Unable To Write To Iphoto Library

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I first tried rebuilding the iPhoto database (see iPhoto 4 or later: Rebuilding the iPhoto Library ), but that didn’t help. Then I came across this document on Apple Support: iPhoto 6: Image appears when browsing but is blank or exclamation mark when editing. Apparently, the exclamation mark indicates that iPhoto is unable to find the file. Yesterday, I dragged my iPhoto Library to my Dropbox 'photos' folder. I can see from Dropbox that the file transferred successfully (comically, along with the gazillion 'face' images iPhoto has recognized). Now, when I open iPhoto (holding Option key while opening), I can see that the iPhoto library lives in my Dropbox folder.

An error pops up when you are trying to access images from multiple devices using an iPhoto. An error stating “this photo library is locked or you do not have permission to make changes to it”. Although the iPhotos app has seen quite a few updates, this old problem/error still haunts us to date. Install el capitan on external drive. Starting your Mac in Recovery mode and running your disk repair utility, to resolve the error might not always work, here are some more things you can try.

What are the reasons behind the error “this photo library is locked”?

  • When you are trying to access iPhoto from multiple devices: So, if you are accessing a library that is already open on multiple devices, you might receive an error. Close the iPhoto on the other devices, when you are trying to access iPhotos from your current device.
  • Conflict of ownership on removable drives: If your iPhoto Library is stored on an external drive that is used by many Mac users, there might be a permission dispute on that drive that disables other users or devices from accessing it. Specify read and write permissions to access external drives on Mac to correct this factor.
  • iPhoto library is running out of free space: If the drive on which iPhoto library is saved is running out of free space, then this could be the reason why your iPhoto library might have gotten locked.

These are the above reasons why one would encounter the message “this photo library is locked” let us know below how to fix it.

How to fix error “you do not have permissions to make changes” on iPhoto

Start troubleshooting to solve the error, using below steps Best free android emulator for mac.

  1. Click on iPhoto to launch the app and press command + option keys. (quit the photos app before you do so)
  2. The app will request you to start repair process
  3. Enter your credentials as administrator to initiate the repair
  4. The process takes some time, depending upon the photos you have saved on the system.
    Troubleshooting might have solved the issue to some extent, but if the repair process has stopped in the middle then the images are not accessible even after repairing the photo library, it can be hard to determine the reason. In such cases, it is recommended to repair iPhoto library and then rebuild the photo library database.

Quick Note: You can also use the 'Rebuild iPhoto library database' feature as shown below to rebuild the library if the above method fails to fix the repair library issue:

  • Click the Command + Option button and open the iPhoto option
  • Press the keys before the Picture Library Rebuild dialog box appears
  • For the database repair tool, click Repair iPhoto Library Database > click Repair.
Unable to write to iphoto library message

Unable To Write To Library Iphoto Library

The iPhoto launches successfully once the rebuild is complete, and you can see all your images once again. If the above steps have not solved your problem, Try the Mac console app.

Fix iPhoto using Mac Console app:

  1. When you open a console session, go ahead and try to open the iPhoto app again
  2. Check the console messages for any iPhoto app-related errors or issues. Look to see if there are additional hints you can find that can help you find the problem source.
  3. By holding the Shift Key while restarting or booting up, try booting in Safe Mode.
  4. Make sure that the main library of images helps you to read and write. Go to the photo library and click or right-click on the photo library and select Get Info to open the Info Window. Scroll down to Sharing & Permissions and verify under your username that it is classified as Read & Write. If not, modify the Read & Write permissions to those.

Unless you're sure you have a permission-related problem, Repair Disk Permissions works as a troubleshooting method. before you initiate the repair process, just in case anything happens during the process, make sure you have a backup of your images. Use Remo Photo Recovery tool torecover lost files from the iPhoto library. Try the tool for free and then activate it to save the recovered files to the desired location. Download now.

For Mac users, occasional hiccups with the iPhoto Library app are not uncommon. Missing or corrupt files, errors, failed imports, the crash of the Photos app, device hanging problem while opening the iPhotos app, etc., are common issues. Such issues mean that the Images app is corrupt and it is recommended to be repaired.

If you feel this above article has helped you in resolving the error “this photo library is locked”. If you find this information helpful please share it with your friends and colleague, comment below if you have any queries.


Change the default iPhoto library location | 30 comments | Create New Account
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I downloaded iPhoto this morning and try to install but when the installer runs nothing seems to happen. Is anybody experiencing the same thing ?

Haven't seen that, but I have seen other peculiar installer behavior. Did two installations yesterday afternoon, one on my 500MHz Sawtooth, one on a (fruit-flavored) iBook. The iBook installation went as expected. On the Sawtooth, everything appeared to install OK, but none of the nifty internet services appear in the 'Share' pane (that is, no Print Service, no Book Service, no Home Page service). I've inspected the package, and it looks like everything from the 'Net Services' package got installed in the right places. I'm puzzled.

