Iphoto library is damaged or unreadable

Please help!
I just imported photos to my computer, erased originals, then read the following message on my computer "Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup." I noticed earlier today that I haven't backed up my computer in 71 days. Please tell me I haven't lost all of the photos I have imported since then.
Ideas?

Thanks so much for your help. I am planning to try your suggestions but have a few questions. When you say make a copy of my bad library, should I just use time machine with my external drive like I usually (but not in the last 71 days) do?
TM is ok but for this if you have disk space I would just duplicate the iPhoto library as an extra measure until you complete this
AS to TM - you really need to have it going all the time - it is a great tool but if you only run it once in a while it is virtually useless - the time you need it (maybe now) it will not have what you need
Also, when I rebuild as you suggested (#3), do you think my most recent photos will be there?
We have no idea - that is why you need a current backup at all times - rebuilding does what it can but sometimes it can not save some photos - the only way to find out is to do it - and that is why you need a current backup just before you do it
I just tried to "insert photo" on Word and it does show the most recently imported photos. I am just hoping I won't lose them. (I imported from 2 different cameras in the last few days.)
that is good
Again, thanks for your help. *I will be backing up on a more regular basis after this*. Learning the hard way...
YES!
LN

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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 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.

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

Photo library is damaged or unreadable

Hi I can not open photo's and have this message. Your photo library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup. How do I fix?

You may be able to repair your iPhoto library by doing the following -
Make a copy of the iPhoto library first. It is located (usually) in your Pictures folder.
Launch iPhoto while holding down the option key on your keyboard.
In the resulting dialog you will see several choices to repair the library. Take them from the top down, testing after each repair to see if iPhoto will launch normally.
If this does not work, you will need to use whatever backups you have of your iPhoto library. You do have a backup I hope?
Best of luck.

"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.

I try to open I photo and I get the message, your iPhoto library is damaged...please restore from backup. But i din't made backup copy. How can i delete previous library and work wrom the new one?

I try to open I photo and I get the message, your iPhoto library is damaged...please restore from backup. But i din't made backup copy. How can i delete previous library and work wrom the new one?

Try this (assuming you're using iPhoto 12): make a temporary, duplicate copy of the library and try the three fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your Home/Library/Preferences folder.
delete iPhoto's cache files that are located in your Home/Library/Caches/com.apple.iPhoto folder.
reboot, launch iPhoto and try again.
NOTE: If you're moved your library from its default location in your Home/Pictures folder you will have to point iPhoto to its new location when you next open iPhoto by holding the the Option key. You'll also have to reset the iPhoto's various preferences.
Fix #2
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library.
Select options #1, #2 and #6.
Fix #3
Rebuild the library using iPhoto Library Manager as follows:
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 File ➙ 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 but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

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!

Recovering an iPhoto Library from damaged HD and moving it to new HD

Dear Experts,
I am seeking directions on a procedure that might be straight forward but I must be do this correctly. I lost my iMac internal HD when it stopped booting. The System was 10.4.8 and iPhoto6. Booting from Norten showed 68 damaged blocks. Set up a PowerBook and connected via fire wire to iMac and ran in target mode. I Finder copied the entire contents of the dead HD to an external FW drive. Lost about 3 GB's of data from dead HD but don't know what is missing. The iPhoto Library from the dead HD has, among many files, a "Library.iPhoto" file as well as a "Library6.iPhoto" file. It also contains Original, Modified, and Recovered Photos folders.
I replaced the damaged internal HD drive with a new drive. Installed a clean version of Tiger on the new internal HD and did all software updates to get me current to 10.4.8. When I opened iPhoto6 from the new internal HD there were, naturally, no photos. When I opened iPhoto with "option-iPhoto open", I was instructed to select a Library. I directed iPhoto to the "iPhoto Library" from the external FW drive. Every thing appears to be normal, with the original organizational structure intact.
I now want to move the original AND modified photos from the external FW drive to my new internal HD, preserving roll names, ratings, keywords, i.e. the complete database. Afterwards, I want to erase the external FW drive, so I must be sure that I have the complete folder on the internal HD. I don't want iPhoto to be linked to the Library Folder on the FW.
1) Should I trash the contents of the iPhoto Folder on the internal drive (which has no photos) and replace it with the contents of the iPhoto Folder on the external FW drive (the one from my original disk)?
2) Should I simply replace the "Library6.iPhoto" on the internal HD with the "Library6.iPhoto" file on the FW?
3) Must I use iPhoto Library Manager to move my old data?
4) Would I have to use iPhoto dB Backup from Toad's Celler?
5) When I commissioned the new internal HD, I used the option of transferring all my settings, preferences, etc. from the old computer (the contents of the damaged internal HD which I had copied to the external). Could this have corrupted anything in the iPhoto Library? Why do I have a "Library.iPhoto" file in the old iPhoto Library Folder and not in the new iPhoto Library Folder on the new internal HD?
6) When I opened the original iPhoto Library from iPhoto application, my picture count was 2037. In that same folder, the total pictures were as follows:
"Originals" Folder: 2149
"Modified" Folder: 487
"Recovered Photos" Folder: 37
Why the discrepancy?
Many thanks.
iMac G4, 800 MHz Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I recommend you do number 1 from your list. Then open iPhoto with the option key so you can reselect the correct library folder on your new internal HD.
You shouldn't need to do any of the other things you mentioned.
As far as the numbers question 6, have you deleted photos without emptying the iPhoto trash? Try emptying the iPhoto trash and see if the numbers now match.

