A horrific time syncing photos with Catalina

[Spacewiz]

Is it something I'm doing, or am I seeing a problem that's widespread? I have spent several days, often for hours at a time trying to sync my photos from a 2019 16" MBP to my iPhone 8 without success. When I Initiate the sync via selecting folders, I can only do a a few folders (containing a total of a few hundred photos) at a time, otherwise the process hangs (even tried an overnight sync). I get to some "Magic" number of folders, and it hangs.

I also tried unchecking "Sync Photos" and did a sync. The retried syncing using the Photos app. It was then that I found perhaps 50% of my photos don't make it to the phone, despite the fact that they appear in the Photos app.

In addition, the new finder sync could not be more user-hostile if Apple tried. What on Earth ever happened to their UI team and the quality product they used to make?? I have resorted to researching and using Terminal commands just so I can see enough detail to determine if the process is hung.

As near as I can tell, the sync process is rebuilding the database every time I do a sync instead of looking for differences...but I confess to significant uncertainty on this theory.

Oh, and before you ask, yes there's enough space (and about 25% to spare) to hold everything I'm trying to move.

I remember a quote about PC va. Mac: "I want a tool, not a hobby." Well to me, this new MBP so far has been the latter and there are no words that can express my frustration with OS Crapalina so far.

Thanks for reading. I welcome your collective wisdom. Apple seems to have none.

 

[cynics]

Are you using iCloud Photos in anyway? Or is it on with any of your devices?

How many photos do you have? Are any of the files you are transferring also videos? Whats the total storage space used in GB by the photos/videos you are trying to transfer? What is the size of your Photo Library library Macintosh HD/users/(you)/pictures/photo library?

What is the transfer method you are using? Wire or wireless?

How much time are you actually giving it? A lot of time you can see it fly through files then stop, its not that its hung its that it is now trying to process a half an hour HEVC 4k video instead of a 2mb JPG. I'm not saying that is the case however its something to consider if you were being like me (impatient af).

You can try repairing the photo library. Option + command, click photos, click repair, admin password, be patient. Repair time can take a long time depending on condition and size of the library, even longer with iCloud Photos turned on.

I'm not trying to sell the idea or make it out as something that works for everyone but have you considered iCloud Photo sync? I download originals to my iMac and optimize storage for the rest of my devices. All the photos make it onto my iMac for backup meanwhile all my devices have access to the photos without hogging up a lot of storage. Again not for everyone but it works well for me. Its been years since I've had to manually sort and sync photos aside from adding faces and deleting photos I dont want to keep they are just there..

 

[Spacewiz]

Are you using iCloud Photos in anyway? Or is it on with any of your devices?

How many photos do you have? Are any of the files you are transferring also videos? Whats the total storage space used in GB by the photos/videos you are trying to transfer? What is the size of your Photo Library library Macintosh HD/users/(you)/pictures/photo library?

What is the transfer method you are using? Wire or wireless?

How much time are you actually giving it? A lot of time you can see it fly through files then stop, its not that its hung its that it is now trying to process a half an hour HEVC 4k video instead of a 2mb JPG. I'm not saying that is the case however its something to consider if you were being like me (impatient af).

You can try repairing the photo library. Option + command, click photos, click repair, admin password, be patient. Repair time can take a long time depending on condition and size of the library, even longer with iCloud Photos turned on.

I'm not trying to sell the idea or make it out as something that works for everyone but have you considered iCloud Photo sync? I download originals to my iMac and optimize storage for the rest of my devices. All the photos make it onto my iMac for backup meanwhile all my devices have access to the photos without hogging up a lot of storage. Again not for everyone but it works well for me. Its been years since I've had to manually sort and sync photos aside from adding faces and deleting photos I dont want to keep they are just there..

Hi Cynics-

Thanks for responding.

I've got about 155 GB of photos and videos combined.

Syncing via wired transfer with Apple cable. I have 531 folders spanning back to 2002 and I've been moving a few months at a time, about 20 folders/sync session. A sync takes anywhere from 30-90 minutes, though I do not have precise figures.

Have not tried repairing the Photos Library since I just starting using Photos when I got the computer, but if I am unsuccessful with the folder approach, I'll give it a try. As I said, I can sync the Photos Library, but not all the pix make it over to the Phone.

And while I can see some conveniences to using iCloud for my Photos, I am increasingly leery of storing anything "in the cloud". Too many potential pitfalls mostly due to privacy, access, and cost. I like running as non-dependent on the internet as possible. Heck, I even converted all my iTunes music to CD so if I lose online access to the "rights" of music I own...for any reason...well I don't really lose anything.

I am getting everything moved over, but so far, it's taken 10's hours spent over the course of 13 days...ugh!