Recovery of iPhoto library or pictures

Hi, I am trying it either rebuild the iPhoto library or recover the photos in it as all appear blank,thumbnails as well as pictures, and I have tried the first aid options without success ( rebuild permissions, rebuild database, etc). Thanks for your help !

Sorry but you're not clear and contradicting yourself:
but when I open it it tells me it needs to be updated to run on the current version of iPhoto,
and
No message,
If that Library is a year old, and if you have iPhoto 9.5, then it will tell you that you need to download an updater.
Try this:
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

Similar Messages

IPhoto library or pictures folder

While trying to back up my photos to Sugarsync service I realized that my iphoto library and pictures folder have disappeared. I have backed up all my photos to an external drive and they are still on my computer so I am not frantic. I can not find the library or the pictures folder though. I am using Macbook Air and the newest version of iphoto.

TD - did as you said, selected the photo, reveal in finder
all the photos now appear on the right side of the screen with a green check
On the the left side of the screen:
favories
shared
devices
remote disc
This would appear to mean that my photos are on some remote disc/server? I am an icloud user but my photos are not there, I also do not save them to itunes. I have been using a backup service - Sugarsync and had been saving my photos there as a backup. Do you think they are all there now and none of them are on my computer?
Sorry, hate to ask all these questions.

Link missing from iPhoto Library to picture files

In iPhoto '08 when pointing to a picture and using drop down box to "show original file" it shows the linkage/ file tree diagram from picture to next level up subdirectory to Original to iPhoto Library to Pictures. Yet when looking for my picture files from Finder to User to Pictures to iPhoto Library there is no linkage to the Original subdirectory. NB there is no arrow under the iPhoto Library indicating a subdirectory. All that shows is a Preview column showing size of the pictures in the file but no file. How can this be fixed so I can find pcitures from Finders approach.

Thanks. First of all, I really appreciate the time you are taking to try and help me.
To begin, attaching pictures for emailing purposes wasn't the main problem for me, because I am using Mail to read my Yahoo mail, and have been using the email button in the iPhoto app.
My frustrations were when I was on a site, such as Shutterfly, snapfish, and I was choosing the pictures that I wanted to upload. I have thousands of pictures and because I don't keyword or rename them, I was used to being able to find the pictures I wanted by the visual in file system. Based on the folder names. I guess I am confused, because when I click the browse button, I am presented with what looks like a finder window. So, maybe my question is how to view the picture files via the finder. I was referring to your suggestion:
"Also, for 10.5 users: If you use the extended Open or Attach dialogue (with Column View) you can scroll to the bottom of the Shortcuts and find the Media browser there. Select any pic you want from there."
When I do the above, I still keep just launching the app. not seeing the files that are hidden within.
I did follow your instuctions below, but was unable to attach. Only when I dragged the photo to Safari on the dashboard, did it open in a separate Safari browser. It did not link or merge with the attach window.
Open Safari and go to attach a pic to an Email. The attach window descends in Safari
Now, pop back to the iPhoto Window and drag the pic from the iPhoto Window to the attach window
Does that work?
If it does, you can then try replacing the iPhoto Window and use the Media Browser window, but remember you're dragging from the browser to the Safari window, not trying to find a file via the Attach window.
Yes but iPhoto is nothing like Windows Explorer. If you want to mimic that format you would use the Finder, not iPhoto. iPhoto is a database application, a photo organiser, not the main Computer filing system.
I guess this is more what I would appreciate help with. Although, I think I need to spend a little more time in iPhoto creating Albums, versus the Events that all of my pictures have be organized in by default.
I think you might have misunderstood my comment below...I just want to be able to find the photo files with a visual not just the file name. Because I have no other way to find them in a browse situation.
Of course, you'll be able to do the same. But why you would want to work via "little thumbnails" when you can do so in more comfort via the Media Browser or the iPhoto Window I don't know.
I was formerly using Picasa on my Windows computer, which is a really easy app. and when I created a new album, it was very easy to find in the Windows Explorer when browsing for an upload. Obviously I need a little more time with the iPhoto, but I have been trying to do this for about 2 months when I got the computer, with what I thought was pretty decent common computer knowledge, but feel totally lost. I guess I feel a little bummed that I made a switch to Mac based on the concept that it was simpler, but it has proven to be much for difficult to do the very basic things I use my computer for everyday.
You've changed Computer, Operating System and now you've made an enormous change from using the File System to organise your pics to using a Photo Organiser. There's going to be change involved, and some learning to be done.
Thank you again for your time.
Kari

Recovery of iphoto library

I hope someone can help me out there. I was cleaning up some files on my Mac and inadvertantly deleted the iphotos library folder from my pictures folder on the hard drive. I've searched all over and have not yet found any advice with regards to how I might recover these precious memories. Both my picture file and iphoto was wiped clean. And as you can probably guess, I wasn't smart enough to make a back up of all of my pictures.
G4 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

healinghands
1. Stop using your computer - specifically, stop saving documents until you resolve this issue. It only raises the risk that the files will be overwritten
2. Download File Salvage and let it search your disk for recoverable files. It won't get your library back, but you have some hope of finding the pics themselves.
Regards
TD

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

IPhoto Library has totally disappeared!

