How do I get my iPhotos transitioned to Photos?

davidahankins wrote:

Really appreciate the help. When I hold the alt key and open Photos it just opens the app and does not give me a menu with 'Choose Library' option. I can't even access the iPhoto app at all from my dock. Should I just download mojave again and then transition?

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/703feba1-1423-44d3-aad7-b8acb9845a51

Depending in your system version, you have to quit Photos, if it is running, before you can switch to another library.

Try it this way:

• Quit Photos, if it is running.
• Hold down the options key ⌥ firmly while clicking the Photos icon in the Dock.
• Keep holding down the options key ⌥ firmly, until the Library Chooser dialog panel (not a menu) appears. Then select the iPhoto Library.

Does it work this way? If not, where is your iPhoto Library? Is it in your Pictures folder or on an external volume?

iPhoto was discontinued 6 years ago. It is no longer developed or sold. It was replaced by the more powerful (and free) Photos.app that comes with the OS. You can migrate to that app very simply:

Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch Photos. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and point at your iPhoto Library. It will do the rest.

If you prefer not to use Photos there are several 3rd party apps that you can use. Which to choose depends on the kind of photographer you are and your budget.

mdx09 wrote:

I have already moved about 25,000 of my iPhoto’s to photos. If I use the suggested option above on the remaining 20,000 will this option also duplicate what I already moved?

Yes it will, this method creates a new library with *all* the photos from the iPhoto Library. You should either transition the photos the way you did for the first 25000, or create a new Library and get the (paid) Power Photos from FatCat to merge your libraries, or wait for Monterrey which will also allow you to merge libraries. (However, I suspect that Power Photos will give you more control)

Keith, thanks for your inputs. Very helpful. I checked out Power Photos and it looks like a good option however, my current Mac runs High Sierra 10.13 and Power Photos wants 10.15. I can upgrade to Catalina to get it but Monterrey which I was not aware of until you mentioned it looks like the simplest solution. So i think I will wait. Finally once Monterrey is available can I jump directly to it or do I need to move thru Catalina first?

Are clicking the little flowered Photos App?

If you have a Mac keyboard it is the option key.

I have already moved about 25,000 of my iPhoto’s to photos. If I use the suggested option above on the remaining 20,000 will this option also duplicate what I already moved?