Where are my photos? What has happened? Here is the message I get:Photos cannot find the System Photo Library named “Photos Library.photoslibrary”

Hi

That suggests you use iCloud for syncing your library. If so, then you should be able to download all your images to a new empty library:

1 - Create a new EMPTY library. (Hold down the option key while starting photos, and click "create new")

2 - Open the new empty library in photos.

3 - In photos preferences set it to the system library (click the button)

4 - In photos preferences iClound - turn icloud on with download originals.

5 - Wait - for photos to download all your images from iCloud into your freshly minted library. It may take some time - possibly days. Leave the mac on with photos open while it is doing it.

Can you tell what has happened, before Photos could no longer open the library? Did you just install a system upgrade? Which system version is running on your Mac?

And where have you kept your Photos Library? Normally, you will find your Photos Library in the folder "Pictures" in your Home folder. Or did you move the library to an external volume?

How are you launching the Photos.app? If you have been trying to click an icon on the Desktop or in the Dock, try instead to click the Photos icon in the Applications folder. This way you are sure to launch the version that comes with your system and not an older version, that might still be liked to an alias in the Dock or on the Desktop.

You have been smart. All your photos should be safe in iCloud. Unlike the numerous people who come here with a missing library, no iCloud, and no backup.

Follow the steps I posted above, to get them back into a new library on your mac.

Brilliant - thanks for letting me know.

On the subject of backups - this is how paranoid I am...

I run two libraries. I pay for 200GB of iCloud, and have a "main" library holding all my recents, that is synced with iCloud and resides on my system drive. All these photos are available on all my devices. Currently I have a year of photographs there, taking up about 1/4 of my iCloud space.

I also have an archive library which holds everything older. It is on a separate drive (correctly formatted and prepared - see link below). I use powerphotos to periodically copy photos from my main library to my archive library.

I am very very rigorous about backups. Both libraries are backed up to time machine. In addition both libraries are regularly copied to a second external drive. Finally I periodically export all original images (so that I have the actual image files separately from the photos library) and copy those to a network drive backup. I have a copy of these stored away from home also (mitigate risk of fire/theft).

🤣

This is so helpful for many of us (as is this thread.) Do you mind explaining what Powerphotos is? I am someone who will be needing to make that archive Photos library soon and any resources are appreciated.

And Diane, I am right there with you!

Power photos is a paid app (around £$30) from Fatcat software.

Summary of features here:

https://www.fatcatsoftware.com/powerphotos/

It can transfer most information from one library to another (original image, edits, albums, keywords) but cannot yet transfer face ID information.

It can also do duplicate detection.

PS - you should know if you are syncing to iCloud - if you have a large library you will be paying a monthly fee for enough space.

Thanks! Good to know.

i log out my account and I restart my phone when I log in back my pictures are not be find

Hi - this is a forum about photos app on a mac computer.

I suggest you repost a new question in the "using iPhone section of the forum. People there will be better able to help you.