iCloud & iCloud Photos · iCloud Photos and the Photos library

What happens if my Photos library is on an external drive that isn't plugged in?

Short answer: Photos can't find it and may start a new, empty library — your photos are still safe on the drive. Quit Photos, connect the drive, then Option-open Photos and choose your library again.

Photos can't find the library, and it may create or offer a new, empty one. Your photos aren't gone — they're still on the external drive.

To get back to your library:

  1. Quit Photos.
  2. Connect the external drive and wait for it to appear in Finder.
  3. Hold Option while opening Photos and choose your library on the drive.
  4. If you'd made it the System Photo Library before, check Photos → Settings → General still says so.

Don't let iCloud Photos sync from a new, empty library while you sort this out. This risk is one reason Storage Studio won't move the Photos library itself.

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