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User profile for user: new-to-apple
new-to-apple Author
User level: Level 1
19 points

All photos in Photos in my iMac do not show as available to iMovie even though Download Originals to this Mac has been checked for very long time - sudden change?

iMac 2017 1TB, v 11.0.1, iMovie v 10.2.2, Photos 6.0 Trying to make a movie with iMovie by importing a bunch of photos from my Photos library which I then just turn into a video slide show. I have done this in the past many times but a while ago. Today, while in iMovie browser section where I select Media, not all photos or albums or my albums, etc. were available, only some. It used to be that everything was available. According to Apple help, this may have changed:


https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204669


But I'm not sure. The above states at the end:, "If you want to make all the pictures in your Photos library permanently available to the Media Browser, you can select Download Originals to this Mac in the iCloud tab in Photos preferences. When you do this, you'll lose the space-saving benefits of the Optimize Mac Storage preference."


I already have this Download Originals to this Mac checked, and I have had it checked for years - I have a large hard drive and enough space so I leave it checked, and it was before I started this movie. I use iCloud and sync to my phone and my Macbook Air. The iphone is set to use icloud Photos, and Optimize iphone storage is checked on. My Photos Library shows 174 GB that should be about right, so as I noted, enough space - 250 GB availabe on this hard drive.


So I'm missing understanding something here. How do I get ALL of my photos, and videos, in my Photos library become available again? [ I can fix my immediate problem by the steps described in the support link above, although I have not tried yet. It puzzles me why I can't get the rest]


Many Thanks.


iMac 21.5″ 4K, macOS 11.0

Posted on Jan 9, 2021 5:34 PM

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User profile for user: Rich839
Rich839
User level: Level 8
47,730 points

Posted on Jan 10, 2021 12:26 PM

Hi, new-to-apple,


Your photos should be available via the iMovie library media sidebar, if Download Originals to this Mac is checked, and the Photos library is designated as the system photos library in the Photos app general preferences. You've confirmed that Download Originals has been selected and presumably also the photos system library designation has been done in the Photos preferences.


Since the photos are not showing up in your situation, you might try deleting preferences. Open iMovie while holding down the Option and Command keys and select to delete preferences in the box that appears. iMovie will open in a new library. Reopen your old library to get back to your projects.  Deleting preferences is a safe procedure that will not cause data loss or disruption to your project. Now see if you can access all of your photos from the iMovie media sidebar.


Another thing that you can try is to open iMovie in a new library by holding down the Option key while opening, and selecting to create a new library in the box that appears. Populate the library with a project and see if you can access your photos from the media side bar.


If still no luck, try redownloading iMovie. To update/redownload iMovie 10, drag your iMovie 10 app from the Applications folder into the trash, but do not empty the trash. Sign in to the app store and open your purchases folder by clicking on your name at the bottom of the app store side bar. You will see your purchases displayed, including iMovie 10. Redownload/update iMovie from there. If not successful, drag your present iMovie app out of the trash and return it to the Applications folder.


A workaround is to simply drag your photos from the Photos app library into an iMovie project. Or you can export the photo to your desktop from the Photos app and drag it into iMovie from there.


-- Rich



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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Rich839
Rich839
User level: Level 8
47,730 points

Jan 10, 2021 12:26 PM in response to new-to-apple

Hi, new-to-apple,


Your photos should be available via the iMovie library media sidebar, if Download Originals to this Mac is checked, and the Photos library is designated as the system photos library in the Photos app general preferences. You've confirmed that Download Originals has been selected and presumably also the photos system library designation has been done in the Photos preferences.


Since the photos are not showing up in your situation, you might try deleting preferences. Open iMovie while holding down the Option and Command keys and select to delete preferences in the box that appears. iMovie will open in a new library. Reopen your old library to get back to your projects.  Deleting preferences is a safe procedure that will not cause data loss or disruption to your project. Now see if you can access all of your photos from the iMovie media sidebar.


Another thing that you can try is to open iMovie in a new library by holding down the Option key while opening, and selecting to create a new library in the box that appears. Populate the library with a project and see if you can access your photos from the media side bar.


If still no luck, try redownloading iMovie. To update/redownload iMovie 10, drag your iMovie 10 app from the Applications folder into the trash, but do not empty the trash. Sign in to the app store and open your purchases folder by clicking on your name at the bottom of the app store side bar. You will see your purchases displayed, including iMovie 10. Redownload/update iMovie from there. If not successful, drag your present iMovie app out of the trash and return it to the Applications folder.


A workaround is to simply drag your photos from the Photos app library into an iMovie project. Or you can export the photo to your desktop from the Photos app and drag it into iMovie from there.


-- Rich



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All photos in Photos in my iMac do not show as available to iMovie even though Download Originals to this Mac has been checked for very long time - sudden change?

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