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time machine and iPhoto library on same external drive

I have a 6TB external drive which is set


for time machine. When I bought it I was advised that I could also transfer my iPhoto library and other documents to the same drive. However, there seems to be conflicting advice on this. How can I find out if this isn possible or not.

Posted on Nov 4, 2020 6:39 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 4, 2020 7:19 AM

There are two problems.

  • macOS is protecting Time Machine volumes in a special way sinc e macOS 10.13 High Sierra. An iPhoto Library or Photos Library cannot be on a volume that is used for Time Machine backup. As Niel pointed out, a separate partition might fix this. You can then keep backup copies of your photo libraries in the separate portion. That is useful, because a separate backup copy of the iPhoto Library allows you to restore photos selectively, without having to restore the complete library from Time Machine.

But the second problem remains. The original of your Photos Library should be on separate physical drives.. You need at least one backup of your photos on a separate drive or you will lose the backup and the data together, when your Time Machine volume fails. You need always to purchase your external drives in pairs. One drive for the data, one for the backup of the data.

Prepare the volume for your iPhoto Libraries or Photos Libraries as described here: Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support


5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 4, 2020 7:19 AM in response to helennora

There are two problems.

  • macOS is protecting Time Machine volumes in a special way sinc e macOS 10.13 High Sierra. An iPhoto Library or Photos Library cannot be on a volume that is used for Time Machine backup. As Niel pointed out, a separate partition might fix this. You can then keep backup copies of your photo libraries in the separate portion. That is useful, because a separate backup copy of the iPhoto Library allows you to restore photos selectively, without having to restore the complete library from Time Machine.

But the second problem remains. The original of your Photos Library should be on separate physical drives.. You need at least one backup of your photos on a separate drive or you will lose the backup and the data together, when your Time Machine volume fails. You need always to purchase your external drives in pairs. One drive for the data, one for the backup of the data.

Prepare the volume for your iPhoto Libraries or Photos Libraries as described here: Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support


Nov 4, 2020 7:26 AM in response to léonie

Thanks you for this. I have a 6TB external drive and a 3TB external drive. I don't have room on my iMac hard drive for my complete photo library. What I want to do is to move the iphoto library to the 3TB external drive and use that to work from. I would then back up the 3TB AND my iMac hard drive on the 6TB time machine drive. I am trying to basically find a way of seriously extending my storage capacity without having to spend another 4k+ on a computer with 2TB+ storage.


so can I

move iPhoto library to external hard drive

partition 6TB drive and use half for time machine and half to store an iPhoto library back up?

could I also store other files and folders in the iPhoto partition bit?


I cant link my OneDrive cloud storage to the external drive as it is USB and removable drives aren't supported my OneDrive.


Any help is much appreciated as I am really finding my way here and am not naturally very technologically savvy.



time machine and iPhoto library on same external drive

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