Missing File error in Photos after import

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Level 1

8 points

Missing File error in Photos after import

I imported photos from my camera's SD card into my Photos Library on Mac. I see the thumbnails for these photos when I got to Imports in photos, but when I click on an individual photo I get the following error message:

Missing File

Photos with unvailable original files cannot be opened.

I thought import would load the image files into the library file - is this not the case? Do I need to copy the files to the same drive as the library file and then import for them to be available in photos? Does Import not load files into the library file?

hardware: Mac Mini M4 Pro

OS: Sequoia 15.1.1

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!

Mac mini, macOS 15.1

Posted on Nov 23, 2024 7:55 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 23, 2024 10:49 AM in response to dnedzel1

When you look at Photos' Settings>General,

Is Copy Items checked? This is the normal, default, setting. If it isn't checked, then Photos expects to find the picture files in their original places.

Is your Photos Library in your Pictures Folder? Or do you have it on an external drive? If it's on an external drive, how is that drive formatted? APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is required.

Let us know…

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Answer 2

Nov 23, 2024 11:27 AM in response to dnedzel1

dnedzel1 wrote: …That's it,

Great! It's pretty rare that it's not set to copy. It's useful for some testing, and I have a Library like that just to see how it works. But we always recommend that people stick with the default "Copy." I'm glad we caught it!

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Answer 3

dnedzel1 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 23, 2024 11:07 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Richard,

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! My photo library is in the standard pictures directory in the built in drive, not an external.

Copy Items was - Not set! That's it, thank you Richard! I wasn't aware of this setting, that should fix it.

gratefully,

Derrick

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