---
id: external-drives.how-do-i-open-a-photos-library-on-an-external-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-open-a-photos-library-on-an-external-drive
category: "External drives"
subcategory: "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."
tags: ["photos library", "external drive", "option key"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/how-do-i-move-the-tv-app-media-to-an-external-drive", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/what-happens-to-moved-folders-when-the-drive-is-unplugged", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/can-i-use-the-drive-as-an-occasional-archive"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

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

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.

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](https://storagestudio.us/faq/icloud/how-do-i-move-my-photos-library-to-an-external-drive).