If you only want to move a few photos over from one Mac to the other we recommendAirDrop , but if it ’s the whole Photos library you need to move , with all your Albums and consociate information in place , we cover a few options below .
you’re able to see your Photos library in your domicile folder ( which probably has your name ) > Pictures > Photos Library.photoslibrary . You ’ll notice that you ca n’t just snap on that to access folders for all your pic , this is because the Photos library in macOS playact like a file when it ’s in reality a software , a special macOS container for have many objects together . This prevents us from accidentally moving item out of it , renaming file that need to have fixed name , or modify documents that should n’t be tint . It also makes the Photos depository library and alike program library and app - associate file packages easier to move . If you do require to see the content of this folder you’re able to do so : press Control at the same sentence as you press the folder and choose Show Package Contents .
If you’remigrating from one Mac to another — or just want to move your Photos subroutine library from one Mac to a new one — Apple offers several way to transfer filing cabinet from one political machine to another . We will continue the various pick for copying a Photos library to a new Mac below , include methods like iCloud , Time Machine , and Migration Assistant .
If you already have a Photos depository library on the destination Mac you’re able to either combine the two or have two separate folders , so we ’ll also calculate at what to do if you want to have two separate Photos library or one combined Photo library .
Using two Photos libraries
Once you have both picture libraries on the destination Mac you’re able to prefer which Photo subroutine library you desire to access by clicking on Option at the same metre as you spread exposure . This should think of you are presented with both libraries and you’re able to choose the program library you wish to access .
We also handle this here : How to manage a Photos Library for two mackintosh .
Combining two Photos libraries
If , once you have transfer your second Photos library , you want to combine two Photos libraries you need to import the fresh Photos library into the sure-enough one . To do so follow these stride :
Of naturally to be able-bodied to choose whether to combine two library or not , you need the 2d library on your Mac . Here are a few options to do that .
How to transfer a Photos library using Time Machine
Foundry
clear a Time Machine backup is one way to move to a young Mac and channel everything over , the result being a Mac that is much identical to the one you were using . We coverhow to make a Time Machine back upseparately .
But if you just want to imitate a Photos library from a Time Machine support of one Mac to another can you ? you’re able to :
This will be a duplicate Photos Library folder , so follow the footstep above calculate on whether you want to combine both libraries or keep them separate .
More information here : flux an old photo backup with your current Photos subroutine library .
How to transfer a Photos library using Migration Assistant
Apple
Another alternative is to use Migration Assistant
The two Macs need to be connect using a USB - C cable television .
verify you redeem everything you are doing as using Migration Assistant will close all the program open on your Mac .
How to transfer a Photos library using Screen Sharing
For this to work , both Macs need to be touch base to the same Wi - Fi mesh .
How to transfer a Photos library using an external drive
You could alsocopy your Photos depository library to an outside driveand then embroil and knock off that pamphlet to the 2nd Mac . This is also a root to the problem of needing more infinite for your ever - grow look-alike depository library .
It does require an external campaign with a fair amount of blank space though .
fall into place the data link above to jump to the clause where we hash out how to do this .
How to transfer a Photos library using iCloud Photos
This is our preferred method acting , the only downside being the need topay for iCloudstorage , which starts at $ 0.99/£0.79 for 50 GB and go up to $ 9.99/£6.99 for 2 TB .
iCloud Photos lets you sync epitome and videos between your Mac and iCloud and from iCloud among your other devices . While iCloud always keeps the original solution version of any media on its cloud waiter , you could opt on each of your gadget whether to stack away “ optimized ” media or full - declaration versions ( the former being the best selection if you have limited space on your gadget ) .
IDG
With the optimized option , iOS , iPadOS , and macOS store thumbnail previews . If you essay to get at the image or video to look at it at full size or resolution , your gadget downloads the match medium from iCloud . Photos keep back the squirrel away full - firmness rendering indefinitely , deleting it only when it needs to disengage up space as storage gets tight . Those deletions bump mechanically , leaving the thumbnail in home .
When you desire to copy or move your Photos library from one Mac to another with iCloud Photos enabled , that present you with two choices :
That second option plus copying full treatment because you have a full transcript of all images present in your iCloud storage . It can be a better option if you have a Photos program library with tens of gigabytes of images or more paired with blue - velocity broadband ( in the tens of megabits per s ) or a monthly usage capital beyond which you pay overage fees or have your service bound to a depressed amphetamine .
If you copy the Photos subroutine library in that scenario and then enable iCloud Photos on the new Mac , Photos will still appear to do a synchronisation operation . However , my analysis while examination is that only a comparison is do alternatively of a full download or upload of images . Since the picture will be identical in iCloud and in the Photos library , they should all match instead of requiring monolithic throughput consumption and bandwidth use .
One complicating factor for both kinds of copying has to do with reference media : these are included in Photos as links to image or videos stored elsewhere on the Mac using Photos . These are not synced via iCloud Photos and wo n’t be copied with a non - synced Photos library , either . interpret this articleon work with referenced media .
This Mac 911 clause is in reply to a question submit by Macworld lector Jack .
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We ’ve compile a lean of the enquiry we get asked most oftentimes , along with answers and links to columns : read our ace FAQ to see if your question is cover . If not , we ’re always wait for new problem to resolve ! e-mail yours tomac911@macworld.com , include screen captures as appropriate and whether you desire your full name used . Not every question will be suffice , we do n’t answer to e-mail , and we can not supply direct troubleshooting advice .
If your Photos library is too big for your Mac you might want to move it to an external drive , here ’s how to do that : How to move your Photos library to an outside drive . or else , here’sHow to keep open blank space by move photograph from a Mac to iCloud .
For more Photos advice read :
How to get pic into pic on the Mac
How to edit in Photos for Mac
Best style To devise Photos on Mac
