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If you are using a Mac, the Photos app is responsible for managing all images inside the application such as photos transferred from your iPhone or memory card as well as those that were imported. For the curious ones, you might be wondering where are photos stored on Mac.
These are the original picture files, so if you remove them from this folder they will no longer appear in the Photo Booth app of Mac OS X. The Photo Booth Image File Location in Mac OS X. If you want direct access to the photo booth image files through a directory path, for quick access with the Go To Folder command or through the command line. When you import photos and videos into Photos, they’re copied to the Photos library in the Pictures folder. If you prefer, you can store photos and videos outside the Photos library (for example, in a folder on your Mac or on an external drive) and still view them in Photos. Files stored outside your library are called referenced files.
Remember that this is specific to the Photos app. In case you do not use the app to manage your photos on your Mac, the photos are not stored inside the applications package library but you can easily find them using Finder in the generic Pictures folder or somewhere else in the Mac system.
Where Are Photos Stored on Mac?
The photo files are stored in this location on Mac: ~/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary/Masters/.
It is important to note that the ~ tilde indicates the users home directory, if you are going to utilize the “Go To Folder” command to move through that directory, do not skip the ~ prefix.
Article GuidePart 1. A Close Look on Photos on MacPart 2. Where Are the Photos Stored on Mac OS?Part 3. Bonus: How to Use the Photos AppLet's Wrap It up
Part 1. A Close Look on Photos on Mac
The Photos app is a convenient tool that stores all your photos and videos. All photos taken are stored in it and even organized. When you open the app, you can find all your photos and reminisce on all the memories that you have collected.
Are Photos and iPhoto the Same?
Pictures Folder On Mac
Photos have been considered as the ideal tool in photo management for Mac users. Before Photos took the stage, Apple created 2 applications for managing photos and videos. iPhoto, specifically, is ideally for those who have less experience in photography while Aperture was the preferred choice for those who want to indulge in editing.
With the availability of the Photos app, it blurs the line between these two apps where it combines the best of the two along with the addition of new features such as iCloud Photo Library and the iCloud Photo Sharing.
For those who have used iPhoto before, it will be a breeze to use the Photos app. All photos, albums, and collections are found in the main window with a navigation sidebar on the left side and you can choose different viewing options at the top part of the interface.
The main difference between iPhoto and the Photos app is its performance. If you have big libraries, iPhoto tends to choke up or lag and it had arbitrary limitations that would restrain the sizes on the albums and collections.
It is a different case with the Photos app since these limitations are gone and capable of handling larger libraries. Although the general interface of the Photos apps might be the same, it is relatively faster and a powerful tool that its predecessor.
How to Store Photos on Mac?
Your photos can be stored on your Mac or on iCloud. The initial step to make is to ensure that your photos are on your Mac. Mac os catalina how to run 32 bit apps. Generally, photos can take up disk space, especially if you have a lot.
Simply open the Photos app and click on “Preferences” and choose the iCloud tab. If you want to store your photos in iCloud, you must select the option to “Download Originals to this Mac”. This will ensure that all your photos are on the disk and the next task for you is to find them.
Part 2. Where Are the Photos Stored on Mac OS?
The photo files are stored in this location in the Mac OS:
~/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary/Masters/
It is important to note that the ~ tilde indicates the users home directory, if you are going to utilize the “Go To Folder” command to move through that directory, do not skip the ~ prefix.
This essentially focuses on the local image files and not anything stored inside iCloud. For files on iCloud, you can access them through iCloud Photo Library or the Photos app.
How to Access the Location Where Photos Files Are Stored?
In case you decide to manually navigate to the file location of Photos using the Finder to find where are photos stored on Mac, there are steps that you should follow:
- Open Finder and proceed to the home directory
- Open the “Pictures” folder
- Search for the file labeled as “Photos Library photoslibrary”
- Right-click or Control+Click on the “Photos Library photoslibrary” and tap on the “Show Package Contents” option
- Access the folder labeled “Masters” to find the image files included within the Photos app
Generally, the “Masters” folder includes directories of photos that are categorized based on the date in day, month or year subfolders. In every folder, you will find the image files from each specific date.
Remember that if you delete a photo from the “Masters” directory, you can no longer access it in the Photos app. It is recommended to copy a file from the directory if you want to edit one. Furthermore, this package folder is not aimed to be easily accessed which is the reason why it is concealed. However, you can browse directly through your files if you want.
Another option if you want to find the original file from Photos apps is to utilize the “Show Referenced” option. This will access a Finder window that holds a file that was selected from Photos. Some Mac users will notice that the images in the Photos app are designated in the same package style containment as with other common Mac apps and in the same parent directory where you will find the iPhoto images and the Photo Booth files.
