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importing pictures into the Photos app on a MacOS Big Sur MacBook Air

I'm trying to import pictures in jpg or tif format into the Photos app on a MacBook Air that runs on macOS Big Sur. However, every time I try to import the pictures, a window appears on the screen that says "Cannot import item. This item cannot be added to your Photo library because it may be an unrecognizable file format or the file may not contain valid data." Then it lists the name of the file, and states "unknown error" for the reason of the failed import.


Can anyone help me with this?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Apr 8, 2021 6:50 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 9, 2021 10:06 AM

Try the following:


1 - as a test launch Photos with the Option key held down and create a new, test library.  Import some photos and test to see if the same problem persists. Does it? This tells us if the problem is limited to your current library or is more wide spread. Then try importing into your original library again.


2 - next, if necessary, log into another vanilla admin user account, Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac create a test library and see if the problem persists. This tells us if the problem is limited to your user account or is system wide.


3 - if the problem goes away in the other user account go back to your user account and boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support and test your primary library to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.


NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


Similar questions

8 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 9, 2021 10:06 AM in response to Iron_Duck

Try the following:


1 - as a test launch Photos with the Option key held down and create a new, test library.  Import some photos and test to see if the same problem persists. Does it? This tells us if the problem is limited to your current library or is more wide spread. Then try importing into your original library again.


2 - next, if necessary, log into another vanilla admin user account, Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac create a test library and see if the problem persists. This tells us if the problem is limited to your user account or is system wide.


3 - if the problem goes away in the other user account go back to your user account and boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support and test your primary library to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.


NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


importing pictures into the Photos app on a MacOS Big Sur MacBook Air

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