How can I import iPhoto libraries to an external drive and access greyed-out libraries?

I moved my old iphoto libraries to an external drive nd haven't touched them in years. Now---I need to find some photos. I know there is a way to just import in Photos----either selected pictures or an entire library. But these things have tens of thousand of photos. If I import the whole thing, it will overhwelm my current mac, and my iCloud storage. With that in mind, I have two questions:


1). Is there a way to import those pictures from the iPhoto library, via Photos, to an external drive?

2). Some of the libraries are greyed out. Any idea how to access them?


Thank you! I'm hoping someone has a novel solution!


Phil

Woodridge, IL


I'm running Sonoma version 14.5


[Edited by Moderator]

iMac 24″, macOS 14.5

Posted on Mar 27, 2025 5:17 PM

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Mar 28, 2025 1:50 AM in response to Phil Rogers

First question: What format that external drive? It needs to be formatted Mac OS X Extended, Journaled or apfs.


Later versions of Photos will not convert iPhoto Libraries, but they will import from old libraries. However, this will not work if they are on an inappropriately formatted disk.

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How can I import iPhoto libraries to an external drive and access greyed-out libraries?

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