iPhoto and Photo both have data in them Mac OS 10.12.6

Question

Level 3

514 points

iPhoto and Photo both have data in them Mac OS 10.12.6

Hello.

1-- I have always used iPhoto and am using OS 10.12.6. When I look into my Applications under Pictures I see that iPhoto Library shows 190 GB and Photos Library shows 152 GB. If I only use iPhoto why is there storage shown in Photos Library and is that adding to my Hard Drive total. If so, can I delete

the Photos in Photos Library?

2--I plan on getting a new iMac soon and have been told I should migrate all my photos from iPhoto to Photo while I am still in this OS-Sierra as I won't be able to migrate the photos in a present day OS--can someone please comment on this.

Thank you for any assistance on the above.

iMac 27″, macOS 10.12

Posted on Nov 29, 2020 12:30 PM

Reply

Answer 1

whiskey sour Author

Level 3

514 points

Dec 5, 2020 10:16 AM in response to Yer_Man

THANKS very much Terence and Tony--I really appreciate your time and knowledge. I have now updated to High Sierra and have migrated my iPhoto to Photo Library successfully. I also have a copy of my iPhoto in an external Hard Drive in event something goes wrong! Seasons Greetings to you both🎄

PS: I have also came across a helpful video that some may find helpful: https://www.scanyourentirelife.com/how-safely-move-your-iphoto-library-hard-drive-video-tutorial/

Reply

Answer 2

Yer_Man

Level 10

163,824 points

Nov 30, 2020 11:03 AM in response to whiskey sour

NO when you migrate the iPhoto Library it will automatically create a new Photos Library.

As the iPhoto library has already been migrated you will need to rename it first: change the filename extension of your iPhoto Library.migratedphotolibrary from ".migratedphotolibrary" to ".photolibrary"

Then drag it to the Photos icon in the Dock. Or hold down the option (or alt) key and launch Photos. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library'

That's it.

Reply

Answer 3

Yer_Man

Level 10

163,824 points

Nov 29, 2020 3:50 PM in response to whiskey sour

It sounds like you opened Photos at some point and it migrated the iPhoto Library over. So, yes it's quite possible that you have the same material in both. If you want to, yes, you can delete the Photos Library, but as both libraries effectively share the same original files, you won't claim as much space as you expect. Mind you, I think you're deleting the wrong library and here's why:
iPhoto was end-of-life'd more than 5 years ago. it has not been developed or sold since then. It does not run at all on OS10.15 or later. If you get a new Mac you won't be using iPhoto. End of story. iPhoto was replaced by Photos, which comes free with the OS.

My 2 cents: time spent now in iPhoto is wasted time.

Reply

Answer 4

Nov 29, 2020 4:38 PM in response to whiskey sour

If you export all your photos from iPhoto to a folder on your computer, you can then import them into your Photo library from that folder.

You will need to manually manage duplicates if there are photos in iPhoto that also exist in Photos that you don't want to have two of.

OR (preferred) - if all your photos that you need are in iPhoto, and you don't need any of the ones currently in Photos, you can upgrade that iPhoto library to Photos (by opening it in photos), and then (when you've confirmed that upgraded library is working - delete the current photos library.

If you go down the upgrade route, please make a backup of the iPhoto library first in case the upgrade goes wrong.

To open the iPhoto library in photos (to upgrade it).

1 - TAKE A BACKUP OF THE LIBRARY

2 - Hold down the option key while starting photos

3 - Choose "other library" (Assuming the iPhoto library is not listed) (See screenshot)

4 - Navigate to your Iphoto library and open it. Photos should upgrade the library for use with Photos

Reply

Answer 5

whiskey sour Author

Level 3

514 points

Nov 29, 2020 4:17 PM in response to Yer_Man

Thank you for your 2 cents worth--it is worth MUCH more than that to me! I agree totally with you of course but now can you advise me on how I may be able to transfer my iPhoto contents to Photo at the present time before I move on to a newer iMac--I would really appreciate that. (this 2009 iMac has served me well but time for it to be sent to rest methinks). Cheers from 🇨🇦

Reply

Answer 6

Yer_Man

Level 10

163,824 points

Nov 29, 2020 4:34 PM in response to whiskey sour

Migrating an iPhoto library to Photos is simple:

Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch Photos. From the resulting menu select 'Choose Library' and point at your iPhoto Library. It will do the rest.

Reply

Answer 7

whiskey sour Author

Level 3

514 points

Nov 29, 2020 9:12 PM in response to Yer_Man

It would appear the Photo Library already has many of the iPhoto Library photos (190 GB vs 150 GB). When I do what you suggest, will only the ones that are not yet in the Photo Library be migrated over? If that is the case, when it is completed can you advise me how the iPhoto Library would then be deleted. Thanks Terrance.

Reply

Answer 8

Yer_Man

Level 10

163,824 points

Nov 29, 2020 11:12 PM in response to whiskey sour

No, there is no way to migrate only the most recent images. In your situation I would trash the existing Photos library and then re-migrate the current iPhoto one.

Trashing an iPhoto and/or Photos library is simple as dragging it from the Pictures Folder to the trash and emptying the trash.

Reply

Answer 9

Nov 30, 2020 1:37 AM in response to whiskey sour

When you convert the iPhoto library, you will have two Photos libraries. One as you have it now (150GB) and one a copy of the iPhoto library with the exact same images you have in the iPhoto library.

When you have confirmed the converted iPhoto library is working and has all the images in, it will be safe to completely delete the smaller Photos library that only has the older images in. As terrence says, as easy is drag to trash.

You will then need to set the newly converted library to the system library by opeing it, going to preferences, and clicking "use as system photo library"

Reply