Quick Suggestion
In case you only require the “Master” files to copy a few photos, simply move them out of Photos directly to the desktop. This action will create duplicates of your photos and will not move or delete the original files.
Do not forget to find and delete all the copies that you acquired later to prevent the files from taking up disk space on your Mac. In such cases, you might need an effective tool such as the Similar Phototool in PowerMyMac to clean up unnecessary files after locating.
Part 3. Bonus: How to Use the Photos App
If this is your first time to use the Photos app, it will provide you with an overview of how your library looks like with all your photos and videos imported. You will get a quick introduction to some of the features and tools as well as learn how to create concrete memories with the help of printable objects such as photo books, calendars and more.
After finishing the tour of the app and you have gone through the initial configuration, you are ready to import your photos and videos.
Importing Photos to Mac
You can utilize several ways to import your media content to the Photos app which is based on where you have been storing the files.
1. From an iPhone or digital camera
- Link your iPhone or camera to your Mac using a USB cable. There is a need to unlock your iPhone using your password and then click on “Trust” when asked to “Trust This Computer”.
- In case the Photo app does not automatically open, access the app on your Mac.
- Once the Photos app launches, it will provide you with the “Import” screen that has all the photos and videos on your iPhone or camera. In case you cannot see the “Import” screen, simply tap on your iPhone or camera in the Photos sidebar beneath the “Devices”.
- At this point, you can choose either to “Import All New Items” or choose a batch and click on “Import Selected”.
2. From a folder or external hard drive in Finder
If these are the sources, you have several options to choose from. In case your photos and videos are stored in an external hard drive, you must make sure that it is linked first. You can proceed with one of the following:
- Move the files from the drive into the Photos window
- Drag files from the drive onto the Photos icon that you can find in the Dock
- In the Photos app, proceed to File > Import from the menu bar. Select the photos or videos that you want to import and tap on “Review” for Import
Remember that the Photos app copies the photos and videos into the Photos Library. The original file is left either on your device or in its folder.
Quick Tip
If you have been wondering where are photos stored on Mac – you now have the answer. The next task is to ensure that you do not have any duplicates since they can take up space. Since the Photos app will not remove the original photos after the importing process, you might end up with duplicate photos that can eat up precious disk space on your Mac. Those who have taken several photos of the same subject from slightly different angles will end up with more space being used up.
The ideal way to keep your photo collection in check is to scan your Mac for duplicates every now and then. By using the Similar Photo tool in iMyMac PowerMyMac, you can scan your device for any similar photos that you can effortlessly remove to free up space.
iMyMac PowerMyMac is an all-around tool with a variety of functions to optimize your Mac. If you want to ensure that there are no duplicate photos that can eat up disk space, you need to use the Similar Photo tool in the Cleaner module of PowerMyMac. This tool is an ideal photo manager that can help find and remove duplicate photos on your Mac. It functions in the same manner as the Duplicate Finder tool, but it specializes in finding similar photos.
Let us take a close look at the steps.
- Tap on the Cleaner module in PowerMyMac and select the Similar Photo tool.
- Tap on the “Scan” button on the interface. This will start to recognize and detect similar photos on your device.
- Once the scanning is complete, you are provided with a preview of the similar photos on the left side. On the right, tap on the photos and preview.
- Select similar photos to remove.
- Tap on the “Clean” button on the bottom right corner to get rid of the similar photos.
- At this point, tap on “Confirm” to remove the similar photos that you have chosen. The cleaning time is based on the size of similar photos.
Aside from that, PowerMyMac has other functions you can use to clean up your Mac, such as Uninstaller that can help you completely delete apps, Privacy that can clear out your browsers to protect your personal information..
Let's Wrap It up
With the options stated above, you can easily locate your photos on your Mac. Just make sure that once you locate your photos, you do not have any duplicates. Remember that these duplicates or similar photos can take up precious disk space on your Mac.
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Владимир2020-08-23 19:37:41
Доброго вам всем.. перенёс данные с MacBook Air 2015 на MacBook 2017. Делал это с помощью утилиты миграция данных. После этого на air обновил систему до Catalina. После пытался открыть приложение фото, но сразу не получилось, а когда открыл, то фотографий там небыло. Не на этом не на другом маке нет фотографий в программе фото. Куда они могли деться? Почему это произошло? Есть вариант их вернуть, если резервной копии небыло ?Спасибо за дельные советы
iMyMac2020-08-24 19:59:23
Здравствуйте, я предлагаю вам связаться с продавцом используемой вами утилиты переноса данных.
