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User profile for user: Kupava
Kupava Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Deleted originals from Photo library, what now?

I've noticed that my 512 Gb MacBook Pro was low on space, even though I use it mostly for browsing and document editing. Turns out Photos has downloaded all of my pictures from iCloud. I unchecked the iCloud sync box but it didn't delete the pictures (which, at that moment, I thought it would do). I turned the sync back on and lo and behold, the size of the Photos library went from 100Gb to 200Gb. I turned the sync off again and deleted the contents of the 'originals' and 'derivatives' folders.


What will happen if I turn the sync back on again? Will it delete all the pictures from iCloud (since I have deleted them on my laptop) or will it repopulate the database with pictures from iCloud? I don't want to risk losing all of my photos, hence the question.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Apr 18, 2021 5:21 AM

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User profile for user: Russ New Boy
Russ New Boy
User level: Level 4
1,150 points

Posted on Apr 18, 2021 1:25 PM

Playing around inside the library package is a dangerous thing to do and is not recommended. You have most likely corrupted these library now.


Since you have already deleted these folders I think the best thing you can do is to create a brand new library, set it to optimise and Photos will download a new set of photos from iCloud and it will never know what you did to the last library!


To do this, follow these steps:


  1. Hold down the ALT key and double click Photos icon.
  2. Select Create New library
  3. When it opens, select preferences (CMD-COMMA)
  4. Click on 'Use as system library and on iCloud tab click Optimise Storage


A new copy of your photos will be downloaded. Since you have selected Optimise Storage only a thumbnail will be downloaded, so the total library will only be around 4GB.


Given you have deleted the originals folder and presumably do not have a Time Machine or other backup of the library package you can probably delete it once you are happy that the creation of the new library has been completed successfully.


HOWEVER, I strongly recommend you also make arrangements to create an additional library on a USB drive following the steps above, but this time instead of clicking optimise storage you select Download Originals. This will then create a full copy of all of your photos that you can maintain multiple backups of. iCloud Photos is great as a syncing service but IS NOT a backup service as no archive copies of your library are kept.

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User profile for user: Russ New Boy
Russ New Boy
User level: Level 4
1,150 points

Apr 18, 2021 1:25 PM in response to Kupava

Playing around inside the library package is a dangerous thing to do and is not recommended. You have most likely corrupted these library now.


Since you have already deleted these folders I think the best thing you can do is to create a brand new library, set it to optimise and Photos will download a new set of photos from iCloud and it will never know what you did to the last library!


To do this, follow these steps:


  1. Hold down the ALT key and double click Photos icon.
  2. Select Create New library
  3. When it opens, select preferences (CMD-COMMA)
  4. Click on 'Use as system library and on iCloud tab click Optimise Storage


A new copy of your photos will be downloaded. Since you have selected Optimise Storage only a thumbnail will be downloaded, so the total library will only be around 4GB.


Given you have deleted the originals folder and presumably do not have a Time Machine or other backup of the library package you can probably delete it once you are happy that the creation of the new library has been completed successfully.


HOWEVER, I strongly recommend you also make arrangements to create an additional library on a USB drive following the steps above, but this time instead of clicking optimise storage you select Download Originals. This will then create a full copy of all of your photos that you can maintain multiple backups of. iCloud Photos is great as a syncing service but IS NOT a backup service as no archive copies of your library are kept.

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Deleted originals from Photo library, what now?

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