HT1229 my iphoto library continues to be unreadable I have rebuilt it 4 times and the same thing happens. Suggestions ?

My iphoto library keeps becoming unreadable I have rebuilt it 4 times the same thing keeps happening.

With the amount of information you've provided it's impossible to offer a potential solution. We can't see your computer so we need to know the details of your problem and setup, i.e.:
what version of iPhoto are you using?
what system version are you running?
what do you see when iPhoto opens?
what fixes have you tried?
where is your library located?
did you apply any updates or upgrades just prior to the problem occurring?
are you running a "managed" or "referenced" library?
what type of Mac?
how much free space on your boot drive?
OT

IPhoto Library disappeared. Now unreadable?

Okay, here's exactly what happened.
I had moved my iPhoto library to an external firewire drive and everything was groovy.
Yesterday, I had downloaded new pix and everything was groovy.
Then - at some point my firewire drive became accidentally disconnected. Bad I know, but I moved on.
My iPhoto was opened at the time. And a closed out of it while the drive was disconnected.
Things were no longer groovy. As I re-opened iPhoto it said I had no photos.
I tried to relocate the library and I couldn't open it.
Now, when I try to open import the pix from my drive it says: I can not import cuz the file is in iPhoto.
I know my pix are there in modified and originals...but I can't get them to open.
What doI do?

BC Baroo
I'm guessing that he disconnect happened while iPhoto was trying to write to the database, and the db is now corrupted.
Options: Do you have a current back up? if so, try copy the library6.iphoto file from it to the library folder. If not, your only option will be to create and populate a new library.
To create and populate a new library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same film rolls and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, books, calendars etc.
Hold down the option (or alt) key and Launch iPhoto. Choose Create to make and place a new library.
Go into the old iPhoto Library Folder and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual rolls to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the old iPhoto Library Folder.
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 in use or unreadable

I have made no updates that i am aware of, the message states shut down and try holding option and command buttons when opening iphoto, however it wont open. next message states updates have been made to library and iphoto needs to be updated.
could i have done something when backing up my iphone photos?

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. First delete the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your User/Library/Preferences folder and launch iPhoto again with those two keys depressed. When you get to this screen
Click to view full size
select the last three options to rebuild the library.

Your photo library is damaged or unreadable

Can someone please help, my only backup (I am aware of) is possibily my Apple TV.

If you want help you’ll need to give us more information. There are 9 different versions of iPhoto and they run on 8 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.
Posts that consist of "iPhoto doesn't work. Help" or "iPhoto won't print" or "Suddenly I have no photos!!!!!!!!!!" mean that any helper is simply guessing. More information means you get better assistance.

IPhoto 9.3 - all libraries damaged and unreadable (and un-rebuildable)

Since the update to the 9.3 version of iPhoto NONE of my previous libraries can be opened. I had always updated iPhoto at each update in the past, but it has never happened something like this.
Every library I try to open, it gives me the following error: "your iphoto library is damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened. Please restore from a backup".
I tried to repair the libraries in many ways, as suggested in other posts on the support website (e.g. using PhotoLibraryManager or with the Rebuild function of iPhoto itself), but none of them worked.
I have backups in time machine, but none of them works even if restored.
If I try to create a new library, it forces me to create it with the extension .photolibrary, which never happened before and sound quite strange (and may be an hint for the problem)...
Any idea?
Thank you in advance.

You can start over with a new library and import the originals from your problem library into it. It will give you the same Events (but not all events will have the same event name) but no albums or keepsakes, keywords, places, faces or other metadata.
Here's how:
Start over from scratch with new library
Start over with a new library and import the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from your original library as follows:
1. Open the library package like this.
2. Launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and, when asked, select the option to create a new library.
3. Drag the Originals (iPhoto 09 and earlier) or the Masters (iPhoto 11) folder from the open iPhoto Library package into the open iPhoto window.
Click to view full size
This will create a new library with the same Events (but not necessarily the same Event names) as the original library but will not keep the metadata, albums, books slideshows and other projects.
Note: your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.
OT

Iphoto upgrade examines my photo library and says its damaged or unreadable and cannot be opened.

For some reason, iphoto automatically goes to an upgrade window upon launch. I believe I still have iPhoto 09 but since it won't launch i can't check that out. But it was created on 3/13/09 and last modified on 9/20/10...so I'm sure it's still the 09 (or is the 08?) version.
At any rate, when I launch iPhoto I automatically arrive at an upgrade window (which tells me that after upgrade my photo library will not be readable by previous versions of iphoto - OK, fine, I hit the upgrade button). Right after I hit the upgrade button, I see that my photo library is being examined. Which results in a message telling me that my photo library is damaged or unreadable and must be restored.
OK, I go to Time Machine and restore the latest. After restore, I see all the files. But when I launch iphoto, hit the upgrade button, it again examines the library and finds it unreadable. I've done this several time now.
Now what?
Thanks, Jim

Well that's a Catch-22 isn't it. You can't open the Library but need to for the rebuild.
Coupled with the dodgy back-up I think your only option now is to create a new Library, recover the photos 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.

Iphoto library is damaged or unreadable

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