Iphoto freezes when I open iPhoto preferences

Everytime I open iPhoto and then go to preferences, I get the rainbow wheel and the whole program freezes. I end up having to force quit. I don't know how to get around this as I've rebooted my iMac numerous times and it makes no difference. Am I doomed to never get into preferences?

I figured out what works for me.
Go to System Preferences>MobileMe>iDisk and if you have turned iDisk Syncing on, turn it off.
Go to System Preferences>MobileMe>Sync and stop all syncing.
Go to System Preferences>MobileMe and click 'Sign Out'. Remove your username and password.
If this fails, go to (user)/Library/Preferences/ByHost and remove all files beginning with com.apple.DotMac and com.apple.idisk, then reboot.
I ended up doing both. Going to Library and erasing all the files. As soon as I did that and rebooted, I could go right into iPhoto preferences.
If you can't find your Library folder. Then go to the top of the screen and click on Go in the menu bar
-if you don't see Library there then hold down the Option button when you click on Go and you will see Library pop up. While holding the Option key down, scroll to Library and click on it.
Hope this helps you.

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Iphoto "freezing" when launching slideshow or preferences pane

I am running iphoto 7.1(347). I have 15,523 photos in the library. Whenever I try to launch a slideshow of RAW photos, I get the beach ball for about 5mins or so, then it plays fine. I also get it sometimes when I open the preferences pane as well.
I have already rebuilt the library and deleted the pref file.
Any thoughts?
thanks
-kev

Yes, it is a bug introduced with the iLife 08 Support update. I believe Apple has acknowledged it and is working on it.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto 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 08 libraries. 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.

Why does iPhoto crash when I open the preferences?

Whenever I try to open the preferences in iPhoto (latest release) it crashes. Any suggestions?

I completely uninstalled the printer and drivers and restarted the computer. I then uninstalled and then reinstalled Firefox 7.0.1, restarted the computer and then reinstalled the printer (from the previously downloaded exe file, because I don't have the CD for the printer). Unfortunately, neither of those things worked, but I did notice that when I uninstalled Firefox, it asked if I wanted to save settings, and I said yes and it seemed to remember the Dell 720 printer in the "about:config" menu. So, maybe uninstalling Firefox without saving settings would make a difference. What do you think? Also, I just noticed in the "Add or Remove Programs" menu in control panel that the icon next to "Dell Photo Printer 720" is a little recycle bin, which seems a bit odd. On the dell.com forum, someone suggested using Firefox 5.0.1, available at a different website. Is this worth a shot or are there other more conservative troubleshooting suggestions to try first?

I have 2 iphoto libraries - when I opened iphoto today I can only see one (my old one) and I cannot find the other to "switch" too..

I had an old library on an old mac. I then started a new one on my new Mac and was able to easily switch between the two..
I opened iphoto today and I cannot find my old library which I'd added new photos too.
Hence all photos from the last year have disappeared...
Either this OR:
Half of my new photos have disappeared from my new library AND my old library has disappeared.
I've tried to find the library using a couple of ideas on this forum but i still can't find them....

What happens when you try to export from the library? Where are you trying to export to? Are both libraries located in the same Place? If not where are they located. If on an external HD how is that HD formatted?
How much free space do you have on your HD(s)?

IPhoto freezes when i open the app, each time it is open on the same photo and when i try to swap to another photo it freezes until i force quit the app.

I have recently come back from a trip to Venice, i uploaded my photos to iPhoto to view and edit them, half way through the photos from day three of my trip it has frozen on a particular photo. I force quit the app and then re open it and it is still on the same image with the exact same problem. I am now unable to view any photos of my trip as they're all on iPhoto and i cannot access the albums because they are stuck on this one photo. I need to be able to access them by 11th March because i have a project due in about our trip and we need to include the best of our photos and at the moment i am being stopped from even looking at them. PLEASE HELP!

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 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

I have created many albums and when I opened iPhoto today, I can't see them any longer. Anyone know what I need to do to be able to view my albums?

I have created many albums in iPhoto and when I opened iPhoto today, I can't see them any longer. Anyone know what I need to do to be able to view my albums again in the left hand margin?
Thanks in advance for your help.
dk

Please make a Genius Appointment and take it in for service.

Iphoto freezes when I try to open it.

Iphoto freezes when I try to open it.

