Hi, this is Gary with MacMost.com. Let's take a  
Hi, this is Gary with MacMost.com. Let's take a  

look at all the different storage  options you have in Mac Photos. 
look at all the different storage  options you have in Mac Photos. 

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Now the basic setup for photos on your Mac is  to have just one Photos Library. Have that in  
Now the basic setup for photos on your Mac is  to have just one Photos Library. Have that in  

your Pictures Folder and have that set as your  System Library so it syncs with iCloud. You just  
your Pictures Folder and have that set as your  System Library so it syncs with iCloud. You just  

put all your photos in there. Whether your needs  are pretty basic or you have a ton of photos,  
put all your photos in there. Whether your needs  are pretty basic or you have a ton of photos,  

like I do, usually that's all you have to do.  But there are also a lot of other options.
like I do, usually that's all you have to do.  But there are also a lot of other options.

So in Photos, if you go to Photos Settings, and  then under General the very first item is the  
So in Photos, if you go to Photos Settings, and  then under General the very first item is the  

location of the library that you're currently  viewing. In this case I can see it's in the  
location of the library that you're currently  viewing. In this case I can see it's in the  

Pictures Folder in my Home Folder and it has got  the default name Photos Library. I could show it  
Pictures Folder in my Home Folder and it has got  the default name Photos Library. I could show it  

in the Finder by clicking right here. It opens up  a new Finder Window and there's my Pictures Folder  
in the Finder by clicking right here. It opens up  a new Finder Window and there's my Pictures Folder  

and there is the Photos Library. All my photos  are actually in here. It appears to be just one  
and there is the Photos Library. All my photos  are actually in here. It appears to be just one  

file but actually all of the photos are stored  in there. It is a special kind of file called  
file but actually all of the photos are stored  in there. It is a special kind of file called  

the Library File. Now you also notice that Use  As System Library is grayed out. That's because  
the Library File. Now you also notice that Use  As System Library is grayed out. That's because  

this is, in fact, my System Photos Library.  That means it is the one that iCloud will use.
this is, in fact, my System Photos Library.  That means it is the one that iCloud will use.

iCloud Photos uses a single library. So even  though you can have multiple ones, only one of  
iCloud Photos uses a single library. So even  though you can have multiple ones, only one of  

those on your Mac can be your iCloud Library. This  is a typical situation that most people will use.  
those on your Mac can be your iCloud Library. This  is a typical situation that most people will use.  

Now since this is the iCloud Library let's look  at those options first. I go to iCloud here, you  
Now since this is the iCloud Library let's look  at those options first. I go to iCloud here, you  

can see under iCloud Photos I've got the option to  have Download Originals to this Mac, or, Optimize  
can see under iCloud Photos I've got the option to  have Download Originals to this Mac, or, Optimize  

Mac Storage. Download Originals to this Mac means  that all of your photos, the original photo and  
Mac Storage. Download Originals to this Mac means  that all of your photos, the original photo and  

all the data, will always be on your Mac's local  drive. So you have 100% of your library local. In  
all the data, will always be on your Mac's local  drive. So you have 100% of your library local. In  

addition they will also be in iCloud and then any  other devices like iPhones and iPads that you may  
addition they will also be in iCloud and then any  other devices like iPhones and iPads that you may  

have will be able to see that same library. If you  turn On Optimize Mac Storage that means that while  
have will be able to see that same library. If you  turn On Optimize Mac Storage that means that while  

you see all your photos here as you look through  the thumbnails if you actually go to look at a  
you see all your photos here as you look through  the thumbnails if you actually go to look at a  

photo when you're looking at the full resolution  photo if it is not cached on your local drive then  
photo when you're looking at the full resolution  photo if it is not cached on your local drive then  

it will have to load it from iCloud. Depending  upon your connection this could be pretty much  
it will have to load it from iCloud. Depending  upon your connection this could be pretty much  

instant or it could take a few seconds. So you  could flip through all your photos just like if  
instant or it could take a few seconds. So you  could flip through all your photos just like if  

all your photos were local but if you want to go  and view one and see the details and edit it and  
all your photos were local but if you want to go  and view one and see the details and edit it and  

all of that then it is going to have to download  it first. Which photos are cached locally and  
all of that then it is going to have to download  it first. Which photos are cached locally and  

what is not depends on the space you have left  and how recently you have viewed the photo. So  
what is not depends on the space you have left  and how recently you have viewed the photo. So  

your latest photos and ones maybe you've just  been looking at, they are all going to be local  
your latest photos and ones maybe you've just  been looking at, they are all going to be local  

and you'll be able to go and view those without  any additional downloading. But maybe a photo you  
and you'll be able to go and view those without  any additional downloading. But maybe a photo you  

haven't looked at at a long time may not be local,  especially if you're short on hard drive space.
haven't looked at at a long time may not be local,  especially if you're short on hard drive space.

