Step 4: Open Your Copy of Photos Libraryīrowse to the created copy of your Photos Library and double-click the file icon to open it. This is an excellent way to know which backup is which. Rename the copy of the library each time. Under Sharing & Permissions, check the box that says then try again.ĭo you only want to back up your Photos library to an external storage device? Stop here! Repeat steps 1 to 3 whenever you want to back up images. If you encounter an error popup, select your external drive in the finder window, then choose File > Get Info (Command or Ctrl + I).

This will copy, not move, your photos library. Put it either in the sidebar or on the desktop. Then click and drag the Photos Library icon to your external drive. Step 3: Drag Photos Library to the External Drive And check the folders you want to be displayed when you open a new Finder window. Click on Finder > Preferences from the menu bar. If your pictures folder is not listed in your Finder window, use Finder preferences to select what you see in your sidebar. But you cannot copy to a drive used for Time Machine backup. Any APFS or Mac OS Extended format drive works. A USB-C port gives you the fastest data transfer. Step 1: Connect Your External Storage DeviceĬonnect your external drive to your machine. Here is our step-by-step guide to transferring your files. But if your library is closer to 1 TB (1,000 GB), be prepared to leave it overnight to finish! How to Move Your Photos Library Files A few gigabytes can transfer in a matter of minutes. If you are transferring an extensive photo library, it can take some time. Available in sizes up to 4 TB, these drives are super fast, reliable, rugged, and portable-perfect for your camera bag! I use and would recommend an external Solid State Drive (SSD) such as the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD. Keeping large media-type files on something other than your system drive is considered good practice. Mac OS creates the library the first time you open Photos on your machine. This import is directly from a camera, device, or your iCloud photo library. Photos Library is the folder where the Photos App stores the images you import. Here’s what you need to locate to move your images.

Transfer Photos From A Macbook To An External Hard Drive: What You Need to Know

How to export photos from mac to usb