Help us to help you: There are 9 different versions of iPhoto and they run on seven different versions of the Operating System. The tricks and tips for dealing with issues vary from version to version and OS to OS. So before anyone can help, they need information to work with. Basic stuff:
- What version of iPhoto.
- What version of the Operating System.
- Details. What were you doing when the problem arose?
- Did it ever work properly?
- Are there error messages?
- What steps have you tried already to solve the issue.
Anything else you can think of that might allow someone else to understand your issue.
With this kind of information somebody can develop a starting point for troubleshooting the issue.

HT1229 Tried moving my library to an external hard drive and now when I open iPhoto, there are no pictures there!!!!

I am using iPhoto '08 and moved my library to my external hard drive exactly as all the instructions online explained how to do. I renamed the original "iPhoto Library.old" and ,y external hard drive shows a iPhoto library using the same amount of memory as what it shows on my internal hard drive. Here is where is becomes a problem. When I hold the option key and open iPhoto, the only box that comes up does not give me a list of libraries to choose from. It give me the option to "Create new library" or "choose existing library". When I click "choose existing library" I can find the copied library on my external hard drive but when I open it, iPhoto shows No Photos. When I have tried opening the original iPhoto Library (the exact same way using the option key and choosing library) that I have not done anything to, except rename it, it does the exact same thing: No Photos. Both my internal and external hard drives show about 137 GB of space being taken up by photos but I can't access them. My other big problem is that ,y internal hard drive is completely full, which is why I am trying to transfer them to an external, to free up space so I am very limited on what I can do because I have no free space. Also, when I open iPhoto and try to go to the Preferences to change to path under advanced settings, it freezes and I have to force close it.
Ay advice would be greatly appreciated as I am getting stressed out that I can't open my thousands of photos!

My guess is that the library has been corrupted from being run on an overfull HD.
So, try rebuild the Library on the External
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.

IPhoto freezes when ordering photo

As of today - 29 May 2012, iPhoto freezes when ordering photo prints with the message..
'There was a problem communicating with the Apple Online Store. Please try again.'
I had to 'Force quit' iPhoto to continue.
OK, so maybe the store is down but surely that should not affect the software on both of my computers?
Andy Forrest

It's OK now - I see the store is open again - but it does seem odd that lack of store makes te application freeze solid!

Why just blank squares when I open iphoto?

I'm running version 4.0.3. Have 2500 photos and numerous albums. When I open iphoto all I get is empty squares with the photo number beneath. I loaded two photos from a camera card and they are just fine. I tried the iphoto "rebuild the photo data base" by loading with the option and shift key pressed, but after waiting about an hour for the process to proceed, when the photo library finally came on it was still blank squares. I haven't touched the photo library folder, but now seem to have two of them. I have an external hard drive, when I tried to load from the backup version it did the same thing. What's wrong? Help!
eMac Mac OS X (10.3.9) iphoto version 4.0.3

walter7
Welcome to Discussions.
Don't panic. When you did the rebuild iPhoto created a new iPhoto Library Folder, probably called iPhoto Library_1. You can move the newest one to the desktop. Leave the original where it is.
Most likely because of updates or installs you need to:
1. Restart your computer to repair the directory if needed.
2. Run "Repair Permissions" from Disk Utility located in your Applications>Utilties Folder.
Open the first aid window and select your internal hard drive: "Macintosh HD" - Repair Permissions
3. Try iPhoto again. If it doesn't work then QUIT iPhoto.
4. Your iPhoto preferences file may be corrupted.
(MAKE SURE you QUIT iPhoto first)
You will find it in your Home directory:
(Home/your account) >Library>Preferences>com.apple.iPhoto.plist
Remove or trash the preference (.plist file) and restart iPhoto.
If all this doesn't help you may be running into the hard drive free space issue. The OS needs a lot of free space on your disk to use temporarily for heavy lifting - like working with iPhoto.
How much space do you have?

Terrance Devlin answered a question about iPhoto (4-2012) re:copying iPhoto Library to an ExHD, and losing all the albums. I can't locate the "Choose Library" when I open iPhoto with the opt button. Can anyone help?

