HT2638 My iPhoto says it is in use by another application or has become unreadable. Nothing I have done is working?

My iPhoto says it is in use by another application or has become unreadable. Nothing I have done is working? I've tried restarting my compuer, holding down the command and option keys as I open it and have tried downloading another version of the iPhoto..

See if you can do the following:
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button,
navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the Library ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
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.
Note: your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.
OT

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I was trying to move iphoto library to my external hardrive, realised it was incompatible with Mac. The iphoto will not open now, message is "Iphoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable". I have read other posts.

Hi,
I was trying to save a copy of my iphoto library by copying images to my external harddrive. I wasn't sure how to do it, realised the hard drive is not compatible. Now the iphoto library wont open and reads "iphoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable".
I have tried to use options command and click on iphoto then rebuild yet nothing happens and same error message occurs.
I have gone to my personal drive, desktop, iphoto library, and found file Albumdata.xml and when i click on it, there is a lot of text in it, i am assuming these are all my photos.
I have tried clicking and dragging this file to iphoto app and it doesn't work, as the same error comes up in iphoto being in use or unreadable....
What am I meant to do with albumdata.xml file and how do I reopen Iphoto from here on in?
Please help as I am not technically minded and still trying to understand how to use the Macbook at all as I am used to Microsoft.
Thank you very much,
KS

Rule Number One - NEVER go directly uinto the iPhoto library - there are no user servicable parts in it and making any change no matter how small can corrupt your library and cause data or photo loss
Exactly how were you trying to save a copy of your iPhoto library?
Albumdata.xml does not contain your photos - and again NEVER make any changes to the content of the iPhoto library - no dragging - no changes - never go into the library
We need to know exactly what you did
And probalby the easiest solution is to load your backup from before you messed things up
For reference after you get things working
Moving the iPhoto library is safe and simple - quit iPhoto and drag the iPhoto library intact as a single entity to the external drive - depress the option key and launch iPhoto using the "select library" option to point to the new location on the external drive - fully test it and then trash the old library on the internal drive (test one more time prior to emptying the trash)
And be sure that the External drive is formatted Mac OS extended (journaled) (iPhoto does not work with drives with other formats) and that it is always available prior to launching iPhoto
And backup soon and often - having your iPhoto library on an external drive is not a backup and if you are using Time Machine you need to check and be sure that TM is backing up your external drive
LN

My iPhoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable - what do I do?

My iPhoto will not open. I get this message My iPhoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable. I have tried holing down the option & command keys when I open it and it gives me options to rebuild thumbnails and I get this message when I try to click on that and start

where is your iPhoto library located? What version of iPhoto? try the command-Option-launch and rebuild your database
LN

How do I restore my iPhoto. When I open i get a window dialog "Your iphoto library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable shut down and restart your computer. If problem persists, try rebuilding your iphoto library. To do th

When I try to open iPhoto I get a window dialog that says...
Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable
Shut down and restart your computer, and then open iPhoto again. If the problem persists, try rebuilding your photo library. To do this, quit iPhoto, and then reopen it while keeping the Option and Command keys pressed. You can also try restoring your photo library from a backup.
I have tried the reopen it while keeping the Option and Command keyes pressed.
No change.
I dee nothing but a blank page,
Any help would be appreciated.
Also hace back ups of all images on cd's. dvds and jump drives.
Any advice is appreciated.

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

I have my iPhoto set to an external drive yesterday when it was in use the usb disconnected i now have a message saying (your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable) I have tried shutting down and restarting.

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
Dale

These 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 Start Error: Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable

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: 10.6.8

Went 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!

When I start my iPhoto it says: "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable". I don't have a back-up of my library and I don't know what to do! Thanks

When I start my iPhoto it says: "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable". I don't have a back-up of my library and I don't know what to do! Thanks

Try to restart your Mac. If the library is really in use by another application, that can clear it.
Tell us more about your system. Which version of iPhoto are you using? Which version of MacOS X?
Where are you storing your iPhoto Library?
What happened before this problem first started? Did iPhoto crash? Did you move the iPhoto Library somewhere else?
Try Terence Devlin's fix here: Re: IPHOTO LOCKED
Go to your Pictures Folder and find the iPhoto Library there. Right (or Control-) Click on the icon and select 'Show Package Contents'. A finder window will open with the Library exposed.
Look there for a file called ‘iPhoto’Lock.data or similar. Drag it to the Desktop. Make no other changes. Start iPhoto. Does that help?

I was editing photos in my iphotos and it says Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable on me. I shut down my computer and when I restarted I can not access my photos, it keeps giving me

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 can not open my iPhoto it says it is either used by another applcation or has become unread be

I can not open my Iphoto library it says it is either used by another application or has become unreadabe. I shut down and restart an then open Iphoto again but nothing is their.

These are your options:
1. Restore the iPhoto library from the most recent backup that predates the issue.
2. Repair or rebuild the library.
3. Scavenge the library with iPhoto Library Manager independently of iPhoto (Library ▹ Rebuild). Books, calendars, and slideshows won't be preserved.

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,

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

When I open iphoto the following message appears 'Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable'

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

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?

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

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

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.

Why does iPhoto give me this error when opening it " Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable"

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

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.

HT2638 My iPhoto says it is in use by another application or has become unreadable. Nothing I have done is working?

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