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rinibean

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 11, 2011
21
0
Can you pros out there help me decipher what is going on with my multiple iPhoto libraries? I intend to have only one, and can't figure out which library is actually my active one, and whether the duplicate is serving any purpose.

When I upgraded to a new Macbook a few months ago, I did not use migration assistant. I moved the entire photo library using instructions I found through Apple using an external drive.

I've attached a picture of what I see when I look at the folders.

Thanks for any help you can offer.
 

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It looks like you had 2 iPhoto libraries to begin with, both of which you migrated to Photos. Clearly the larger of the iPhoto libraries is the one you had been using the most. To determine which one is currently open in iPhoto: File menu > Switch to Library. The current library should be highlighted and "(default)" will appear beside its name. Below the list of libraries you will see the path to that library. Your large library has a path of /Users/yourusername/Pictures/iPhoto Library/iPhoto Library. The small library has a path of /Users/yourusername/Pictures/iPhoto Library. (To do the same in Photos, close photos and hold the Option key while you open Photos again.)

But honestly, considering that one iPhoto library is over 114GB and the other is 7.4MB, you should be able to just look at Events or Photos to know which of those libraries are open.
 
I was looking more at the files that are 113GB and 114GB. One is "iPhoto Library" and one is "Photos Library". What is the difference between these two files?
 
I was looking more at the files that are 113GB and 114GB. One is "iPhoto Library" and one is "Photos Library". What is the difference between these two files?
The iPhoto library contains is left over from the old iPhoto app. It appears you converted or imported that with the new Photos app and that us the Photos Library file you see there.

If you are certain all the photos from the iPhoto library migrated into the Photo library file, you can delete the iPhoto library file. If you have an extra external disk laying around, it might be a good idea to save it there should you ever decide you want to go back to iPhoto.
 
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