Yes, I am.
I downloaded iPhoto, double-clickedon the .dmg file which did nothing, opened the file via the Disk Copy utility which mounted an iPhoto disk on my desktop.
I admit to being a new OS X user, but .. in hunting for an installer, I find none. I try to click on the readme.rtf file and all I get is something that looks like it's opening up, and a beep. No *readme*.
Any help would be appreciated.
Best Regards,
Sally

There should be an iPhoto directory in the root of the disk image. Inside is something called iPhoto.mpkg. This is NOT an application; it's an installation package that will start the Apple Installer program. THIS is what you want to install.
(okay, the name may be a little different, but it's definitely something to the effect iPhoto.mpkg, and is definitely .mpkg)

Strange. You have 10.1.2 installed?
I double clicked on .dmg file on both G4 DP 450 and TiBook 500 and it mounted image normally. Inside image was a Package installer. I double clicked on it and went through the standard screens agreeing to license, etc. and it installed without a hitch.

(1) make sure you are running 10.1.2
(2) Do you have the BSD tools installed?
(3) get a free account at connect.apple.com and REPORT THOSE BUGS!!!
Seriously-- (3) is key. Apple really does look at the bugs that go through the system (I have reported close to 300 and everything have eventually transitioned to some resolved state-- critical bugs are dealt with surprisingly quickly).

I don't even think you need a free account -- you can go to the OS X feedback page and submit bugs there as well. -rob.

Am non geek.
What are BSD tools? I have the current Developer's Tools installed (for 10.1.2). Same thing?
Just curious. Why would they need to be installed to install iPhoto?
Thanks.

I'm not sure if they do need to be installed, but am just trying to gather evidence one way or another.
The 'bsd tools' are all of the command line stuff outside of what is already in the core.. the Unix layer. Regardless of whether or not you are ever going to drop to the command line, I would suggest installing it simply because every developer has already installed it and, therefore, testing against systems that don't have it installed is likely to be sporadic, at best.

The same trick doesn't work for iTunes. Does anyone know how to change the location of the 'iTunes Music Library (2)' file that it still creates in the Documents/iTunes folder? (I already know how to change the music folder.)

Unable To Write To Iphoto Library

Can't Delete Iphoto Library

Unable

I simply moved the library folder where I wanted it (to another drive) and then put a symbolic link of the same name (iPhoto Library) in the ~/Pictures folder.
I first tried with an alias, but that did not work.
So far iPhoto seems to operate fine with the symbolic link (created via the terminal command 'ln -s', look to 'man ln' for more instructions in the terminal).

can't remember for the life of me how to make a symbolic link, can someone remind/tell me,
thanks

Just do:-rob.
An anonymous user submitted the following as a non-terminal method of changing iPhoto's path .. note that you'll need the Dev Tools installed to get PropertyList Editor.
It is possible to put your iPhoto Library into a different directory without opening the Terminal. In my case, I wanted the iPhoto Library in my Users/Shared folder so other users (family members) on my computer can access the same photos. You can do this by double clicking your ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iPhoto.plist file. This launches PropertyListEditor. Now click on the pointer to the left of the word Root to drop down all the Root options. Click any option to highlight it and click the 'New Sibling' button. Name the sibling RootDirectory. Make it Class String. Finally make the value your desired pathname. In my case, I entered /Users/Shared/iPhoto Library. You must finish your pathname with 'iPhoto Library' or iPhoto will be lost.
If you would rather stay away from the Terminal, this is a good alternative to the defaults command. -rob.

I thought about setting iPhoto's library to my existing (huge!) photos folder, but I decided against it.
I have a lot of raw and edited photos from my digital camera that are about 1.3 MB in size. If I let iPhoto manipulate them, then they would be re-saved with unknown compression quality. Since I want to use my photos for printing as well as web albums, I decided to let iPhoto make its 'disposable' copies in its own folder, then I won't worry about damage to my digital 'negatives' which are still in their original place. I'll likely continue to use Image Capture to download pictures from my camera to my regular photos folder, and only THEN let iPhoto import them.
Of course I'd love to see iPhoto upgraded so that it would only make a copy if necessary, but so far I've gotten my money's worth from the program!
Still a remarkable program, and free!

I just tried an experiment with our new camera. Using the highest resolution JPEG setting (minimal compression, 2048x1536) on the camera, a test photo downloaded into both Image Capture and iPhoto comes out at 1.3mb on the disk.
Where are you seeing additional compression?
-rob. Create yosemite usb installer.

Hey all, I've tried this, and I get an error. This is what I get..
OK? default write com.apple.iPhoto RootDirectory /Volumes/VM_Disk/iPhoto Library? yes
default: Too many arguments
I've tried another method, which says to do..
In -s/Volumes/VM_Disk/Pictures Pictures
This is the error I get with this one..
OK? ln -s/Volumes/VM_Disk/Pictures Pictures? yes
ln: illegal option -- /
Usage: ln [-fhns] file1 file2
ln [-fhns] file .. directory
So how the heck do I get this to work?
Thanks

Use defaults, not default. And make sure that your destination directory already exists (eg. iPhoto Library).

