iCloud and the System Photo Library
You can use iCloud Photos, Shared Albums, and My Photo Stream only with the System Photo Library. If you choose a different library in Photos without designating it as the System Photo Library, the iCloud tab in Photos preferences is disabled.
Why Can't You Find the Photo Library? When you open the Photos application and try finding your Photo library on Mac, there might appear a message that it cannot find your Photo library file. This tells that the Photos application is having trouble locating your entire photo collection. This situation may occur due to several reasons. Here’s how you can use it to fix issues with Photos, including a library refusing to open or showing errors when copying. Depending on the size of the photos library and the speed of the Mac.
If you want to use a different library with iCloud, follow the instructions in the next section to change the System Photo Library.
How to designate a System Photo Library
If you designate a new library as the System Photo Library and then turn on iCloud Photos, the photos and videos in the new library will merge with those already in your iCloud Photos. Additionally, all photos and videos from iCloud will redownload to the device.
- Quit the Photos app.
- Hold down the Option key and open Photos. One of the photo libraries is already designated as YourLibraryName (System Photo Library).
- Choose the library you want to designate as the System Photo Library.
- After Photos opens the library, choose Photos > Preferences from the menu bar.
- Click the General tab.
- Click the Use as System Photo Library button.
If Use as System Photo Library is grayed out, the current library is already set as your System Photo Library.
If you open a different library in the Photos app, and you haven't designated it as the System Photo Library, other applications will use photos from the original System Photo Library. Hold down the Option key when you open Photos to see which library is set as the System Photo Library.
Need help?
If you still have issues with Photos, contact Apple Support.
iCloud and the System Photo Library
You can use iCloud Photos, Shared Albums, and My Photo Stream only with the System Photo Library. If you choose a different library in Photos without designating it as the System Photo Library, the iCloud tab in Photos preferences is disabled.
If you want to use a different library with iCloud, follow the instructions in the next section to change the System Photo Library.
How to designate a System Photo Library
If you designate a new library as the System Photo Library and then turn on iCloud Photos, the photos and videos in the new library will merge with those already in your iCloud Photos. Additionally, all photos and videos from iCloud will redownload to the device.
- Quit the Photos app.
- Hold down the Option key and open Photos. One of the photo libraries is already designated as YourLibraryName (System Photo Library).
- Choose the library you want to designate as the System Photo Library.
- After Photos opens the library, choose Photos > Preferences from the menu bar.
- Click the General tab.
- Click the Use as System Photo Library button.
If Use as System Photo Library is grayed out, the current library is already set as your System Photo Library.
Can't Open Photos Library
If you open a different library in the Photos app, and you haven't designated it as the System Photo Library, other applications will use photos from the original System Photo Library. Hold down the Option key when you open Photos to see which library is set as the System Photo Library.
Macbook Air Can't Open Photo Library
Need help?
Can't Open Photo Library On Mac
If you still have issues with Photos, contact Apple Support.