Alyssa2020-04-03 09:49:50
Buongiorno, ho da anni un problema con Foto, in pratica ho due 'album' differenti di Foto con differenti fotografie al interno. Se vado sotto informazioni di sistema per gestire lo spazio sul mac, trovo; l'app di Foto, ma se poi vado su documenti - Browser file - iCloud (archivio) - scrivania, trovo l'app di foto concentro altre fotografie. Posso aprire entrambi gli 'album' di foto e trasferire le fotografie del telefono o su uno o sul altro. Come faccio ad avere una cola cartella Foto con dentro tutte le fotografie? Grazie mille per la disponibilità è da un po' ce cerco la soluzione ma non so come fare
Pieciana2019-12-17 15:14:11
I put the songs in a folder on the desktop and iTunes always creates a copy in its own media library folder. How can I remove iTunes Backup?
iMyMac2019-12-17 16:02:03
We have created an article before and it can solve your problem, please check this article link (https://www.imymac.com/powermymac/how-to-remove-duplicate-songs-in-itunes.html) to read the details. Thanks for your support!
Davy2019-12-10 16:05:07
Lucky to see your tips, I want to back up all my favorite photos but can't find them on my Mac. Now I have done the backup, so happy!
iMyMac2019-12-10 17:04:07
Thanks for your support!
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Free DownloadWhether you’ve just taken a weekend trip up North or the European vacation of your dreams, you’re guaranteed to return home with a massive amount of photos, probably a handful of videos, and, if you were feeling particularly artsy, half a dozen time-lapses.
But now that you’re home, what are you going to do with all those pictures? Where are you going to keep them? How are you going to share them?
Enter the Photos app for Mac.
What is Photos on Mac?
The Photos app is a convenient home for all of your pictures and videos. Anything you shoot, Photos will store it and — better yet — organize it, so you can actually find said pictures when you feel like reliving the memories.
In this post, we’ll go over the basics of using Apple’s Photos app. We’ll talk about where to find photos on your Mac and how you can manage your ever-growing photo library. And of course, we’ll cover all the features Apple has built into this underrated app.
iPhoto vs Photos: What’s the difference?
Those of you familiar with iPhoto for Mac are probably wondering what makes its successor so special. And to oversimplify it, Photos is the next step in photo management — and a giant step at that.
Prior to Photos, Apple made two apps for managing pictures and videos. iPhoto, for those of us less experienced in photography, and Aperture, for the ones looking to do some heavier editing. Photos perfectly blurs the line between those two apps, combining the best of both while adding new features like iCloud Photo Library and iCloud Photo Sharing.
![Mac Photos App Folder Location Mac Photos App Folder Location](/uploads/1/3/4/2/134260309/378851507.png)
If you used iPhoto before, Photos will feel instantly recognizable. You’ll have your pictures, albums, and collections in the main window, a navigation sidebar to the left, and different viewing options at the top. However, a significant point of difference between iPhoto and Photos is the app’s performance. When working with larger libraries, iPhoto had the tendency to lag or choke up and had arbitrary limits that would restrict album and collection sizes. Photos gets rid of those limitations entirely and is able to handle much larger libraries than its predecessor. While the look of Photos may be the same, it feels like a faster and more powerful app.
Where are the photos stored on Mac?
The Photos app maintains pictures and videos in its own library, making it easy to view the content, but confusing to access the actual files. To find the photos on your Mac, you’ll need to find that Photos Library first:
- With the Photos app open, click on Photos in the menu bar
- Then go to Preferences > General
- At the top of the window, you’ll see Library Location. Click the Show in Finder button.
Hide Folders App Mac
The first thing you’ll notice after you find the Photos Library file is you can’t do much with it. You can double-click it, but that opens Photos again. If you want to find the original files of your pictures and videos, you’ll need to:
- Right-click on Photos Library to open the alternate menu
- Select Show Package Contents from that menu
- Open the Masters folder
- All of your pictures and videos live in this folder, organized by year, month, and date
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/3/4/2/134260309/166310767.png)
TIP:
If you only need master files for a few pictures, you can drag them out of the Photos app directly onto your desktop. Doing this will create copies of the pictures and won’t move or delete the original files. Just don’t forget to find and delete all the copies later, so they don't turn your Mac into a mess. A duplicate finder like Gemini 2 can help with that.
If you only need master files for a few pictures, you can drag them out of the Photos app directly onto your desktop. Doing this will create copies of the pictures and won’t move or delete the original files. Just don’t forget to find and delete all the copies later, so they don't turn your Mac into a mess. A duplicate finder like Gemini 2 can help with that.
