migrated iPhoto library does not open anymore

Until recently, my old iPhotos, which was automatically migrated for use in Fotos some years ago, has worked without problems, but now it does not seem to be supported anymore. I use Sequoia 15.6.1. How can I fix that? I have already tried deleting it and recovering it from Time Machine, but that didn't change anything. I've also read somewhere that Photo Exifer can help, but it also doesn't open my migrated library. Any help is welcome, as I have 20 years worth of pictures in there. Thank you!



[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Sep 19, 2025 9:13 AM

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Posted on Sep 19, 2025 10:31 AM

The last version of Photos, where we could open iPhoto Libraries in Photos and create Photos Libraries from them, has been Photos on macOS 12


On the more recent system versions you can import photos directly from an iPhoto Library. In Phoos use the command "File > Import", then select an iPhoto Library for importing.

But you may need to change filename extension of the iPhoto Library from .migratedphotoslibrary to .photolibrary, or Photos may refuse the import, because the library has already been imported.


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 19, 2025 10:31 AM in response to mhemetsb

The last version of Photos, where we could open iPhoto Libraries in Photos and create Photos Libraries from them, has been Photos on macOS 12


On the more recent system versions you can import photos directly from an iPhoto Library. In Phoos use the command "File > Import", then select an iPhoto Library for importing.

But you may need to change filename extension of the iPhoto Library from .migratedphotoslibrary to .photolibrary, or Photos may refuse the import, because the library has already been imported.


Sep 19, 2025 10:39 AM in response to mhemetsb

What is the extension for this iPhoto Library? Is it "iPhoto Library.photoslibrary?" It looks like it is not a Library that has been converted to work with Photos-- the icon indicates that it will only work with iPhoto, and the iPhoto app isn't supported any more. If that's the case, you may be able to open a Photos Library and use File>Import to bring in the pictures from the iPhoto Library, but you would lose the Events organization.


How did you "migrate" this Library?


You can merge the iPhoto Library into a Photos Library, turning Events into Albums, by using the trusted 3rd party app PowerPhotos ($40.) Without an OS that will run iPhoto, there isn't another way to keep the organization. 


Where is this Library located? The usual place is the Pictures folder on your internal drive. Do you have it on an external drive? That's OK, if it's properly formatted. To avoid damaging the Photos Library an external drive must be formatted in either APFS format or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. The drive must be connected directly to the Mac by cable, not networked, clouded, NASed, etc. Additionally, the drive can not have had Time Machine on it since it was formatted. There have been so many problems with using incompatible drives that the newest macOSs won't even allow a Library on a non-Mac formatted drive to open, since there is a chance of damaging the Photos database. See this:

Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support


If this drive is in a an incompatible format, stop running Photos with it immediately!  A Photos Library can sit on an incompatible drive, but running it may corrupt the database.


Let us know…


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migrated iPhoto library does not open anymore

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