What does "Relinquishing Photo Library to Writer" mean?

[iwtunx]

I began having weird issues with my Mac Mini, iPhone, iPads where the photos weren't synching. Today I tried to open my photo library
on the Mac and I got the message that the library couldn't be opened. I tried "Open Other" and got the message in the subject, nothing else happened. I tried restoring a copy of the photo library from backup, I still received the error that it couldn't be opened, and the same error when attempting to Open Other. I tried repairing the library (open w. Option/Command keys). It said it was repaired, got the same error re: couldn't be opened. I also tried step 2 for repair, calling it names. That didn't work either. Any constructive comments would be appreciated. I was going to post this in the vendor's forum but the last time I posted a question there requesting assistance, trolly fanboys jumped on it because I dared to imply that there was a problem with the OS, and my question got deleted.

 

[The_No10]

Not the only one. Funny - I have my library on an external drive AND synching to Google drive and One Drive. And I was messing with all 3…historically never had an issue, but I guarantee there’s a disconnect. Probably because Apple doesn’t want you using an external disk or using another cloud service. yet I pay for the stupid 2Tb a month! God forbid I have a small hard drive and want to put everything on an external disk…because we all know that if you use “optimal storage” NOTHING is able to get backed up (other than the small amount that actually is on your local drive at the time). So sick of Apple and their shady ways. I ain’t spending $800 for a 1TB SSD on a laptop Apple!!!!

 

[KuzMenachem]

I fixed it by renaming the photos library in the terminal.

command (without the "):
"mv /path/to/currentlibrary.photoslibrary /path/to/currentlibrary_new.photoslibrary"
Then you can open the _new one.
It's extremely strange but has worked multiple times for me so far.

 

[certen]

I fixed it by renaming the photos library in the terminal.

command (without the "):
"mv /path/to/currentlibrary.photoslibrary /path/to/currentlibrary_new.photoslibrary"
Then you can open the _new one.
It's extremely strange but has worked multiple times for me so far.

I just had this. This works! Thank you very much

 

[WillyJones]

Just wanted to offer another solution that I discovered after getting the "Relinquishing Photo Library to Writer" message, and unable to get back to my library even after reboots.

I figured I should check to see if it was a system-wide error by creating and logging into a new user account on my Mac; there I opened Photos and added a few pictures to confirm that the app was working as it should. All looked good.

Then I logged back into my main account and, voila, my library was working again.

I have no idea why this worked, but it seemed to do the trick.

 

[fricAndFrac]

Just wanted to reinforce that the strategy for renaming Photos Library.photoslibrary to anything else worked for me.

 

[ole gray]

I fixed it by renaming the photos library in the terminal.

command (without the "):
"mv /path/to/currentlibrary.photoslibrary /path/to/currentlibrary_new.photoslibrary"
Then you can open the _new one.
It's extremely strange but has worked multiple times for me so far.

It worked for me too so thanks!