{"id":"external-drives.how-do-i-open-a-photos-library-on-an-external-drive","url":"/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-open-a-photos-library-on-an-external-drive","category":{"id":"external-drives","title":"External drives"},"subcategory":{"id":"libraries-and-startup","title":"Media libraries and starting up from a drive"},"question":"How do I open a Photos library that's on an external drive?","alt_questions":["Open Photos library from external drive","Switch Photos library Mac","Hold Option when opening Photos","choose different photos library"],"short_answer":"Quit Photos and hold Option while opening it, then pick the library on the external drive (or Other Library). Double-clicking the library in Finder works too. Keep the drive connected, and set it as the System Photo Library to use iCloud Photos with it.","answer_markdown":"Quit Photos, then hold the **Option** key while opening it. Photos shows a list of libraries; choose the one on your external drive, or click **Other Library** to find it. You can also double-click the library file in Finder.\n\nThe drive must stay connected while Photos uses it. If you want iCloud Photos to sync that library, set it as the **System Photo Library** in Photos settings — see [moving a Photos library to an external drive](/faq/icloud/how-do-i-move-my-photos-library-to-an-external-drive).","answer_html":"

Quit Photos, then hold the Option key while opening it. Photos shows a list of libraries; choose the one on your external drive, or click Other Library to find it. You can also double-click the library file in Finder.

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The drive must stay connected while Photos uses it. If you want iCloud Photos to sync that library, set it as the System Photo Library in Photos settings — see moving a Photos library to an external drive.

","answer_text":"Quit Photos, then hold the Option key while opening it. Photos shows a list of libraries; choose the one on your external drive, or click Other Library to find it. You can also double-click the library file in Finder.\n\nThe drive must stay connected while Photos uses it. If you want iCloud Photos to sync that library, set it as the System Photo Library in Photos settings — see moving a Photos library to an external drive.","tags":["photos library","external drive","option key"],"related":[{"id":"external-drives.how-do-i-move-the-tv-app-media-to-an-external-drive","question":"How do I move my TV app movies and shows to an external drive?","url":"/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-move-the-tv-app-media-to-an-external-drive"},{"id":"external-drives.what-happens-to-moved-folders-when-the-drive-is-unplugged","question":"What happens to folders I moved to the external drive when it's unplugged?","url":"/faq/external-drives/what-happens-to-moved-folders-when-the-drive-is-unplugged"},{"id":"external-drives.can-i-use-the-drive-as-an-occasional-archive","question":"Can I keep the fast drive in a drawer and plug it in only when I need old files?","url":"/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-the-drive-as-an-occasional-archive"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I open a Photos library that's on an external drive? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Quit Photos and hold Option while opening it, then pick the library on the external drive (or Other Library). Double-clicking the library in Finder works too. Keep the drive connected, and set it as the System Photo Library to use iCloud Photos with it.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"External drives","path":"/faq/external-drives/"},{"name":"How do I open a Photos library that's on an external drive?","path":"/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-open-a-photos-library-on-an-external-drive"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-open-a-photos-library-on-an-external-drive","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I open a Photos library that's on an external drive?","alternateName":["Open Photos library from external drive","Switch Photos library Mac","Hold Option when opening Photos","choose different photos library"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Quit Photos, then hold the Option key while opening it. Photos shows a list of libraries; choose the one on your external drive, or click Other Library to find it. You can also double-click the library file in Finder.\n\nThe drive must stay connected while Photos uses it. If you want iCloud Photos to sync that library, set it as the System Photo Library in Photos settings — see moving a Photos library to an external drive.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-open-a-photos-library-on-an-external-drive"}}]},"fragment":"
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External drives · Media libraries and starting up from a drive

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How do I open a Photos library that's on an external drive?

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Short answer: Quit Photos and hold Option while opening it, then pick the library on the external drive (or Other Library). Double-clicking the library in Finder works too. Keep the drive connected, and set it as the System Photo Library to use iCloud Photos with it.

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Quit Photos, then hold the Option key while opening it. Photos shows a list of libraries; choose the one on your external drive, or click Other Library to find it. You can also double-click the library file in Finder.

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The drive must stay connected while Photos uses it. If you want iCloud Photos to sync that library, set it as the System Photo Library in Photos settings — see moving a Photos library to an external drive.

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Last reviewed

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