How Do I Change the System Photo Library on Mac?

The default System Photo Library on Mac stores, organizes, updates, and shares photos with other synced devices using iCloud Photos, iCloud Shared Photo Library, and Shared Albums. Also, did you know you could also create additional photo libraries on your Mac? Many people do this to organize photos and albums their way or to simply optimize storage.

This post guides you through how to create additional photo libraries on Mac and switch between them. We will also share how to change the system [default] photo library on Mac. But before moving on, let's answer some important questions about the topic

Why Do You Need to Create Additional Photo Libraries on Mac?

The categorization of System Photo Library on Mac may not be ideal for you, so you should create an additional photo library suited to your preferences. Some other reasons can be:

• With an extensive collection of pictures, creating multiple photo libraries can help you categorize them in an organized way.
• Too many pictures in one library may slow down the Photos app's performance. Storing these photos in multiple libraries can improve the app's performance.
• While sharing your Mac with acquaintances, create a separate library for personal photos to ensure your privacy.
• If you are working professional who is handling different projects, having a different library for each project will help you in managing them.

How to Create Additional Photo Libraries on Mac?

You can always move your system photo library to another location, store it on an external storage drive, and create additional photo libraries on Mac. For this,

• Press and hold the Option key, then click the Photos app icon in your Finder, or Launchpad.
• A Choose Library pop-up window will open, showing all the photo libraries on your Mac. Click Create New to create a new Photo Library on your Mac.

• Give the library a name and choose a location to store it. Then click OK.

Note—If you want to create the photo library on an external drive, choose the external drive in the Where drop-down menu.

Now you can import pictures to the new photo library; remember you cannot sync this library with iCloud as only the System Photo Library on Mac syncs with iCloud.

How to Switch Between Photo Libraries?

Having multiple photo libraries allows you to switch between them to view, edit, add, or organize images. Here's how to switch between photo libraries on Mac:

• If the Photos app on your Mac is open, choose Photos > Quit Photos.
• Press and hold the Option key, and click on the Photos app icon in your Launchpad.
• In Choose Library dialog box, select the photo library you want to use, and click Choose Library.

• Your selected photo library will be open, when you open the Photos app.
• If your desired photo library doesn’t appear in the Choose Library dialog box, click Other Library, go to the location where it is stored, select it, and then click Choose Library.

When you open the Photos app, your selected photo library will open.

How to Designate a Library as the System Photo Library?

Now that you have multiple photo library, you can change or create a new library as the System Photo Library on Mac.

Note: Before you change the System Photo Library, remember to back up the current photo library to avoid any data loss.

Steps: How to change a system photo library on Mac

• If the Photos app is open, quit it.
• Then, switch to the photo library you want to designate as the System Photo Library and open it in the Photos app.
• Go to the Photos menu at the top-left of your screen, choose Settings, and click General.
• To make the current library the System Photo Library, click Use as System Photo Library.

Note: If the Use as System Photo Library box looks greyed out, the current library is already set as the Mac system Photo Library.

After changing the new photo library as the System Photo Library on Mac, turn on the iCloud Photos, this will:

• Merge the media files stored in the new library with those already in your iCloud Photos.
• Re-download all the photos and videos stored in the iCloud to your device.

Troubleshooting Tips

1. This library cannot be used as the system photo library.

You will receive this error message while changing the System Photo Library on Mac, as the photo library you are using is not optimized to be used as a System Photo Library.

You can fix this issue:

• Restart your Mac.
• Checking the formatting of the hard drive
• Re-creating the Photos Library.
• Or using another library as System Photo Library.

2. 'Photos Cannot Find the System Photo Library.'

The error ‘Photos app in your Mac cannot find the System Photo Library’ occurs after a faulty macOS update or while switching to another photo library or changing the System Photo Library. This error can result in making your photos saved in those library inaccessible, i.e, you cannot view, open, edit, or share them.

To fix the 'Photos cannot find the System Photo Library' error:

• Update macOS.
• Delete any empty Photo Library folder.
• Restart the Mac in Safe Mode.

3. Cannot Find Photos after Changing the System Photo Library

If you cannot find some of your photos  and videos on the Mac after changing the System Photo Library, it could be due to incorrect library setting, a syncing delay, or the photo library being stored on an external drive.

To recover your photos, verify that the current System Photo Library is set correctly. If the library is stored on an external drive, connect it properly and restore images from iCloud Photos. Moreover, check the Recently Deleted Album to restore your photos. However, if you still cannot find your photos and videos on Mac, use Stellar Photo Recovery software to restore the pictures.

Manage Your Photo Library on Mac like a Pro

Setting up multiple photo libraries on Mac is a great way to organize your photos and videos according to type, place, occasion, or device. Moreover, you can separate your professional and personal pictures using two libraries. Luckily, creating and switching between multiple photo libraries stored in separate locations is very simple.

Also, with limited storage space on Mac, you can transfer your photo library of System Photo Library to an external drive. However, remember to back up your photos and videos before switching or changing the System Photo Library on Mac.