Transfer iphoto library to external harddrive. Best practice?

Need to transfer iphoto library to external harddrive due to space issues. Best practice?

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

Similar Messages

  • Need to transfer iphoto library to external hard drive

    need to transfer iphoto library to external passport drive. It will not let me drag and drop

    Welcome to Apple Support Communities
    The external drive is formatted in NTFS, a format that OS X can't write in. You have to erase the external disk.
    First, open Finder, choose the external drive in the sidebar, under "Devices", and copy all the content of your external drive to another folder like Desktop.
    Then, follow these steps to format the external drive in "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" as Format > http://pondini.org/OSX/DU1.html Finally, drag the iPhoto library to the external drive

  • Move iPhoto Library to external harddrive

    Good evening all...
    I've done some searching and see a few different possibilites for using an Alternate iPhoto Library on an external harddrive. I'm hoping for opinions on the best option for what I wish to accomplish.
    In my line of photography, I tend to focus on a specific event and then backup that event to remove it from my local hard disk (archive it if you will). In the past, I have done this by burning to CD, but now have a pretty decent sized external harddrive that I would like to take advantage of.
    After reading some other threads, I have noticed that some folks choose to relocate their iPhoto Library to a external harddrive and set it as the working iPhoto directory. I am wondering if this is a good option for me, as I prefer to keep my local harddrive clean? Is an external harddrive a safe option for primary storage? Chalk my fear of storing locally to years of Windows failures.
    If this is a good option for me, could somebody explain the procedures of setting this up? This is my first Mac and I am still somewhat cautious as to how I proceed with things such as this.
    If this is a bad option for me, suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
    Thank you in advance for your time!
    iMac   Mac OS X (10.4.9)   iPhoto 6

    Take a look at this Apple KB document: iPhoto: Sharing libraries among multiple users, particularly the screen show regarding ignoring ownership on the external HD. That will avoid problems that might pop up if permissions were turn on and some image file locked you out for some reason. It does happen at times.
    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 written 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. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

  • Transfering iPhoto library to External Harddrive

    I am trying to transfer my iPhoto library to my External Harddrive, but it says it is going to take one day. I dont feel like USB 3.0 should take one day to transfer 50gb of pictures... Any fix to this problem?

    Ignore it
    The finder is a very poor estimated of time - it will change radically as it progresses - and however long it takes is how ling it takes - there is no way to change that
    Is the external drive formatted Mac OS Extended (journaled)? - to use the iPhoto library it must be that format
    LN

  • How do I transfer iphoto library to external hard drive keeping events intact?

    Had a one to one session but forgot how to do this. I would like to transfer my iphoto library to an external hard drive keeping the folders and events intact. I figured out how to send all my photos to the hard drive but they all transfer in single images, if that makes sense, and then i have to go thru all of the 15,000 images by hand and sort them into folders. Ahhhhhhh!
    When they showed me how to do this at apple I am able to open my external hard drive and see a folder labled 'iphotolibrary" and  I am able to click it open and then all my events show up just like in iphoto library.
    Also does your iphoto library "Trash" take up space on your HD? Forgve me if thats a dumb question but I am kind of a computer "dummy".
    thanks so much. My hard drive has VERY little space left on it so I need to transfer ASAP.

    I just posted this to another topic, but it applies here as well. Hopefully there's no prohibition on cross-posting on this board, my apologies to all if there is:
    "I haven't read the whole thread, so someone could have already mentioned this, but I did the same thing, move my music library to an external drive. The Help articles are helpful, but only up to a point. When that didn't work, I called up AppleCare support up, and they took me through all the standard steps, and got stumped at the same point I did. Finally she suggested trying something, and that ended up doing the trick. So here in brief is what you do:
    1) Copy over your "iTunes Music" folder to the external hard drive
    2) Go into Advanced preferences to have iTunes look for the "iTunes Music" folder in the new location. If you're like me, your music won't appear in the Library.
    3) In iTunes, go to the Library window (which is probably blank), then in a Finder window, find the icon for the "iTunes Music" folder in the new location. Drag that icon onto the Library window.
    You should now see a progress window pop up showing all the songs that it's populating the Library window with."
    20" Intel iMac 14" iBook G4, 233 MHz Beige G3   Mac OS X (10.4.5)  

  • Not able to access my iPhoto library from external harddrive

    I get this message when I attempt to access my iphoto Library from my LeCie external hard drive.  "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'm nervous to do as instructed for fear of deleting my photos from the external harddrive.

    What format is the external drive? Has the iPhoto library been working on the external drive in the past? What recently changed? what ahppened when you tried
    Shut down and restart your computer, and then open iPhoto again.
    LN

  • Can't transfer iPhoto library to external drive

    Hi guys,
    Need some help here.
    My hard disk ran out of space and I am trying to transfer all of my photos in iphoto library into my external hard drive, which I have been using for my PC.  I tried dragging the library icon to my external drive icon, but I kept getting the "block" sign and it simply would not allow me to transfer the library. 
    I've attached the screen shot of this to help you better understand what's going on.
    Can you PLEASE help?
    Thanks!

    what format is the external drive? If you used it with a PC it is incorrect for iPhoto - iPhoto must be on a drive formatted Mac OS extended (journaled)
    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

  • Would like to know how to back up iphoto library to external harddrive

    I know this question has been asked and very well answered, but I could not find it in the pop up discussions.  I have copied my library to an external hard drive by dragging and dropping the events into folders.  This works, however is time consuming and all the photos, I think are out of order.  I would like to use the "export library" link in iphoto, but when i do it say something about can't create volumes??  Sorry if this is not as clear as it could be, but I don't think I am the first with this problem.  Links to previous solutions would be great!  I do use time machine as a back up to an external hard drive, but would like to back up the library to a USB also, which I can then put somewhere else. 
    I have a Mac Mini  10.6.8. and a sweet new bluetooth keyboard!

