Photos app unable to import content and shows error -8

Question

Level 1

4 points

Photos app unable to import content and shows error -8

Hello,

I'd been using Photos for quite a while, and I'd never had issues importing new content onto the library. However, after December 2024, I'm not able to upload anything to the library.

I had tried to import from the internal disk (via Airdrop), using a cable, or shared folders, and nothing is imported. The content appears to review, but after clicking import, either it does nothing, or now, it's showing an error -below-.

Any recommendations are appreciated.

I'm using

MacOS15.6.1 (24G90)

Photos Version 10.0 (770.0.170)

Error:

The operation couldn’t be completed. (com.apple.ImportErrorDomain error -8.)

iPhone 11, iOS 18

Posted on Nov 25, 2025 5:12 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Old Toad

Level 10

215,196 points

Nov 26, 2025 10:28 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Richard.Taylor wrote:

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

Stop running Photos from the ExFAT drive immediately! A Photos Library can sit on an incompatible drive, but running it may corrupt the database.

Reply

Answer 2

Nov 26, 2025 6:34 AM in response to OArias

OArias wrote: … I may think that the format might be the problem, but it wasn't before, in previous versions.

ExFAT has always been a problem, and it can cause creeping corruption in a Photos Library. We have seen this happening for years. 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

Stop running Photos from the ExFAT drive immediately! A Photos Library can sit on an incompatible drive, but running it may corrupt the database.

Reply

Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

215,196 points

Nov 26, 2025 10:29 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Richard.Taylor wrote:

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

Stop running Photos from the ExFAT drive immediately! A Photos Library can sit on an incompatible drive, but running it may corrupt the database.

Reply

Answer 4

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,828 points

Nov 26, 2025 1:09 AM in response to OArias

Where is your library stored? If it's on an external, what format is that?

Reply

Answer 5

OArias Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 26, 2025 5:13 AM in response to Yer_Man

The library is on a external drive.

Format ExFAT.

Capacity 4TB, 10% used.

I may think that the format might be the problem, but it wasn't before, in previous versions.

Reply

Answer 6

OArias Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 26, 2025 5:15 AM in response to azaksalmarzur28

The library is on a external drive.

Format ExFAT.

Capacity 4TB, 10% used.

I may think that the format might be the problem, but it wasn't before, in previous versions.

The issue is not with the devices where the new content is located. I also supect is the library, the disk formt or so. It has more space than enough.

Reply

Answer 7

Nov 26, 2025 3:06 AM in response to OArias

The error “ImportErrorDomain error -8” means your Photos Library cannot accept new files due to corruption, missing permissions, wrong drive format, or insufficient space. Repairing the library using Option+Command, checking disk location/format, creating a test library, resetting permissions, and updating macOS will usually fix the issue. This is a Photos Library problem, not an iPhone or import-device issue.

Reply