Photo Album and Folder naming Reversed text

In Photos when I type the name of an album the cursor goes to the left after each character input. So that if I type "folder", it appears as "redlof". I am running Mac OS Tahoe 20.6.01. I noticed a couple of previous unresolved threads on this topic (with earlier versions of Mac OS). I can type a folder name in a text editor and paste it into the folder name field in Photos. The issue only arises when typing directly into the field. Can anyone help?!


MacBook Air 13″, macOS 26.0

Posted on Oct 30, 2025 6:28 AM

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Posted on Oct 30, 2025 7:05 AM

I think when this has come up before, one of these things has fixed it. Unfortunately, I don't remember which, drat.

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

           Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support 

  • Rebuild your Photos Library--close Photos and re-launch by option-command-clicking the app icon. If you use iCloud Photos, it’s possible that this will cause a re-sync that lasts long enough to make you nervous.


Let us know if something works-- I'll write it down this time!

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 30, 2025 7:05 AM in response to ChrisM59

I think when this has come up before, one of these things has fixed it. Unfortunately, I don't remember which, drat.

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

           Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support 

  • Rebuild your Photos Library--close Photos and re-launch by option-command-clicking the app icon. If you use iCloud Photos, it’s possible that this will cause a re-sync that lasts long enough to make you nervous.


Let us know if something works-- I'll write it down this time!

Oct 30, 2025 11:49 AM in response to ChrisM59

OK, try this:

  • 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.
  • Make a new user and see if the same problem recurs with it.  This is a bit harder, because a new user can't access a different user's stuff. You would need to move your Library out of your own user's folder up to the general "Users" folder. Or you could make a new one and add som pictures.


That will tell us if it's the Library of if your User account is at fault.


Oct 30, 2025 9:24 AM in response to Richard.Taylor

Thanks for the response, Richard. The Safe Mode boot did not work. The re-build/repair option half-worked temporarily. After Photos is restored and opens, I can type the new album or folder name as expected - EXCEPT that the SPACE bar does not work!?! If I then quit Photos and then re-open (without repair option) in the same computing session, the error returns. I have tested this typing issue in other apps and it only appears in Photos. Very frustrating :-(

Photo Album and Folder naming Reversed text

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