Apple Photos move some albums in folders to an archive library?

Export the originals for each album to a folder on the Desktop that's named the same as the album. Make sure you have "Include XML file" checked so you get an XML file for each photo that contains any metadata you've assigned to the photos.

The import the folder into the other library and elect to keep the folder organization.

Don't you use Time Machine to backup your hard drive? That will keep an up to date copy of the library available for restoration in case of problems.

Bruce Kieffer wrote:

TWow wouldn't it be nice if you could open both libraries and drag folder and albums between them as if they were finder windows.

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You can do that with the paid version of PowerPhotos . It will copy albums along with the photos, both edited and original, and any metadata associated with the photos. The paid version can also scan and identify any duplicate photos in the library.

It would be great - but it doesn't, so I've invested in Power photos so I can do it.

The problem with export originals, is that it won't copy edits to the archive folder. If you choose just export, then you get the edited file but lose the original. You can choose to transfer both, but then you have two copies of the image in the archive.