Now it is important to realize that if  you're using iCloud Photos that all of  
Now it is important to realize that if  you're using iCloud Photos that all of  

your photos are on iCloud at all times. So  100% of your library is always on iCloud  
your photos are on iCloud at all times. So  100% of your library is always on iCloud  

and all the thumbnails are always local.  It's just the full resolution photos for  
and all the thumbnails are always local.  It's just the full resolution photos for  

viewing and editing that are cached locally  and downloaded as needed. But if you switch  
viewing and editing that are cached locally  and downloaded as needed. But if you switch  

to Download Originals to this Mac, then a  100% of your photos will be there all the  
to Download Originals to this Mac, then a  100% of your photos will be there all the  

time. This works great as long as you have a  big enough hard drive to hold all your photos.
time. This works great as long as you have a  big enough hard drive to hold all your photos.

Now let's look at some other storage options. The  first one I'm going to show you still has the idea  
Now let's look at some other storage options. The  first one I'm going to show you still has the idea  

that you're just going to have one Photos Library  and it could be your iCloud Library or it even if  
that you're just going to have one Photos Library  and it could be your iCloud Library or it even if  

you're not using iCloud this still works. That's  to go to this item here, Importing. You see the  
you're not using iCloud this still works. That's  to go to this item here, Importing. You see the  

checkbox next to Copy Items to the Photos Library.  If you turn that Off what will happen is the next  
checkbox next to Copy Items to the Photos Library.  If you turn that Off what will happen is the next  

photos you import will NOT be imported into the  Library. But you'll still see them here in the  
photos you import will NOT be imported into the  Library. But you'll still see them here in the  

list of thumbnails. So I'll drag and drop this  new photo here just from the Finder. It's just a  
list of thumbnails. So I'll drag and drop this  new photo here just from the Finder. It's just a  

regular file. I'll bring it in and you can see now  it is under Imports and if I go into my Library  
regular file. I'll bring it in and you can see now  it is under Imports and if I go into my Library  

you could see it is right here at the top. I  can go and view it and do everything I could  
you could see it is right here at the top. I  can go and view it and do everything I could  

normally do with it except that because it  is local it will not be part of my iCloud  
normally do with it except that because it  is local it will not be part of my iCloud  

Library. This one will just be skipped over.  If I Control Click on it I can even see here  
Library. This one will just be skipped over.  If I Control Click on it I can even see here  

show reference file in the Finder. Whereas if  I click on one of these that doesn't appear  
show reference file in the Finder. Whereas if  I click on one of these that doesn't appear  

because it isn't a file in the Finder, that  one is inside the Library. So I can continue  
because it isn't a file in the Finder, that  one is inside the Library. So I can continue  

to import photos in now that I have this checkbox  unchecked. They will not be added to my Library.  
to import photos in now that I have this checkbox  unchecked. They will not be added to my Library.  

Only referenced there so linked to from the  Library and will not become part of iCloud.
Only referenced there so linked to from the  Library and will not become part of iCloud.

In general I don't recommend this option. It's  too great of an advantage to have all your photos  
In general I don't recommend this option. It's  too great of an advantage to have all your photos  

in iCloud. However, this can work well for a  non-iCloud Photos Library. That way you can  
in iCloud. However, this can work well for a  non-iCloud Photos Library. That way you can  

have all of your photos stored in folders as you  want in the Finder and have a library where they  
have all of your photos stored in folders as you  want in the Finder and have a library where they  

are all imported in without this checked.  So none of the photos are actually in the  
are all imported in without this checked.  So none of the photos are actually in the  

Library. They're external to it but you still  have access to them all here in the Photos App.
Library. They're external to it but you still  have access to them all here in the Photos App.

Now you can also create more than one library. I'm  going to Quit Photos here and I am going to launch  
Now you can also create more than one library. I'm  going to Quit Photos here and I am going to launch  

it again. But this time holding the Option Key  down. Now here it is going to actually look for  
it again. But this time holding the Option Key  down. Now here it is going to actually look for  

Libraries that are on my local drive. I can select  one of those. So you can see here for this one it  
Libraries that are on my local drive. I can select  one of those. So you can see here for this one it  

actually recognizes that this is my current System  Photos Library. That's makes it easy to find that  
actually recognizes that this is my current System  Photos Library. That's makes it easy to find that  

one again. But I have some other ones here that  are old archived projects. I can also create  
one again. But I have some other ones here that  are old archived projects. I can also create  

a new Library, like that, and it is just like  creating a new file. You determine where you want  
a new Library, like that, and it is just like  creating a new file. You determine where you want  

the library to go. You name it what you want. Now  I know a lot of people will jump on this and say,  
the library to go. You name it what you want. Now  I know a lot of people will jump on this and say,  