    Copy the iPhoto library intact to the EHD  --  or use a incremental program so you can update it without recopying everything - I use Carbon Copy cloner - Superduper is another good one - there are others
    LN

  • Can't transfer iPhoto Library FROM external hard drive to iMac

    I just bought a new iMac.  Before I said goodbye to my old computer (a MacBook), I dutifully backed up my iPhoto library onto an external hard drive.  Upon setting up my iMac, I easily accessed the iPhoto library on my HD, but I didn't import it.  I was able to see all photos, albums, etc.
    But when I went to import the entire iPhoto library into my iMac's hard drive (into the Pictures folder), it wouldn't import.  A mesage comes up that says "Preparing to copy" and the blue-and-white bar just spins and spins, without actually copying anything.  So, it's weird -- there's clearly communication between iMac and external HD, but I can't take the iPhoto library off the hard drive to make it my new computer's iPhoto library.
    Any hints?  Thanks.

    Have you tried restarting your machine?

  • Confirm move of iPhoto library to external harddrive

    I recently moved my iPhoto library to an external HD, and wanted to confirm that I can safely delete the old iPhoto library from my external disk. How do I check this? I also wanted to check that iPhoto is set up to store yet-to-be-imported-photos in the new location (on the HD). Under preferences in iPhoto, and then under the advanced tab, I have selected the box next to "copy photos to the iPhoto library". Is it really that simple?

    Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and point it at the Library on the external. From that point on, this is the default Library, and the one that all pics will be imported to.
    Test it thoroughly and when you're sure it's all okay, delete the one on the internal.
    Regards
    TD

  • Transfer iphoto library to external hard disk

    My iPhoto library of 320 GB has is filling the internal disk on my MacBook Pro. I copied the library intact to an external hard disk, checked to make sure the external library works with iPhoto and everything was ok, then emptied the trash. This did not clear space on the internal drive because the space that previously was listed as photos is listed as backup. How can I now delete the backup photos?

    Make sure you connect the Mac frequently to your Time Machine drive, this will decrease the amount of local snapshots quickly.
    If you freed 320 GB and expect to take 200 GB of new photos that should be fine.
    I understand that at least 10% of the internal hard disk should be left free for good functioning of the system.
    Don't let the free space drop below 20GB minimum.

  • Unable to transfer iTunes Library to external Harddrive

    I followed the online directions and tried to transfer my iTunes library to my external hard drive, but it wont do it and I get the message "required file is in use".  Does anyone have any suggestions?

    stelladuce wrote:
    Hi,
    How do I properly open iTunes now with my library on th external drive. When I open iTunes it seems unable to open Music/ podcasts and audiobooks now?
    iTunes is still looking for the iTunes Folder that you deleted. Just open iTunes and then select iTunes at the top menu bar, then select Preferences. When the Preference windows opens, select Advance, select General and you will see the old location listed. Now click the Change Button and from the popup window, navigate to the New iTunes Library Folder Location on the external drive and select it. Then click the Open button and the new path to the iTunes Library should now be set. Click the OK button to close the Preferences window and If iTunes doesn't open them, just quit & reopen iTunes.
    That should doit.
    Later ...
    !http://homepage.mac.com/buzzlightgear/Buzz.tiff!
    Buzz

  • How do I transfer pictures from my iphoto to an external harddrive to free up space?

    How do I transfer pictures from my iphoto to an external harddrive to free up space?

    To get photos off of your Mac the solution is to run your iPhoto library (and probably iTunes library) on an external drive. The drive must be formatted Mac OS extended (journaled). Quit iPhoto and drag your iPhoto libeprary to a properly formatted external drive, depress the option key, launch iPhoto and use the select library window to select the new location. Fully test it and then delete the one on the internal drive. Test one more time before emptying the trash. Verify that your back up software is backing up the external drive.
    LN

  • How to transfer Photo Library to external hard drive?

    How do I transfer IPhoto Library and/or albums onto External Hard Drive? I have been selecting photos and re-creating Albums as Folders. But I want to delete photos from my MacBook Air and want all the content and information transferred with the photos, which is not currently happening. I downloaded a free trial of a program that promises to do this transfer but cannot find it/use it. Help!

    Make sure the drive is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
    1. Quit iPhoto
    2. Copy the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to the External Disk.
    3. Hold down the option (or alt) key while launching iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and navigate to the new location. From that point on this will be the default location of your library.
    4. Test the library and when you're sure all is well, trash the one on your internal HD to free up space.
    Regards
    TD

  • If I Move iPhoto Library to External Drive Does It Keep Organized?

    Can anyone tell me:
    In iPhoto 09 8.2.1 if I take the time to organize, edit, "faces" "events" etc...and I move iPhoto to an External Harddrive, a Western Digital "My Book"...Does moved library stay edited, organized face tagged, etc?
    Thanks

    See this document how to format a drive for photo libraries: (it explains it for aperture, but it is done the same way for iPhoto)
              Format external drives to Mac OS Extended before using with Aperture
    Also if I do format the drive how will that effect what is already on there (not just photos but documents, etc)?
    I thought you were buying a new drive to use with iPhoto.   If there are already documents on the drive, you need to copy them temporarily somewhere else. Reformatting will erase a drive completely.
    Disk Utility (it is in the "Utilities" folder in "Applications")  will show you, if your drive needs formatting.
    The left pane shows your disks and disk partitions, and the right pane lets you do useful things, like reformatting and repairing your drive.
    If you select the drive in the left panel, you see the formatting in the footer of the panel.
    Is your drive correctly formatted?

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