I'm really hoping that someone can advise me. I switched from Windows to Mac two Christmases ago and until now would not have changed back. But now, my confidence is seriously damaged.
Here's the thing:-
The photo library on my wife's iMac has disappeared - totally.
There was no event or crash.
She simply opened iPhoto and it said "Do you want to create a library?"
I've searched with Google and done all the suggestions.
There is no iPhoto Library in 'Pictures'.
I've used iPhoto Library Manager - it will create a new library but finds no trace of the old one.
There is no 'Masters' nor "originals' folder.
Cmd-launch doesn't help.
Alt-Cmd-launch doesn't help.
There is no albumdata.xml file.
There is no library6.iphoto file.
The hard drive verified OK.
A lot of permission repaired but they usually do.
Still no sign of anything.
The Mac is a 21-inch iMac, bought Dec 2009; it's still running Snow Leopard and she has iPhoto09.
I've switched my 27-inch iMac (bought at the same time) to iPhoto11 and upgraded to Lion but my wife (like many) is seriously conservative and switching her from XP to Mac was quite enough for the time being!
I do have a backup of all but the recent photos but my confidence in Apple products is seriously damaged. I mean, I still have photos from Windows 98, 2000, and XP computers and I've never lost a single photo before (except by the usual mistakes). The notion that a Mac can simply lose every single photo without warning makes it 100% untrustworthy.
I don't use Time Machine, though I was about to start using it. But surely if I did rely on it, it would simple backup the absence of photos and they'd be lost in the backup too?
How can this have happened?
How can the photos be deleted from the hard drive without a lot of disc activity? (i.e. they must still be there?)
How can I get them back?
Any suggestions would be gratefully accepted.
Thanks.
Brian Smith, Stamford, UK.
Post Script: I have used Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery. It insisted that I make an image onto an external drive and from that it has found 35,000 images, most of them Apple and software icons. But there are also what may be all of the photographs. It's going to take forever to go through them all and of course I can't yet say if all sets of photos have been recovered.

Thanks, Terrence.
I'd thought of user error, of course, but couldn't see how *everything* could have disappeared . . . . but I hadn't actually thought of accidentally moving the iPhoto Library itself to Trash. If that was done, would it have this effect - of deleting everything?
I can see how this might be the only conceivable answer but I simply don't believe it's what happened. You'd have to go into the Home folder, then pictures, and then delete the iPhoto library.
My wife definitely wouldn't have done this. I don't think she's ever used the Finder. But I occasionally use her computer so if it was done it was me wot done it! And I did recently copy some pictures across from my Mac to hers to put them on her iPad. I'm pretty sure I didn't use either iPhoto or the Finder on that occasion - but you never know.
In the absence of any other suggestions I may have to acknowledge that this may be what happened. In some ways it would be a relief. Total loss for no reason was very worrying.
Still not happy that I might have done it by accident though!
Thanks again,
Brian

How to recover iphoto library

This morning i was looking for a way to hide a event in iPhoto library but by mistake i deleted my whole Iphoto library in pictures folder in Finder. Now my iphoto is empty. Is there any way-out to recover those pictures. Even i emptied my trash can. Please help me. Thanks in advance

No. I assumed that if your photos - or any data - is important to you then you would have a back up. It's a basic requirement for anyone using a computer, really.
Now you're into data recovery. You'll need an app like File Salvage. This will scan your Mac and give you a lost of what's recoverable. To actually recover you'll need to purchase the app. You'll also need an external HD to recover to.
Regards
TD

IPhoto Library locked in Yosemite; You do not have permission to open the document "iPhoto Library"

