Can we delete our iPhoto libraries once we're using Photos?

[andyp350]

Does anyone know if we can delete the iPhoto library from our Pictures folder once we have migrated to the new Photos app? I don't plan on ever going back to iPhoto so it makes sense to delete it, but I'm not sure if the photos are still stored within the iPhoto library. If Photos had moved them all over surely it would be taking up twice as much space on my drive, which it doesn't seem to be.

 

[Weaselboy]

Photos app will make its own library using "hard links" to the actual files so it does not use double the space. You can delete the iPhoto library after the Photos library is setup if you want.

 

[andyp350]

Photos app will make its own library using "hard links" to the actual files so it does not use double the space. You can delete the iPhoto library after the Photos library is setup if you want.

Thanks that's useful to know, I may hang on to it until the Photos app is out of Beta just to be on the safe side.

 

[ChrisA]

Photos app will make its own library using "hard links" to the actual files so it does not use double the space. You can delete the iPhoto library after the Photos library is setup if you want.

If what you say is true then, no, you can't delete the iPhoto library because of all those hard links pointing into it. Unless the iPhoto library uses referenced image files.

I suspect Apple will make this easy for you and hide these details.

One bit of advice. Make sure you have multiple, redundant backups in multiple locations.

 

[Weaselboy]

If what you say is true then, no, you can't delete the iPhoto library because of all those hard links pointing into it. Unless the iPhoto library uses referenced image files.

I suspect Apple will make this easy for you and hide these details.

One bit of advice. Make sure you have multiple, redundant backups in multiple locations.

Nope... what I said is correct.

Here is an article about it.

I totally agree with you about having backups before messing with this.

 

[AllergyDoc]

Interesting read and good to know.

 

[Garsun]

If what you say is true then, no, you can't delete the iPhoto library because of all those hard links pointing into it. Unless the iPhoto library uses referenced image files.

I suspect Apple will make this easy for you and hide these details.

One bit of advice. Make sure you have multiple, redundant backups in multiple locations.

Your statement is true for symbolic (Soft) links but is incorrect for Hard links.
You can make many hard links (directory entries) to the same file and as you delete them the actual file is not deleted until the last directory entry is removed.

http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/70863/Hard-Links-vs-Soft-Links

 

[andyp350]

Nope... what I said is correct.

Here is an article about it.

I totally agree with you about having backups before messing with this.

Thanks for the link, hadn't actually come across hard links before so it's useful to have it explained. I always have everything backed up in multiple places. Although in theory if deleting my iPhoto libray did delete all my photos off my MacBook then if iCloud photo library has done its job properly I should be able to redownload them all.

 

[rpearlberg]

How can I delete an iPhoto library? I mistakenly have two libraries, but want to delete one of them.

 

[shanson27]

Can I already delete all the not supported marked apps ?

 

[Weaselboy]

Can I already delete all the not supported marked apps ?

Sure as long as you sure you won't be needing them.

 

[shanson27]

Sure as long as you sure you won't be needing them.

Thanks

 

[jchook]

Worth noting that, although "File > Get Info" will tell you that your Pictures folder is taking up 2x the space, deleting the iPhotos library in this case will not actually free up any disk space. So you're better off keeping the iPhoto library IMO.