"Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" How do I regain access to iPhoto. All I get is an instruction to "quit"

When accessingh iPhoto all I get is "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" How do I regain access to iPhoto. All I get is an instruction to "quit"

Hi LarryHN,
I was loading images via a flash memory card which was inserted into a USB holder – during the 'download' the connection was broken [faulty USB connection]. I then re-inserted the card via the USB holder the connection was 're-broken' with a screen message indicating that 'force eject' was an option. I clicked the 'force eject' option and when I re-inserted the card/holder 120 images [approx] were missing and when I tried to open iPhoto the screen messages detailed above were displayed.
Current software is: iPhoto v9.2.3; Snow Leopard v10.6.8.
Using TD's Option 1:
i.e. “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” resulted in .
"Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" with a window request “quit”
& Option 2 “Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function”.
Resulted in the following message:
“The library could not be loaded because an error occurred. The library database could not be loaded; no such table RKVersionFaceContent. The album data file for the library 'iPhoto Library' could not be read” - [my italics]
Followed your instructions, re. 'new library' and it worked perfectly. All I have to do is select 'iPhoto Library2' and proceed as normal.
Thank You very much for your excellent advice and solution.
p.s. And this is completely 'off the wall' as I don't expect a positive outcome, but is it possible that all the images 'deleted' from my flash memory card could be somewhere in/on my HDD? If so, how would I proceed to recover them?
Many thanks again.
im.higgs boson

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HT204570 Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable. I the error message from iPhotos after the so called upgrade to Photos which left me with a blank screen

Photos upgrade a disaster. No images appear in Photos. Able to re-establish all images in iPhoto only to have the app crash after uploading new photos from iPhone. Impossible to reload photo library as it needs 161 GB of space. The non functioning Photos library is 107 GB and the original iPhotos library from which it was created is 118 GB. I only have 146 GB available on this 1 TB drive but I am reluctant to trash Photos library in case iPhotos is truly damaged.

And your question is?

How do I re-open and get back into my iPhoto if this message appears: "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable"? What do I do?

How do I re-open and get back into my iPhoto if this message appears: "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable"? What do I do?

Rebuild your iPhoto Library:
iPhoto 6 and later: Rebuilding the iPhoto library

When I start my iPhoto it says: "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable". I don't have a back-up of my library and I don't know what to do! Thanks

When I start my iPhoto it says: "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable". I don't have a back-up of my library and I don't know what to do! Thanks

Try to restart your Mac. If the library is really in use by another application, that can clear it.
Tell us more about your system. Which version of iPhoto are you using? Which version of MacOS X?
Where are you storing your iPhoto Library?
What happened before this problem first started? Did iPhoto crash? Did you move the iPhoto Library somewhere else?
Try Terence Devlin's fix here: Re: IPHOTO LOCKED
Go to your Pictures Folder and find the iPhoto Library there. Right (or Control-) Click on the icon and select 'Show Package Contents'. A finder window will open with the Library exposed.
Look there for a file called ‘iPhoto’Lock.data or similar. Drag it to the Desktop. Make no other changes. Start iPhoto. Does that help?

Hi, I have a brand new imac which i got today and when I open Iphoto all i get is the error message "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" any ideas? thanks

Hi, I have a brand new imac which i got today and when I open Iphoto all i get is the error message "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" any ideas? thanks

Are there photos in the Library? If not then just trash it and launch iphoto. It will make a new one.
If there are pics in it then 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.

Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable, Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable

i can't open iphoto , i got this message :"Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" , i don't have anything to backup their my photos and because of that i scared to repiar the iphoto i don't want all my photos will be deleted help me please what should i do?

First Make a back up. Get something. You need it. To say that you are worried about your photos but don't have a back up is to contradict yourself.
Then:
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

Why does iPhoto give me this error when opening it " Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable"

Good Day. I have been trying to open my iPhoto and i keeps giving me the following error message " Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable " Then it suggests I push the Option and Command button at time of opening iPhoto and the 4 options given do not work as well. My operating system is OS X Vers 10.8.5. Not sure the iPhoto application as it won't open for me to tell.
Pls help . Im afraid of losing all my pics.

Make a back up now. If you have any vaule in Your photos always have a back up.
Most Simple Back Up
Drag the iPhoto Library from your Pictures Folder to another Disk. This will make a copy on that disk.
Slightly more complex:
Use an app that will do incremental back ups. This is a very good way to work. The first time you run the back up the app will make a complete copy of the Library. Thereafter it will update the back up with the changes you have made. That makes subsequent back ups much faster. Many of these apps also have scheduling capabilities: So set it up and it will do the back up automatically. Examples of such apps: Chronosync or DejaVu . But are many others. Search on MacUpdate
In Library Manager the Rebuild command is under the File menu. There's also an excellent Help available.
Regards
TD

After a power failure while iPhoto was running, I get the message "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" and iPhoto will not open????