Long story to get to the iPhoto part but may help someone who is in-the-know about what can be done for me...
I turned on my computer a few weeks ago (iMac 27" late 2012, 2.9GHz Intel core i5) to access some photos in iPhoto and it would not load to the home screen but gave me the Disc Utilities Menu. From memory the options I had were; (1) Restore from Time Machine Back-up, (2) Re-install OSX, (3) Get online Help, (4) Repair or Erase using Disc Utility.
I tried Repair in option 4... no success.
I tried option 1 as I have my internal HDD backed up to an external HDD via Time Machine in case anything goes wrong... no success.
I tried option 2 (which was Mavericks) and it loaded and took me to my desktop.
When I tried to opened the iPhoto app in the dock there were no photos in it.
After searching forums and the internet they suggested it may have been an iPhoto upgrade issue so I tried to update iPhoto but found it was already up-to-date.
After looking, I found that the "iPhoto Library" in "Pictures" had a red circle with the white dash through it and was locked. When the "iPhoto Library" folder was double clicked I got the message "You do not have permission to open the document “iPhoto Library”.
In all the trouble I have upgraded to Yosemite 10.10.3 (with Photos 1.0) and am obviously still having the same warning/error message come up when the iPhoto Library folder is clicked.
Right click won't allow me to view package contents.
The "Import" function in the "Photos" app won't do anything with the folder, and the "iPhoto Library" folder looks and functions the same in all of the back-ups on my external HDD Time Machine.
I don't care if I need to use "Photos" or "iPhoto" but I do need to get the photos out because they are irreplaceable. If had know this problem was possible (especially while using Time Machine) I would have manually stored and backed my photos up in folders on another external HDD.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, feel free to ask any additional Questions (but this is the first time I have posted in the forum so hopefully I can work out what is going on if you do reply to this post )
Cheers.

Thanks for the suggestion. I had tried this earlier with no success either. Even with the padlock unlocked I can't even change the tab that says "OPEN WITH". I still get the... "You do not have permission to open the document “iPhoto Library” message. You may also it continues to say "Fetching" where it should say my user name at the bottom.

How do I // find the library for i photos // move i photos and library to picture folder- macbookkpro a1150? 2005-2008

how doi find and identify i photos and library and make sure i photos is valid .. i want to move iphotos library to picture folder so i can sync my black berry media and clean it off .. it says i need an update but i learned that its just the iphotos folder misplaced
help im super computer/jargin stupid keep it real simple

if you need an update from App Store I assume that means the application in /Applications and nothing to do with iPhoto Library which can be anywhere and default is in Pictures, though it runs smoother if it is on a separate different drive. (Just go to where it is and open and will remember its location so whether now or after the move)
I put my iPhoto Library on an SSD which works very well. same goes for Aperture too.

How I can use old iPhoto library?

Good day!
I've re-installed Lion on my Mac. Before that I had copied my iPhoto Library on external HD (copy&paste iPhoto Library folder).
When i've installed Lion - i copy my iPhoto Library to Pictures folder. But iPhoto don't work with it. I try to launch iPhoto with Alt-button and choose that library.
So, question is - how i can use my old library or it is impossible?
And if i cant - can i manually export my projects (books) to new iPhoto Library?
Dmtiriy

Hm...it is hard question
1. I see that folder not like iPhoto Library, but like common folder. So, i can open at and see files into it.
2. iPhoto see that library (when i open it with alt-button) - but then i have the messege - "Your library used by other application or broken" - sorry, i have russian version - and translate that message from russian.
I've tried to create new free library and copy files from old there - but have that messege too.

Cannot open iphoto library in Photoshop

I have updated to ilife11 and now when i open Photoshop and try to import a picture from iphoto i can see the iphoto library in Pictures but it is not highlighted and i cannot open it. Can anyone help.

edit: if you were using Bridge as a photo navigation tool, please disregard my previous comments that I have now removed as they are no longer relevant.
Message was edited by: roam

IPhoto Library says it's empty-don't know what to do next-info overload

Okay, I am a newbie. I am overwhelmed with all the info I've read in the forums and now I am afraid to make a move and screw something else up! Your help would be very much appreciated. I will give some background:
Main Problem: My iPhoto is empty. There is nothing in the Library. Where did everything disappear to?
1. I organized my desktop today (bad idea) - had lots of folders and photos on it (like a messy desk). Did this cause some of the problems?
2. I moved the photos from the desktop into the "Pictures" file folder (with better folder names for me-more changed locations for the photos-another bad idea-huh?).
3. While in the Pictures folder I saw the iPhoto library and wondered why it was there. I dragged it out of that place to the desktop. I put it back in the Pictures folder later thinking that was a problem, but at some point I got the message that there were no photos in my library.
4. My iPhotos had many albums, books, etc... two books ready to go to print - of course they are missing in action.
5. I had photos on my desktop (I used in my books, etc.) and photos simply imported into iPhotos from my camera (so they aren't on my desktop). Where would those photos be? They WERE in iPhoto as an Event. I didn't drag them anywhere.
6. I don't have the Time Machine program set up. Just discovered that while researching this problem. I thought I could go back in time.
7. I am using a iMac and have version 8 of iPhoto.
What does anyone recommend I do?
Thank you. CBJ2009

