Can’t Open Photos Library From External Hard Drive (Solved)

When you try to open your photos library from an external hard drive, you may encounter an error message stating that the library cannot be found or opened.

This can be frustrating, especially if you rely on your photos library for important work or personal memories.

Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to fix this issue and regain access to your photos library.

How To Open Photos Library From External Hard Drive

To fix the issue of not being able to open a photos library from an external hard drive, you can try the following steps:

1. Check the connections between your computer and the external hard drive to make sure they are securely plugged in.
2. Repair the photos library by opening the Photos app on your computer and going to the “File” menu. Select “Repair Library” from the dropdown menu and follow the prompts to repair the library.
3. If the above steps don’t work, try restoring the library from a backup. If you have been regularly backing up your photos library, you can use the backup to restore it to a previous state.

If these steps don’t work, it is possible that there is a more serious issue with the external hard drive or the photos library itself.

In this case, it may be necessary to seek the help of a professional or try using a different external hard drive.

Why can’t I open files on my external hard drive on Mac?

There are several reasons why you may not be able to open files on your external hard drive on a Mac. Some possible reasons include:

1. The external hard drive is not properly connected to the computer. Make sure that the hard drive is securely plugged into the computer and that the connection is stable.
2. The hard drive is not formatted for use with a Mac. If the hard drive was previously used with a Windows computer, it may need to be reformatted in order to be used with a Mac.
3. The hard drive may have become corrupted or damaged. This can happen if the hard drive is dropped or otherwise physically damaged, or if it has been infected with malware.
4. The file you are trying to open may be damaged or corrupted. This can happen if the file was not saved properly or if it has been damaged by malware.
5. The file may be in a format that is not compatible with the Mac operating system. In this case, you may need to use a third-party app to open the file.

If you are unable to open files on your external hard drive on a Mac, try the steps above to troubleshoot the issue.

If the problem persists, it may be necessary to seek the help of a professional.

How do I view Photos on my external hard drive Windows 10?

To view photos on your external hard drive in Windows 10, you can do the following:

1. Connect the external hard drive to your computer using a USB cable.
2. Open the File Explorer on your computer by clicking on the folder icon in the taskbar.
3. In the File Explorer, navigate to the external hard drive and look for the folder where your photos are stored. The location of the folder will vary depending on how you have organized your files on the hard drive.
4. Once you have located the folder with your photos, you can double-click on it to open it and view the photos. Alternatively, you can right-click on the folder and select “Open” from the context menu.
5. If you want to view the photos as a slideshow, you can select the photos you want to view, right-click on them, and select “Slideshow” from the context menu.
6. To view a single photo in more detail, double-click on the photo to open it in the default photo viewer for Windows. From there, you can use the viewer’s tools to zoom in, rotate, or perform other actions on the photo.

Final Thoughts

If you can’t open your photos library from an external hard drive, don’t panic.

By checking the connections, repairing the library, and restoring from a backup, you can often fix the problem and regain access to your photos.

With a little patience and attention to detail, you can get your photos library up and running again in no time.