use that to replace what I have on the computer HD? I do not know how to do this so for sure need guidance.
or,
3) Find another solution, quickly…
Thank you so very much as I need to fix this ASAP.

See my reply in your other thread.
Regards
TD

Help! Whole Iphoto library is gone.

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