Main Problem: My iPhoto is empty. There is nothing in the Library. Where did everything disappear to?
Sound like you may have created a second blank iPhoto library - launch iPhoto while depressing the option (alt) key and use the select library option to select from available valid libraries - hopwfully this will solve your problem
1. I organized my desktop today (bad idea) - had lots of folders and photos on it (like a messy desk). Did this cause some of the problems?
That is not a problem AS LONG as none of the things you changed were in the iPhoto library (note that the all images smart folder displays items from the iPhoto library so you have to be very careful if you use it (probably best not to)
2. I moved the photos from the desktop into the "Pictures" file folder (with better folder names for me-more changed locations for the photos-another bad idea-huh?).
Again That is not a problem AS LONG as none of the things you changed were in the iPhoto library - the pictures folder is fine
3. While in the Pictures folder I saw the iPhoto library and wondered why it was there. I dragged it out of that place to the desktop. I put it back in the Pictures folder later thinking that was a problem, but at some point I got the message that there were no photos in my library.
THat is not good - never muck with the iPhoto library - and never change anything inside of it
If iPhoto was running when you did this you may have a bigger problem - but for now lest assume not - most likely you launched iPhoto while there was no iPhoto library available and it created a blank one - hopefully step one fixed this
5. I had photos on my desktop (I used in my books, etc.) and photos simply imported into iPhotos from my camera (so they aren't on my desktop). Where would those photos be? They WERE in iPhoto as an Event. I didn't drag them anywhere.
Assuming that you left the default setting for iPhoto to "copy imported items to the iPhoto library" your photos are all in the originals folder of the iPhoto library. Unless you deleted your iPhoto library in the process of playing around and emptied the trash - they are there.
6. I don't have the Time Machine program set up. Just discovered that while researching this problem. I thought I could go back in time.
getting TM running would be a good idea
LN
Message was edited by: LarryHN

Best way to "split" iPhoto library?

Usually, at the beginning of the year I create a new, clean library for iPhoto. This helps me keep my library size managable. Well, this year I forgot to do it and now my iPhoto library contains pictures from 07 and 08. Is there an easy way to split my iPhoto library? How do I create a new library with my 08 pictures? There must be a way to do it. I know what events I want to move to a new library I'm just not sure how to go about doing it.

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
iPhoto Library Manager will copy Events and well as Albums, for further information consult the Help on the app or contact the Developer.
I have an external network drive to store the libraries so I also want to experiment with sharing those libraries with my wife
Users have consistently reported problems when using a disk not formatted for OS X (such as a NAS) with iPhoto. These issues include problems sharing, problems saving changes and others. I would not recommend using iPhoto on any disk not formatted for OS X.
Regards
TD

How to transfer iPhoto library to new computer?

OK, I have an iMac G4 with iLife '06. I just got a new iMac G5 and I want to transfer my iPhoto library from the G4 to the G5 with all of my albums and folders. What is the best way to do it?

Just copy the entire iPhoto Library folder to the new machine. Don't import, don't do it by piece, just the whole folder.
I would use Target mode to move the photo library. Hold down the T key after shutting down and hitting the Power On button on the G4 iMac., then connect a firewire cable between them. The G4's Hard Drive will show up as a Firewire drive on the G5's desktop. Navigate to your iPhoto Library in Pictures and copy the whole folder over.
This will work assuming:
- Your user name is the same (if not you might have to use a utility like BatChmod to adjust ownership and permissions)
- You are simply moving your primary library to your new Mac, not trying to add together the library on each Mac.
- You don't have the advanced preference set to not copy photos into your library (means the folder doesn't actually contain the photos, just references to them and the photos are stored elsewhere)
As always, keep a full backup. To be completely safe, copy the iPhoto Library to a different location than the Pictures folder, then launch iPhoto with Option key held down and navigate to the copied iPhoto Library. That way you haven't deleted anything until you're sure it works.

Moved iPhoto Library but instead it copied?

On the same network, I've a MBA, an iMac, and a backup harddrive dedicated to just photos. The iMac's iPhoto Library is stored on the backup harddrive. I wanted to do the same with the MBA's iPhoto Library. Read Help on how to move; closed iPhoto; opened a finder window>Pictures and dragged and dropped the MBA's iPhoto Library to the backup harddrive. Rather than moving it, however, it copied the Library. There is still an iPhoto library in Pictures and another on the harddrive. When I look to switch Library's both Libraries appear. What did I do wrong? Should I try to drag/drop the MBA version into trash? Don't want confusion of 2 libraries.
Thanks, Armando

if iPhoto Library is not stored on MBA, then am I correct that TM on the MBA, which backs up to a separate RAID harddrives, is not backing up iPhoto?
Time Machine will back up both your Mac and the attached hard drive.....IF.....you have removed the attached hard drive from the list of items that are Excluded from backups in Time Machine Preferenes > Options.
In other words, a drive that is connected to a Mac via USB or FireWire will not be backed up since it will be Excluded from backups by default. You have to remove it from the list of Excluded items if you want it to be backed up.
When you do this, Time Machine will back up both your Mac and the attached hard drive on the next pass.

Recovery of iPhoto library or pictures

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