Merging two photo libraries on icloud - folders not showing

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Merging two photo libraries on icloud - folders not showing

My iMac had a power supply problem and I had to remove the SSD and use it as an external hard disk. This SSD has a photo library with thousands of photos. Now I have a macbook which has another photo library. I first synced my macbook photo library to my icloud (2 TB space). Then I made the photo library on my external hard disk as my system photo library and checked icloud photos. It has been a day and I am seeing some of those photos on my external hard disk photo album - on my icloud photos in the browser. But the folders on my external hard disk are not showing on my icloud photos in the browser. What should I do?

Posted on Jul 3, 2025 01:12 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 6, 2025 11:17 AM in response to AdhApp

AdhApp wrote: … external hard disk..

How is the external drive formatted? 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. See this:

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

You didn't say what macOS your iMac is running. If it's earlier than Sonoma (I think) then it may not have the safeties installed to prevent Photos from trying to use a Library on an incompatible drive. If this drive is in a an incompatible format, stop running Photos with it immediately! A Photos Library can sit on an incompatible drive, but running it may corrupt the database. Luckily is sounds like you have your Library backed up on other devices.

If the external drive is properly formatted, the Library should behave normally.

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Answer 2

AdhApp Author

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Jul 6, 2025 01:02 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

Exactly as in an original iMac. Its the internal drive (of my iMac) which is now inside an external casing.

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Answer 3

Jul 5, 2025 09:29 AM in response to AdhApp

I'd guess that you should just wait. The album and folder information doesn't transfer at the same time as the pictures-- they are different sorts of things. How long have you been waiting? How many albums and folders?

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Answer 4

AdhApp Author

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Jul 6, 2025 11:04 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Its been 4 days I believe.. there are 1000+ albums and 7 folders with 700GB of photos in the album.. The albums from my iphone and my macbook did sync and show up on icloud.. I'm just wondering if it has anything to do with the current albums being on an external hard disk..

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Answer 5

AdhApp Author

Level 1

13 points

Jul 6, 2025 11:39 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

The "external" hard disk is the original "internal" SSD that has been removed from my iMac since it had an irreparable power source problem. So I had 3 photos libraries on my 3 devices (iMac, iPhone and MacBook). Now I have attached the SSD of my iMac to the MacBook and am syncing the photos library to icloud by making it the system library. I believe the photos have uploaded... But the folders (1000+) are not showing on the iCloud browser.

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Answer 6

Jul 7, 2025 12:56 PM in response to AdhApp

Is it correct that only the folders do not show up, but their albums are there? You say 7 folders-- I think that I'd just add them. Or do you mean albums, as well?

I still can't find where you've said what OS you are running.

For most things I can think of, you probably have to start over. Can you do that?

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Answer 7

AdhApp Author

Level 1

13 points

Jul 7, 2025 10:30 PM in response to Richard.Taylor

The photos have uploaded. yes.

But the albums (1000 +) and 7 folders have not uploaded. I am not worried about the folders.

But i had sorted my photos into 1000 albums...that is a huge task to replicate AGAIN...

My Macbook is on the latest OS...Sequoia 15.5 (24F74)

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Answer 8

Jul 8, 2025 07:26 AM in response to AdhApp

"For most things I can think of, you probably have to start over. Can you do that?"

If you have the original undisturbed Libraries, the the best thing is to start over. But first, disconnect the Libraries from iCloud and Rebuild each Photos Library--close Photos and re-launch by option-command-clicking the app icon.

And a great way to more quickly merge two Libraries is to use the trusted 3rd party app PowerPhotos ($35) Most of the experienced folks here use it with multiple Libraries. The only downside is the cost, but it continues to be handy. I use that app every day.

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Answer 9

Jul 9, 2025 11:17 AM in response to AdhApp

AdhApp wrote: … I wasn't sure earlier if this 3rd party app was safe..

It's good to be suspicious! There are lots of apps out there that can really mess up a Photos database. But PowerPhotos is from FatCat Software, and they've been a reliable partner since early iPhoto days. Almost all experienced Photos users take advantage of PowerPhotos' tools!

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Answer 10

Jul 6, 2025 02:31 PM in response to AdhApp

The format of a drive is shown in the Info Window when you select the drive and use command-i ( ⌘i )

This one is formatted as APFS.

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Answer 11

Jul 6, 2025 12:24 PM in response to AdhApp

How is the external drive formatted?

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Answer 12

AdhApp Author

Level 1

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Jul 7, 2025 12:15 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Its APFS. just checked

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Answer 13

AdhApp Author

Level 1

13 points

Jul 9, 2025 10:37 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Thanks.. I have all the 3 original Libraries ..I will try once and If it doesnt work - I shall get the powerphotos app.. I wasn't sure earlier if this 3rd party app was safe..

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Answer 14

AdhApp Author

Level 1

13 points

Jul 9, 2025 11:40 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Thanks very much indeed..this was very helpful.

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