Lost entire photo library migrating to 16"

[Ryanmrash]

Like the title says...I did time machine backups of the old machine, to 2 separate external drives...Everyhting moved over smoothly except photos library. I can't find the library in the backups....Anyone have an idea where they're hidden so I can recover? Missing 90+ gigs of photos....

 

[BigMcGuire]

I take it you don’t have the old machine anymore? I noticed doing a TM backup of my MBP to a new SSD that I got recently - it did NOT backup my photo database. But I do have iCloud Photos turned on (90+GB) so maybe that’s why - Mac OS Catalina maybe doesn’t backup the photos database? Restarting and closing Photos didn’t make a difference. Haven’t really put any effort into it as I have CCC backing up the disk to an external SSD as well.

Sorry, I know I’m not really helpful, just thought I’d post my experience. TM is definitely not backing up my photos database. 2017 MBP - OS Catalina

 

[Ryanmrash]

Not sure what's happening here...The backup definitely didn't move the photo library...Im scrounging now to see what I can recover...I do have a lot of my photos backed up outside of the library, but not everything...

No I don't have the old machine....Started out with a 2010, got the library from it before death...Got a 2019 last week...Just returned it and got the 16"...Photos didn't make it from the 2019 to the 16"

 

[donawalt]

Photos are not backed up if iCloud library is turned on. See Apple support link below. They will download if/when you are plugged in to power and on wifi.

What does iCloud back up? - Apple Support

iCloud Backup helps keep your data safe by making a copy of the information on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro that isn't already synced to iCloud.

support.apple.com

 

[Ryanmrash]

Photos are not backed up if iCloud library is turned on. See Apple support link below. They will download if/when you are plugged in to power and on wifi.

What does iCloud back up? - Apple Support

iCloud Backup helps keep your data safe by making a copy of the information on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro that isn't already synced to iCloud.

support.apple.com

I don't use iCloud photo...Only photo stream....

 

[Howard2k]

I know this isn’t hugely helpful, but for future reference you can open Time Machine to see what it has backed up (i.e., what can be restored).

 

[NT1440]

Not sure what's happening here...The backup definitely didn't move the photo library...Im scrounging now to see what I can recover...I do have a lot of my photos backed up outside of the library, but not everything...

No I don't have the old machine....Started out with a 2010, got the library from it before death...Got a 2019 last week...Just returned it and got the 16"...Photos didn't make it from the 2019 to the 16"

I would mount the backup if possible and just manually check the bundle to see if the pics are even there.

 

[Ryanmrash]

I would mount the backup if possible and just manually check the bundle to see if the pics are even there.

Ive got it mounted...Users/Pictures folder where library should be is empty

 

[NT1440]

Ive got it mounted...Users/Pictures folder where library should be is empty

Well that means the backup itself never contained the photos unfortunately.

 

[Ryanmrash]

Well that means the backup itself never contained the photos unfortunately.

This is bizarre and probably a Catalina bug as noted above...

Been waiting a while to buy the 16”, but last week the display on my 2010mbp died...So I was forced to buy a 2019 15"...Got everything migrated without issue...2010 was on High Sierra, 15" was on Mojave....Migrated then updated 15" to Catalina....Used the 15" for a week...Returned it today and got the 16"

So tonight I migrate into the 16" from Time Machine, everything comes fine except photos...Something happened in Catalina on the 15" that didn't bring the photo library into Time Machine....I've managed to scrounge the Time Machine disk and find an older library. Imported all the masters from there...Dont have 2019 photos, but it looks like Ive recovered the rest....I should be able to recover late 2018 and 2019 from iPhones....What a mess....

 

[BigMcGuire]

Glad you got some of them back! I will be taking extra measures to backup my photo library.

 

[NT1440]

This is bizarre and probably a Catalina bug as noted above...

Been waiting a while to buy the 16”, but last week the display on my 2010mbp died...So I was forced to buy a 2019 15"...Got everything migrated without issue...2010 was on High Sierra, 15" was on Mojave....Migrated then updated 15" to Catalina....Used the 15" for a week...Returned it today and got the 16"

So tonight I migrate into the 16" from Time Machine, everything comes fine except photos...Something happened in Catalina on the 15" that didn't bring the photo library into Time Machine....I've managed to scrounge the Time Machine disk and find an older library. Imported all the masters from there...Dont have 2019 photos, but it looks like Ive recovered the rest....I should be able to recover late 2018 and 2019 from iPhones....What a mess....

Wait, if your screen is just dead boot up the machine in target disk mode, connect the two with the appropriate thunderbolt cable and just browse your dead-display laptop like a flash drive.

 

[Ryanmrash]

Wait, if your screen is just dead boot up the machine in target disk mode, connect the two with the appropriate thunderbolt cable and just browse your dead-display laptop like a flash drive.

Thats basically what I did to migrate from the 2010 to the 2019 model. Everything went fine. But after updating the 2019 to Catalina, it didn’t back up the photo library in Time Machine. I was unaware of this. So when I migrated to the new 16” from Time Machine, it was missing all the photos. It’s been a convoluted process to say the least. But I’m pretty sure I’ve managed to recover everything and make the 16 right.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP....
... at least you got most of it back.

I'm going to offer a recommendation:
STOP using Time Machine for backups.

Instead, give either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper a try (both are free to download and use for 30 days).

Do a "test cloned backup" to a spare external drive, and you will IMMEDIATELY see why a cloned backup is superior -- no contest, not even close.

 

[alphaod]

I never depend on Time Machine to backup things like pictures. I back those up manually, always.

 

[Ryanmrash]

It is certainly worth utilizing other options for saving this stuff...So Thus far Catalina is adding the photo library to time machine on the 16"...I can't figure out why the 15" didn't do so...Very odd, probably just something I missed in settings...At this point it doesn't matter...Pretty sure I got it all back, but had to rebuild albums and projects...