{"id":"mac-storage-basics.why-is-my-photos-library-bigger-than-my-photos","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-is-my-photos-library-bigger-than-my-photos","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"photos-music-video","title":"Photos, music and video"},"question":"Why is my Photos library bigger than the photos in it?","alt_questions":["photos library larger than expected","photos library derivatives size","photos thumbnails taking space","edited photos double space","photos library hidden data"],"short_answer":"It also stores edited versions alongside originals, thumbnails and previews, Live Photo video parts, analysis data and shared-album caches. Don't remove them by hand.","answer_markdown":"Besides your originals, the library holds **edited versions** (Photos keeps the original and the rendered edit), **thumbnails and previews**, **Live Photo video parts**, **analysis data** for search and People, and caches for shared albums.\n\nNone of that should be removed by hand. To make the library smaller, delete photos and videos you don't want (then empty Recently Deleted), or use iCloud Photos with Optimise Mac Storage. See [iCloud & iCloud Photos](/faq/icloud/).","answer_html":"

Besides your originals, the library holds edited versions (Photos keeps the original and the rendered edit), thumbnails and previews, Live Photo video parts, analysis data for search and People, and caches for shared albums.

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None of that should be removed by hand. To make the library smaller, delete photos and videos you don't want (then empty Recently Deleted), or use iCloud Photos with Optimise Mac Storage. See iCloud & iCloud Photos.

","answer_text":"Besides your originals, the library holds edited versions (Photos keeps the original and the rendered edit), thumbnails and previews, Live Photo video parts, analysis data for search and People, and caches for shared albums.\n\nNone of that should be removed by hand. To make the library smaller, delete photos and videos you don't want (then empty Recently Deleted), or use iCloud Photos with Optimise Mac Storage. See iCloud & iCloud Photos.","tags":["photos","library","edits"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-empty-recently-deleted-in-photos","question":"Why didn't deleting photos free up space on my Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-empty-recently-deleted-in-photos"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.is-it-safe-to-delete-the-photos-library-file","question":"What happens if I delete the Photos Library file?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/is-it-safe-to-delete-the-photos-library-file"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"Why is my Photos library bigger than the photos in it? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"It also stores edited versions alongside originals, thumbnails and previews, Live Photo video parts, analysis data and shared-album caches. Don't remove them by hand.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"Why is my Photos library bigger than the photos in it?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-is-my-photos-library-bigger-than-my-photos"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-is-my-photos-library-bigger-than-my-photos","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Why is my Photos library bigger than the photos in it?","alternateName":["photos library larger than expected","photos library derivatives size","photos thumbnails taking space","edited photos double space","photos library hidden data"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Besides your originals, the library holds edited versions (Photos keeps the original and the rendered edit), thumbnails and previews, Live Photo video parts, analysis data for search and People, and caches for shared albums.\n\nNone of that should be removed by hand. To make the library smaller, delete photos and videos you don't want (then empty Recently Deleted), or use iCloud Photos with Optimise Mac Storage. See iCloud & iCloud Photos.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-is-my-photos-library-bigger-than-my-photos"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Photos, music and video

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Why is my Photos library bigger than the photos in it?

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Short answer: It also stores edited versions alongside originals, thumbnails and previews, Live Photo video parts, analysis data and shared-album caches. Don't remove them by hand.

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Besides your originals, the library holds edited versions (Photos keeps the original and the rendered edit), thumbnails and previews, Live Photo video parts, analysis data for search and People, and caches for shared albums.

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None of that should be removed by hand. To make the library smaller, delete photos and videos you don't want (then empty Recently Deleted), or use iCloud Photos with Optimise Mac Storage. See iCloud & iCloud Photos.

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