After a power failure while iPhoto was running, I get the message "Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" and iPhoto will not open???? held down the option and the command and tried to run what was ticked off and it just sits there with a spinning wheel and does nothing, can I throw the app away and download a new one? or will it still not open?

, can I throw the app away and download a new one? or will it still not open?
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I have my iPhoto set to an external drive yesterday when it was in use the usb disconnected i now have a message saying (your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable) I have tried shutting down and restarting.

I have my iPhoto set to an external drive, when it was in use the usb disconected as i was moving my mac air, when i re-conected a message said (your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable).
I have tried shutting it down and then re opening iPhoto but get the same message.
The reason for the external drive was there was not enough room on my hard drive, I have around 7000 photos on it.
is there a simple fix?
Regards
Dale

These are your options:
1. Restore the iPhoto library from the most recent backup that predates the issue.
          Advantages: Always works, if library damage is causing the problem and the backup is intact.
          Disadvantages: Impossible if you don't have a backup. All changes made since the backup are lost.
2. Repair or rebuild the library. Be sure to back it up first.
          Advantages: May solve the problem with no loss of data.
          Disadvantages: May fail. May take a long time if the library is large.
3. Scavenge the library with a third-party application called "iPhoto Library Manager," which you can find in a web search. From the application's menu bar (not the iPhoto menu bar), select Library ▹ Rebuild.
          Advantages: All images and albums should be preserved.
          Disadvantages: All books, calendars, and slideshows will be lost.

I-Photo keeps coming up with the following error -Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable.

Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable. The solution suggested is restart and hold option/command down. I have done this and the options given make sense but when I try to run any of the suggested solutions the same error comes up as above
We have back ups to Time Machine but I am concerned that these backups may be corrupt as well so before trying I wish to try and repair
Has any one come into this issue before?
Running Mac OS X (10.7.5)
Thank you

Tell us more please - so it is hard to guess.
Sometimes really another program is using your library - then a simple "restart" of the system should fix this. If iPhoto is trying to open the wrong library, you may be seeing this error message. Then try to switch to the correct library by holding down the ⌥-key while launching iPhoto.
If really something is wrong, weneed to know more:
When did this start? Have you been importing new photos? Did iPhoto crash? Have you moved your iPhoto Library to an external drive? Where is your iPhoto library located? If on an external drive, how is the drive formatted?
Also, what is your version of the iPhoto application?
Have you updated any software recently or installed new software, before the problem first occured?
Have you run any maintainance programs, that help to clean your Mac, like MacKeeper?
Regards
Léonie

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What you're describing is the Finder window for your external hard drive. When you're in iPhoto and try to edit a photo what happens?
Are you saying that the photos for your iPhoto library are located on the external HD while your library is in the Pictures folder on the boot drive? That would indicate a referenced library. You can check to see if you're running a referenced library by checking the Advanced Preference pane in iPhoto:
Click to view full size
So based one the Advanced preference pane in iPhoto what type of library are you running. Where is the library itself located? It should look like this:
By default it should be located in your Users/Home/Pictures folder. However, it could be run on an external HD.

How do you fix this error? Can't access photos Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable

How do you fix this error? Can't access photos----" Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable"

Try this: launch iPhoto with the Option key held down and create a new, test library. Import some photos and check to see if the same problem persists. If you can create and use a new library then your current library is damaged.
If that's the case 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.
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OT

When I open iphoto the following message appears 'Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable'

when I open iphoto the following message appears 'Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable'

Reboot you system, if you have not already done so - this should take care of the "in use by another application" part of the message.
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If you do not yet have any images in your iPhoto Library simply move it to the Trash and hold down the option-key while launching iPhoto again. This will give you the option to create a new iPhoto Library or to pick another one, if you have other libraries.
To fix your current library, or to restore it from backup, if you already have pictures inside that you need to save, see Terence Devlin's posts here:
Re: Why do I keep getting asked to repair my iPhoto library?
Re: when I open iphoto I get an error message that says Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable,
Regards
Léonie

Received message: your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable". How do I fix this???

iPhoto will not open. "Your photo library is either is use by another application or has become unreadable. Shut down & restart your computer….". I did this and it still will not open. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

Do the following:
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down to open the First Aid window. Be sure to follow the circled recommendation in the screenshot.
2 - Run Option #4, Rebuild Database.

I can't open iPhoto. Message reads "Your Photo Library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable".

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Try the following:
1 - launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down to open the First Aid window. Be sure to follow the circled recommendation in the screenshot.
2 - run Option #4, Rebuild Database.

"Your photo library is either in use by another application or has become unreadable" How do I regain access to iPhoto. All I get is an instruction to "quit"

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