I tried to move my images (over 25,000) to an External Hard drive to open up some memory, hoping to make my computer run faster. It took three hours to move the images and I see them all in the mac's menus. However when I try to open them with iPhoto now, none appeared. and when I tried to import them back to the main HD they come in to iPhoto just fine, but not with the albums nor any of the massive organization i'd created in the original. this represents years of images, and I can't imagine that I'd have to recopy them into folders/albums again.
Terrance Devlin answered a similar question back in April of last year. He said to make sure the ExHD is formatted to MAC OS Extended (Journaled) and to move the library to the ExHD and then open iPhoto with the option button and select "Choose Library" from the resulting menu.
Command "I" tells me that the new drive is formatted correctly. I can't locate the "Choose Library" when I open iPhoto with the opt button.
First, I wondered if the application needs to be on the same drive as the Library. I sure would like to know if I can find out how to restore all the folders I had them in. Terrance's advice helped the user that had asked the question.
Here's the url for that archived discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3849933?start=0&tstart=0
Can anyone help? I'm using iPhoto 5. My MAC is an OS X version 10.4.11.
thanks, brokenlom

Here are Apple's instructions:
If you are using iPhoto ’06 or earlier, you will need to follow these steps to tell iPhoto where the Library is now located:
Hold down the Option key on the keyboard and open iPhoto. Keep the Option key held down until you are prompted to create or choose an iPhoto Library.
Click Choose Library.
Locate and select the iPhoto Library in its new location.
(from http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1229 )
Below (in the link below) is what you should see when holding down the option key and opening iPhoto. Keep holding down the option key until this dialogue comes up. You want to select the Choose Library button.
http://appleclinic.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/change-default-dir-iphoto/

When I open iPhoto 9.2.1 it says that my library needs to be upgraded but when I upgrade the library I am trying to open (33 GB worth of pictures from 2006) the new application says it cannot read the files and how to find them on the system to reimport?!

When I open iPhoto 9.2.1 it says that my library needs to be upgraded but when I upgrade the library I am trying to open (33 GB worth of pictures from 2006) the new application says it cannot read the files and how to find them on the system to reimport?! and then I'd like to erase the original files since the space requirement is huge!!!! Why is upgrading software iPhoto such a pain. I've gotta get a presentation done and all I get for my money is roadblock!!!

hello, it sounds like the library is damaged.
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.

When I open Iphoto, I see all my photos for a second and then they disappear and only a white dotted box appears. Then I click on it and for photos is a triangle with an exclamation point. It doesn't happen to all but quite a lot. how to I get them back

When I open Iphoto, I see all my photos for a second and then they disappear and only a white dotted box appears. Then I click on it and for photos is a triangle with an exclamation point. It doesn't happen to all but quite a lot. how to I get them back

Have you recently deleted photos using the finder or run clean up software? Is so restore your backup
If not the backup your iPhoto Library and launch iPhoto while depressing the option and command keys. Rebuild your database
LN

I'm a new Mac user. I imported photos from my PC they ended up in iphoto library on the hard drive, but when I open iphoto from my dock its empty. How do I import those photos to the dock file?

I'm a new Mac user. I imported photos from my PC through a jump drive and they ended up in my iphoto library on the hard drive but when I open iphoto from the dock its empty. How do I import those photos to the dock file from the iphoto library?

Paragon Software has the most reliable NTFS driver for Mac
tips on importing and organizing, transferring from Windows etc
http://www.apple.com/support/itunes
http://www.ilounge.com

When i open iphoto i see my photo's for 1 second and then they are gone .The photo's are still there but i can see them only on the bottom or top of my screen when i try to open them i get a sign that it is not possible.Can somebody please help me?

when i open iphoto i see my photo's for 1 second and then they are gone .The photo's are still there but i can see them only on the bottom or top of my screen when i try to open them i get a sign that it is not possible.Can somebody please help me?

Have you upgraded to iPhoto 9.6 for compatibility with Yosemite? If not, try that first.
It looks like iPhoto has lost the connection between the thumbnails and the original image files.
This can be caused by a corrupted iPhoto library, or the originals have been deleted or moved.
Try first to rebuild your iPhoto Library:
If you do not have a current backup of the iPhoto library, make a copy of the library, but do not overwrite any previous backup.
Launch iPhoto with the ⌥⌘-key combination (option-command) held down.
Select "rebuild" from the first aid panel. This may take a while for a large library.
Can you now see your photos again?
If not, rebuild the library with iPhoto Library manager as described by Old Toad: Re: iphoto crashed

Iphoto freezes when I open iPhoto preferences

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