Can I merge two apple photo libraries?
Emma Johnson
Updated on February 25, 2026
For iCloud members, merging your photos in the cloud can be a pretty easy way to do it. Go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud and check the box next to Photos if it isn’t already. Now that that’s syncing, follow these steps: Find the Photos library you want to start with and double-click to open it.
How do I merge Photos in Aperture library?
In Aperture, choose File > Import > Library to import your iPhoto libraries into your Aperture library. Then you can import your entire Aperture library, including the imported iPhoto libraries, into Photos.
How do I merge iCloud photo libraries?
Merge through iCloud Photos
- Double-click the Photos library to open it.
- In Photos > Preferences > General, click Use as System Photo Library. (If it’s dimmed out, that library is already set as the System Photo Library.)
- Wait for photos to upload. Scroll to the bottom of the Photos view to see the progress.
Can I have multiple photos libraries on Mac?
You can create additional photo libraries to organize your photos, albums, and projects, and then switch between the libraries. For example, you could keep separate libraries for personal photos and work photos.
How do I merge iPhoto and photos on Mac?
To use the export method:
- Open up the first iPhoto library.
- Select the photos you want to move.
- Choose “Export” from the menu.
- Select either Current (exports with edits) or Original.
- Select a folder to export the images to.
- Import the photos to an existing Photos library.
- Repeat for each iPhoto Library.
How do I move my Aperture library to photos?
Migrate your library to Photos
- Open Aperture.
- Choose Aperture > Preferences, click the Previews tab, then change the Photo Preview setting to Don’t Limit.
- From the list of projects in the Library inspector, select all of your projects.
Can I still use Apple Aperture?
Unfortunately, there’s only one way to continue using Aperture: stop updating your Mac. Aperture can run on your computer if you don’t update your system beyond macOS Mojave. This can be a good choice if your computer doesn’t support a 64-bit operating system and you have to keep all your software at the 32-bit level.
How do I manage multiple iPhoto libraries?
To create a second iPhoto library, quit iPhoto and then hold down the Option key while you launch iPhoto. This will open a window that displays a list of your various libraries. Hit the Create New button, give the library a name, and choose a location (including an external hard drive, if you have one connected).
How do I switch between libraries in Photos?
Hold down the option (or alt) key and launch Photos. From the resulting menu select “Other Library” and navigate to the new location….To do this:
- Hold down the option key on your keyboard.
- Double click on Photos.
- Click on the name of the library you want to open.
How to merge iPhoto libraries on Mac?
If you have deleted you can recover the deleted photos on Mac. The first step of combining the iPhoto library is to select the library you want to merge. To keep things simple, let’s consider the libraries you want to merge to be Old Library and New Library. We want to merge Old Library to New Library.
How long does it take to merge multiple photo libraries?
A large photo library could take a week or more for the process to complete. (The main library, which will hold all the merged photos, must be designated as the System Photo Library.) To start the process, you must decide which Photo library you wish to be your main library.
Is it normal to have more than one library in iPhoto?
Having numerous libraries on an iPhoto application is quite normal. Creating libraries might organize your photos but, having more than suggested libraries can be confusing. Additionally, it can also be annoying to manually select an iPhoto library every time you open a Photos app on your Mac.
How do I open multiple photo libraries in Windows 10?
Press and hold the Option key as you open the Photos app. Select the library that you want to open, then click Choose Library. Photos uses this library until you open a different one using the same steps.