How to use Apple’s Photos app
When you open Photos for the first time, the app offers you a glimpse of what your library will look like with all your pictures and videos imported. You get a quick intro to some of the features and tools, and learn how you can make these memories tangible through printed objects like calendars, photo books, and more.
Once you’ve finished the tour of the app and gone through the initial setup, you’re all set to start importing your pictures and videos!
How to import photos to Mac
There are several ways you can import your media content to Photos, depending on where you’ve been storing it.
From your iPhone or a digital camera
- Connect your iPhone or camera to your Mac with a USB cable. You might need to unlock your iPhone with your passcode, and then tap Trust when prompted to Trust This Computer.
- On your Mac, if the Photos app doesn’t open automatically, go ahead and open it.
- The Photos app will show you an Import screen that has all the photos and videos on your iPhone or camera. If you don’t see the Import screen, click on your iPhone or camera in the Photos sidebar under Devices.
- From here you can either choose to Import All New Items or select a batch and click Import Selected.
From a folder or an external hard drive in Finder
You have a couple of options here. If your pictures and videos live on an external hard drive, you’ll want to make sure it’s connected first. Then, you’ll want to do one of the following:
- Drag the files from your drive into the Photos window
- Drag the files from your drive onto the Photos icon in the Dock
- In Photos, go to File > Import from the menu bar. Choose the photos or videos you want to import and click Review for Import.
An important thing to know about Photos is that the app copies the pictures and videos into the Photos Library we talked about earlier, leaving the original file either on your device or in its folder.
TIP:
Because Photos doesn’t remove the original picture after you import, you may end up with duplicate pics taking up precious space on your Mac. And if you’ve taken multiple photos of the same thing from slightly different angles, those will waste even more storage. To keep your photo collection lean, scan your Mac for duplicates from time to time. Gemini 2 can help you find and delete duplicate and even similar photos, so you don’t have to go through hundreds of photos manually. Download it for free and try it out.
Because Photos doesn’t remove the original picture after you import, you may end up with duplicate pics taking up precious space on your Mac. And if you’ve taken multiple photos of the same thing from slightly different angles, those will waste even more storage. To keep your photo collection lean, scan your Mac for duplicates from time to time. Gemini 2 can help you find and delete duplicate and even similar photos, so you don’t have to go through hundreds of photos manually. Download it for free and try it out.
Tabs in Photos: Library, Albums, Projects
Have you ever been unable to find a specific picture because you couldn’t remember when you took it? You can remember everything else about the photo, things like where it was taken and who was in it, but not the one thing you need to navigate your files.
The Photos app helps you with this predicament by organizing your pictures not only by date, but also by event, location, and even by people’s faces. In the sidebar, you’ll find a number of tabs designed to make sorting through your pictures easier.
Memories. Photos creates “memories” based on who is in a series of images as well as when and where those pictures were taken.
Favorites. These are the pictures you’ve gone through and clicked the heart icon on, marking them as your favorites.
People. This is where you’ll be able to see all the pictures of you have of specific people.
Places. This is where you can see all the pictures you’ve taken in specific locations.
Shared. This section is where you’ll find all the albums you’ve shared with other people and the albums that have been shared with you. (Check out our guide to iCloud Photo Sharing for more info on Shared Albums.) Remote app mac download.
Albums. If you want to group certain pictures for easy navigation, you’ll want to create a new album. This section is where you can access those albums.
How to tag people in photos
If you want to tag someone in a specific picture:
- Open the photo in the Photos app
- Click the info button in the top right corner.
- At the bottom of the info window, you’ll see circles with faces at the bottom. Tap on one of those.
- The face will now be circled on the photo. Underneath the circle will be a text box labeled “unnamed.” Click on the text box and type the person’s name.
If the person you’re tagging has already been tagged in your Library, their name should appear under the circle on the photo.
How to share pictures from the Photos app
The Photos app on Mac has made it easier than before to share your pictures. Just select the photos you want to share and click on the Share button in the top right-hand corner. You’ll see a list of options:
- Shared Albums
- AirDrop
- Messages
- Notes
- and more, depending on what apps and accounts you set up on your Mac
Tap on your preferred option and proceed to send the pic or create a Shared Album.
This might be helpful: How to edit photos with Mac's native image editors
Now that you’ve gotten a feel for how to use Photos on Mac, it’s time to give it a spin. Once you’ve got your library set up and organized, you’ll see how easy it is to relive and share your memories with Photos.