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User profile for user: jfdooley
jfdooley Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

I can't open my Photos Library on iMac post updating to macOS 15.1

Just updated my c2019 27" iMac to Mac OS 15.1 and now when I try to open Photos I get a "Can't open Photos library" message. I've tried the Photos Repair, but nothing works; it continues to complain that it can't open the library. I've also tried to copy a previous version of the Photos library from my Time Machine backups but Time Machine also seems to be stuck. I've gotten a "Preparing to copy to Pictures" for over an hour now. I've got 65GB of pictures in that library. Help!



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iMac 27″, macOS 15.1

Posted on Nov 4, 2024 2:22 PM

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4 replies
User profile for user: Richard.Taylor
Richard.Taylor
User level: Level 6
9,978 points

Nov 5, 2024 7:29 AM in response to jfdooley

That's terrible! It sounds like you've done all the right things. The next things to try are these:

  • Restart the computer (of course)
  • Re-start in Safe Mode. This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes. Safe Mode is different for different computers, so see this: 

           Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support 


Those are the most likely things to try. Then try these:

  • Use another library if you have one, or make a small test Library with a few pictures in it and see if the same thing happens. You can create a new Library by closing Photos and then option-clicking on the Photos icon.
  • Make a new user and see if the same problem recurs with it


The idea is to find out if the problem is with the Library, with your account, or with caches and login items, and stuff like that. One of these steps may fix the problem, but their failure to work also helps figure out what's happening.

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User profile for user: jfdooley
jfdooley Author
User level: Level 1
8 points

Nov 5, 2024 8:13 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Thanks very much for your reply, Richard. I finally did get a previous version of my backed-up photo library to restore. (I had to go back to a point before I installed MacOS 15.1 to do it.) This version has successfully opened in Photos! I'm now copying all 12,000+ photos to my secondary backup disk. Thanks for your advice. I had already re-booted my machine, but didn't think of using Safe mode. I'll remember that. I had also already created a new photo library successfully with a few photos, so I was more confident about Photos itself, but it's still strange that my existing library wouldn't open. Thanks again!

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I can't open my Photos Library on iMac post updating to macOS 15.1

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