I do type defaults, but ends up in the error just saying default. But I'll try these new suggestions.

Unable to write to library iphoto library
The problem may be the space in your destination path. Here are a few solutions:
  • use quotes for the path string
  • type a backslash in front of the space
  • drag the destination folder from the Finder to the terminal window
    Good luck!

    • Ok, tried a combo of both your suggestions. I also changed the name of my target drive to remove a space, just calling it Data. So here's what I typed (up to RootDirectory, then dragged [drug?] my destination folder), and the resulting error, which is the same as what I got before.
    [localhost:~] graphic% defaults write com.apple.iPhoto RootDirectory /Volumes/Data/iPhoto Library
    OK? default write com.apple.iPhoto RootDirectory /Volumes/Data/iPhoto Library ? yes
    default: Too many arguments.
    Notice how I typed defaults, but when it asks for confirmation, it gets changed to default. Is that my problem? and if so, how do I change it?

    Unable To Write To Iphoto Library

    When I try to issue the command line using 'defaults' (with an 's'), the confirmation prompt comes back using 'default' (with no 's'), and then I'm told I have too many parameters.
    GraphicFoxx, it's been a couple of months since you posted this--did you ever find out a solution?

    When using
    ln -s
    you need a space after the -s. It doesn't look like you have one there..
    Matt

    What Does Unable To Write To Iphoto Library Mean

    I used the terminal to change the default location of the iPhoto Library to /Users/Shared so that my girlfriend and I share the same photo library, it worked just fine.
    My problem is that by default, when iPhoto creates a folder to put the imported pictures in, the privileges are Owner: Read and Write, Group: Read only. So if my girlfriend logs in and imports pictures, and iPhoto creates a new folder to put them in (first time of the day), I cannot import pictures in that same folder (same day) without first changing the privileges to Group: Read and Write.
    If I try to do so, iPhoto says 'Cannot create User/Shared/iPhoto Library/2002/01/11/159.jpg'. I then click 'Stop' and iPhoto unexpectedly quits.
    I imagine that all users wanting to share an iPhoto library between users are going to experience the same problem.
    Is there a way to change the default privileges for iPhoto created folders to Owner: Read and Write and Group: Read and Write ?
    I looked into the iPhoto plist and there is no entry specifying the privileges. Maybe it is possible to add one ?
    Thanks

    Unable To Write To Iphoto Library Message

    Apart from the problem with importing photos on the same day as your girlfriend, do you have any other problems? For instance, can you modify any photos your girlfriend imported? I have not altered my default library settings but am thinking about doing so.

    Look at Adam L. Wetzel's post here. He recommends Len Laughridge's 'global umask script 'Global Umask Modification for OS X 10.2' to change these permissions to whatever you want.' Good luck!
    Easier way to Change the default iPhoto library location

    I ran out of space on my hard drive (HD), so to free up (and backup) data, I now use an external firewire hard drive to back up my pictures folder (along with the rest of th home directory). I found I still needed to free up space on the main HD so I decided to change the default location of the iPhoto Library. Apple Knowledge base does not tell you how to change it (Thanks Apple).
    1) Copy your 'pictures' folder or your iPhoto folder (whatever your choice is for backing up that folder) to the external HD or another folder with a different name- this is your option. Since I was out of HD space, I copied to my external HD.
    2) **NOTE: DON'T delete until you have backed up your files & completed all these steps & verify this worked. I'm not responsible for you losing your data)** Drag the iPhoto pictures folder to the trash for now, but DO NOT empty it yet. You can always pull the folder back out.
    3) Start iPhoto.
    4) iPhoto will tell you that it is unable to locate the iPhoto Library. Select the option to locate the iPhoto Library folder then locate your duplicated iPhoto Library.
    5) That's it! No messing with the terminal and..
    6) No need to install the dev tools.

    Easier way to Change the default iPhoto library location

    Actually, holding Option when launching from Dock will allow you to set or choose any library location you want. I copied my library to the new location, held down option and opened iPhoto and chose the new location. Easy. Then I safely deleted the old folder from my hard disk.

    Unable To Write To Library Iphoto Library

    I typed in the suggested change into Terminal:
    defaults write com.apple.iPhoto RootDirectory /Users/my name/Pictures
    and a new file appeared in my user file. However, I got scared when I opened iPhoto and nothing was there. I then typed the second change into Terminal, which maybe I wasn't supposed to do:
    defaults remove com.apple.iPhoto RootDirectory
    Now I can't figure out where all of my pictures went because when I open iPhoto, nothing is there, and I can't find the files in the new file I created which was supposed to change the location of my iPhoto Library. I fear the worst - did I just lose all of my photos in iPhoto?