Photos won't Import to Library

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DirtHertz Author

Level 1

4 points

Photos won't Import to Library

I have my photos library on an external drive 2tb of 4tb used, exFat, drive is connected direct to macbook

MacBook Pro Sequoia 15.6.1, Hard drive has 155Gb Free

For some reason now when I insert a SD card into my Mac I select files to import and hit import and nothing happens.

Restarted multiple times, rebuilt library, drive is directly connected.

Have a second hard drive that I use for temporary sports photos on a different photos library that doesn't have an issue...

Help!

[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Pro (M2 Pro, 2023)

Posted on Sep 16, 2025 7:27 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

markwmsn

Level 6

16,715 points

Sep 16, 2025 9:37 PM in response to DirtHertz

EXFAT is not an appropriate format for a drive holding a Photos library. Apple documents that you should use either APFS format or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format (in the document Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support).

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Answer 2

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,870 points

Sep 17, 2025 1:20 AM in response to DirtHertz

I would also add to markwsmn's post that having a library on an inappropriately formatted dis renders it liable to creeping and silent corruption and risks dataloss.

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Answer 3

DirtHertz Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 17, 2025 5:35 PM in response to markwmsn

That was my fear. Thanks!

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