Lost Pictures on iPhoto

I tried to open iPhoto & saw that all 1,000 of my pictures were gone. I was able to see that they are still on the computer in the iPhoto folder but only available when I open the Preview application. I want to put the pictures back in iPhoto but it says it can't import them. Any suggestions?

HI Amy,
Hopefully this is an easy fix. Locate this file: com.apple.iPhoto.plist
Here's where it is: /Uses/YourName/Library/Preferences. Open the Preferences folder, locate that file, drag it to the Trash, empty the Trash and reboot. Your Mac will create a new preference folder for you the next time you launch iPhoto.
After you reboot, launch iPhoto, see if your iPhoto Library is there... if not, post back.
Carolyn

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I have lost pictures in iPhoto, but I can see them in the data folder, except they are only thumbnail size. They will not open at regular size and are showing unreadable in the "originals" folder. I've rebuilt and nothing is restoring these pics.

I have lost pictures in my iPhoto. We moved my iPhoto to a external hard drive and I believe since then, I have random pics missing. Some pics will show up in the "photos" and some show with a title and a blank picture. When I click on "package contents" in iPhoto, I have found the "Originals" folder where all the pics are pulling from and the file is there but won't open. However, in the DataXML folder under package contents, I can open the file but it is much smaller (supposed to be 1 MG, but showing in the data folder as 63kb). How can I get these pics restored in the Originals folder? I've rebuilt the library several times and I just ran the iPhoto Library Manager and it won't pull from the data file. Help!!

Make a temporary, backup copy (if you don't already have a backup copy) of the library and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Select the options identified in the screenshot.
Fix #2
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

Lost pictures in iPhoto

I can see some pictures in iPhoto but when I open some of them, a sign ( "!" into a white circle) appears and if I ask to see the file, I can not find the file on my laptop.
The problem happen with several pictures and if I want to find the using Finder or other ways, the image is lost.
I am very wooried because I am losing several very important pictures for me and is rare to see them in iphoto but just on the list.

The ! turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
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.

Lost Pictures from IPhoto

i was burning some discs from my MacBook yesterday, exporting from IPhoto to Finder, i had a large amont of pictures in Finder so i put them into trash, i needed to return to IPhoto and found that my 11 years of pictures had gone. Help please

Are they in the iPhoto trash.
If they aren't there try this link https://discussions.apple.com/message/6062359#6062359 as well as some of the other ones on the side.

Lost pictures in iPhoto '08

I have installed iPhoto '08 and I cannot see my pictures. I updated from iPhoto '05. When I opened iPhoto, two messages occurred, that I needed to update to Version 7.1, and that my photos needed to be updated. I chose the update to Version 7.1, and I do not remember what I chose for the other message. Please help. I tried using the Terminal; maybe I did something wrong. I looked at my permissions, they looked OK. Please give specific instructions as I am confused. Thank you so much.

Atia:
Welcome to the Apple Discussions. If, after following TD's recommendation, you still can't see the photos download and run BatChmod on the iPhoto Library folder with the settings shown here, putting your administrator login name, long or short, in the owner and group sections. You can either type in the path to the folder or just drag the folder into that field. Then launch iPhoto and try again. If still no go, launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys depressed and follow the instructions to rebuild the library. Select the first three options.
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.

Lost Pictures at iPhoto

My picture files were deleted by mistake, how can I recover these files?

Larry, thank you for your reply, added an account on my MacBook and I though I had deleted the files. I`ve just found them on the main account. Thank You
MD

After installing mountain lion i lost my pictures in iPhoto, lost my music in iTunes, internet became very slow. What can I do to fix this issues

after installing mountain lion I lost pictures in iphoto, lost my musisc in itunes, my icluod is not working, internet its very slow and some other issues. There is a way how to fix these issues

Open System Preferences > iCloud
Deselect the box next to Photo Stream then reselect it.
Now for your music. Launch iTunes. From the iTunes menu bar top of your screen click iTunes > Preferences then select the Store tab.
Select: Music. (and Apps and Books) if you want.
Click OK.
iCloud syncs via your Wi-Fi network so give it a minute or two to reset your photos and music.
Slow internet ... try turning off the modem for a few minutes, then turn it back on.

I lost hundreds of pictures from iPhoto after upgrading to Mavericks

I lost hundreds of pictures from iphoto after upgrading to mavericks. does anyone know why or how to retrieve them. i cannot find them on time machine either.

and
Why do you think you have lost "hundreds" of pictures?
What exactly are you seeing
You can try Back up your iPhoto library, Depress and hold the option (alt) and command keys and launch iPhoto - rebuild your iPhoto library database
LN

Lost pictures iPhoto

Hi all wondering if anyone can help. Yesterday my Macbook crashed and i had to do a total re-install. Hence i lost all my pictures from iPhoto.
Now when i lauch iPhoto i can see all my pictures sitting there as thumbnails but when i click on them to enlarge them all i get is a large black exclaimation mark.
Ive tried using Timemachine but still am unable to figure out how to re-install my pictures.
Anyone know what to do?

