Fix Mac Photos problem after Sequoia update

After just updating to Sequoia 15.0 on MacBook Air M2, the recently deleted album in Photos is empty and photos I now delete on cannot be found in the recently deleted album.

MacBook Air, macOS 15.0

Posted on Sep 23, 2024 06:30 AM

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Posted on Oct 2, 2024 02:54 AM

Also here, after updating my Macbook to Sequoia, my photos are inaccessible and i get a window "Restoring ... 0% complete" with no further progress taking place ...


Anyone an idea how to fix? Appreciate!

9 replies

Dec 2, 2024 07:53 AM in response to Carman3333

Carman3333, are you referring to a Mac, like the original poster of this question? Then Recently Deleted is in Utilities near the top ofthe Sidebar.


Utilities has an arrow thing next to it,

so it could be closed so you don't see Recently Deleted and the other options.


In fact, Collections can be closed so you don't see anything!

And the crazy thing is, if your cursor isn't right at that spot, the > thing disappears, too, and it's like there's nothing there at all!

Sep 23, 2024 07:08 AM in response to jtrx

That's weird. Recently Deleted is going strong for me-- though I have to hunt for it since it moved!


The first things to try are these:

  • Restart the computer (of course)
  • Re-start in Safe Mode. This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes. Safe Mode is different for different computers, so see this: 

           Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support 

  • Make a new user and see if the same problem recurs with it
  • Use another library if you have one, or make a small test Library with a few pictures in it and see if the same thing happens. You can create a new Library by closing Photos and then option-clicking on the Photos icon.

Rebuild your Photos Library--close Photos and re-launch by option-command-clicking the app icon.


The idea is to find out if the problem is with the Library, with your account, or with caches and login items, and stuff like that. One of these steps may fix the problem, but their failure to work also helps figure out what's happening.


Let us know what you find…

Oct 31, 2024 07:01 AM in response to johnBstriker

johnBstriker wrote: … I need it in the cloud as I also have Iphone, iPad and a MacBook.

Are you saying that you have tried to put your Photos Library in the iCloud Drive folder? If so, you should be seeng this slashed cloud

which means "This can't go here!"


If you have your Library in the iCloud Drive folder, drag it back to the Pictures folder. It's probably not been corrupted, so try clicking on it to see if it opens OK.


A Photos Library cannot work from a Cloud or from a networked drive-- it must be connected directly by wire. If you're interested in moving your Library off your internal drive, then you should see this:

Move your Photos library to save space on your Mac - Apple Support

The correct format of an external if vital. To avoid damaging the Photos Library an external drive must be formatted in either APFS format or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. Additionally, the drive can not have had Time Machine on it since it was formatted. There have been so many problems with using incompatible drives that the newest macOSs won't even allow a Library on a non-Mac formatted drive to open, since there is a chance of damaging the Photos database. 


Sep 23, 2024 07:54 AM in response to jtrx

Could it be, that you have used up all your iCloud storage?

If you have no free iCloud Storage, all photos you delete will no longer be saved in Recently Deleted, to help you free your iCloud Storage quickly. If you are low on iCloud Storage,you ache to save the items you delete elsewhere, before you delete them. And you have first to solve the storage problem, before iCloud will again work properly.


Oct 31, 2024 06:11 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

After the sequoia update my Mac mini M1 doesnt connect to the photo library and the popup says It can not connect to iCloud library and I have to put it local.

Steve will turn around in his grave reading this as it opposite to what Apple (should) stand for.

I need it in the cloud as I also have Iphone, iPad and a MacBook.

Moving it local wil defy its complete purpose.

How to reconnect to the iCloud photo library?


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Fix Mac Photos problem after Sequoia update

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