The ! or ? turns up when iPhoto loses the connection between the thumbnail in the iPhoto Window and the file it represents.
The most common cause of this is User Activity in the iPhoto Library Folder in the Finder.
Have you altered, moved or renamed anything in the iPhoto Library Folder?
If you haven't, then try rebuilding the database. Hold down the apple and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild.
If that fails:
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 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

Places which I had assigned to pictures in iPhoto 09 got lost when I upgraded to iPhotos 11. This means I need to assign places to all those pictures this would be lots of work. Please help me get that information back.

I recently upgrade from Iphotos 09 to 11 and my place assignments are gone. Please help me with this. Also, how can I assing places to pictures in iphotos 11?
Thanks.
Vishy
<Email Edited by Host>

Exactly how did you do thsi upgrade - any other issues?
LN

Lost pictures in sorted iphoto albums

My wife has spent many hours moving a lot of pictures into sorted albums. Her task was to put pictures of anyone who appeared in them into a folder corresponding to that persons name. She came to me because now more than once pictures that she put into those folders went missing. They are not missing from the master library, but missing from the folders that she sorted them into. I have time machine, and restored back to a point approximately 1-1.5 hours before this event happened with no result. Is there anyway to "recover" those sorted folders with the content she uploaded in them? For your information, she was performing the "drag-and-drop" from the "events" folder to the predesignated folder she was intending. Also fyi, some of these pictures were put into multiple folders due to more that one person being in a photograph. Any info helps. Thank you.

Hey léonie ,
Thank you for your response.
iPhoto version is 9.4.2 (710.42)
What she typically does is sort through all of the pictures in iPhoto (we both use the same account), and if she sees people x,y, and z in a photo, she will put a "copy" of that photo in a folder for x, a folder for y, and a folder for z. And by "copy" I mean that she clicks and drags the photo from what I believe to be from the events (it could be the "master" library that we view I'm not sure, as I don't mess with iPhoto all that often). She checks to make sure that the photos that she is moving make it into the folder for the designated person. She moves about this in a methodical manner, as she has 8 siblings, and therefore literally thousands of pictures. She doesn't want to lose any of this meticulous sorting after hours of work.
Also she just revealed to me that she had just plugged her phone into the computer (to retrieve more pictures off of it) and the computer started to run rather slow. After that iPhoto quit unexpectedly. It was reopened to find that the pictures were not in the folder she put them in. She states that the time that elapsed from the phone plug in to the crash of iPhoto was about a minute or two.
I am not home right now to test for a library corruption, and she wont know what to do if I'm not there. I'll do so when I get home tonight.

Iphoto lost pictures after import

I just uploaded a couple thousand pictures form my iphone into iphoto. after completion, I clicked to have the imported photos deleted from the phone. During the deletion process, iphoto froze and I had to force quit the program. Now, I cant find my pictures in iphoto, and most of the pictures were deleted from the phone before the program froze.
any Idea's on how to find/get these pictures? I appriciate any help. thanks.

If the photos are in the library but not recognized by iPhoto there are a couple of things you can try.
Make a temporary, backup copy (select the library and type Command+D) and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #1, followed by #3 and then #4.
Fix #2
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.
If both of these fail try this third method:
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. Hopefully it will pick up those "missing" photos and include them in the import.
Note: your current library will be left untouched for further attempts at a fix if so desired.
OT

Lost all pictures in iPhoto.....where are the pictures?

My MacBook is new to me and I have put hundreds of pictures in iPhoto. I opened my computer one day and all photos in iPhoto are gone. Where are the picture and how are they returned to iPhoto?

Sorry with that amount of information no one can even guess
What version of iPhoto? Of the OS? what happens when you launch iPhoto? What changes did you make just before this occured - new software - disk clean up ???
LN

When I listen to music on Apple TV 2 my pictures from iPhoto come in, but always the same album (which I nevr asked for), always in random order and always in a different format. How can I control what is going on and choose the album myself.

When I listen to music on Apple TV 2 my pictures from iPhoto come in aafter about ten minutes, but always the same album (which I never asked for), always in random order and always in a different format. How can I choose a different album myself and control the order and format?

Thank you Winston for a helpful response and for reminding me of something which I found nearly a year ago and then lost (in my mind) because I did not use it. I am grateful for a correct answer but it still only achieves part of what I wanted.
I can now choose my photos, decide how long they stay on screen and choose one of a variety of presentations. Two things I still can't do.
One is to get it to play the photos in the chronological order in which I have carefully set them in an album; it still tends to be random and repetitive. The other is that I cannot get any of them them to saty on screen for more than about 20 seconds. I guess this is all due to the way Apple TV is constructed.
But still thanks, nevertheless.
Alec

Hi, I was importing pictures into iPhoto from my sd card and suddenly iPhoto quit. Now it just won't open. When I click on the iphoto icon in the dock, nothing happens! Does anyone have a solution to this problem please?

Hi, I was importing pictures into iPhoto from my sd card and suddenly iPhoto quit. Now it just won't open. When I click on the iphoto icon in the dock, nothing happens! Does anyone have a solution to this problem please?

As a test launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and create a new, test library. Import some photos and test to see if the same problem persists. Does it?
If it does then your current library has been damaged and should be repaired: apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Since only one option can be run at a time start
with Option #4 and then #1 as needed.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
1 - download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
2 - click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
3 - 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.
4 - In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
5 - 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. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

Lost Pictures on iPhoto

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