great I can divide up my huge photos library  into multiple libraries. But I don't recommend  
great I can divide up my huge photos library  into multiple libraries. But I don't recommend  

doing that because then it is very hard to  find photos. If you're looking for a photo  
doing that because then it is very hard to  find photos. If you're looking for a photo  

but you don't remember which library it is in.  However, having another library can be useful  
but you don't remember which library it is in.  However, having another library can be useful  

when the pictures are substantially different  than the ones in your main library. Like,  
when the pictures are substantially different  than the ones in your main library. Like,  

for instance, say you're asked to attend  a wedding and you are asked to act as the  
for instance, say you're asked to attend  a wedding and you are asked to act as the  

wedding photographer. So you take several  hundred pictures that day and they are not  
wedding photographer. So you take several  hundred pictures that day and they are not  

really your pictures. They are not something you  want in your library. You can create a New Photos  
really your pictures. They are not something you  want in your library. You can create a New Photos  

Library for that. Store them all in there. Use  that library for editing them, exporting them,  
Library for that. Store them all in there. Use  that library for editing them, exporting them,  

but that is separate from yours. Then all you  would do is launch photos with the Option Key  
but that is separate from yours. Then all you  would do is launch photos with the Option Key  

held down and then it allows you to choose a  library. So you can go to that other library  
held down and then it allows you to choose a  library. So you can go to that other library  

open it up and work with it and then Option Launch  Photos again and go back to your system library.
open it up and work with it and then Option Launch  Photos again and go back to your system library.

When you create a secondary library like this  it doesn't have to be in your Pictures Folder  
When you create a secondary library like this  it doesn't have to be in your Pictures Folder  

or even on your local drive. You could put it  on an external drive and access it from that.  
or even on your local drive. You could put it  on an external drive and access it from that.  

Now one thing to note is that external drives  are always slower than your internal drive.  
Now one thing to note is that external drives  are always slower than your internal drive.  

Even if you have an external SSD and you're  connecting it by USB3 or Thunderbolt, it's  
Even if you have an external SSD and you're  connecting it by USB3 or Thunderbolt, it's  

still going to be slower than the speeds of your  internal SSD. Apple puts really fast SSD's into  
still going to be slower than the speeds of your  internal SSD. Apple puts really fast SSD's into  

their computers. Usually much faster than what you  can buy as an external drive and then, of course,  
their computers. Usually much faster than what you  can buy as an external drive and then, of course,  

internally they don't have the bottleneck of the  USB or Thunderbolt connection. Now, what is even  
internally they don't have the bottleneck of the  USB or Thunderbolt connection. Now, what is even  

worse is sometimes I hear people trying to put a  Photos Library on a network drive. This is much  
worse is sometimes I hear people trying to put a  Photos Library on a network drive. This is much  

slower than even a connected external drive. It  may sound like a good idea but then try scrolling  
slower than even a connected external drive. It  may sound like a good idea but then try scrolling  

through your photos like this or going through  each one very quickly just clicking through  
through your photos like this or going through  each one very quickly just clicking through  

them like that. When that is on an external  drive that's going to be slower. When it is  
them like that. When that is on an external  drive that's going to be slower. When it is  

on a network drive then it could be painfully  slow. But if it is an old project and you are  
on a network drive then it could be painfully  slow. But if it is an old project and you are  

just archiving it and you rarely need to actually  access it then a network drive maybe just fine.
just archiving it and you rarely need to actually  access it then a network drive maybe just fine.

One last option I want to mention. You can  actually have your System Library or your  
One last option I want to mention. You can  actually have your System Library or your  

iCloud Library on an external drive. So right  now the default is to have it there in your  
iCloud Library on an external drive. So right  now the default is to have it there in your  

Pictures Folder. But if I wanted to I can move  the to an external drive. Moving it is just as  
Pictures Folder. But if I wanted to I can move  the to an external drive. Moving it is just as  

easy as moving any other file. I'll quit Photos  here and if I look in my Pictures Folder there is  
easy as moving any other file. I'll quit Photos  here and if I look in my Pictures Folder there is  

that Photo Library. I'm going to open up another  window here and then I'm going to go to my Archive  
that Photo Library. I'm going to open up another  window here and then I'm going to go to my Archive  

Drive here, an external drive. I've got a folder  in here and I'm going to call it Temp. I'm going  
Drive here, an external drive. I've got a folder  in here and I'm going to call it Temp. I'm going  

to move the library here. Now because I'm moving  to another drive it is going to copy the library  
to move the library here. Now because I'm moving  to another drive it is going to copy the library  

there, which is fine. You can copy it there and  will get a full copy here on this external drive.  
there, which is fine. You can copy it there and  will get a full copy here on this external drive.  

Then that I now see that it is safely  there I'm going to drag my original  
Then that I now see that it is safely  there I'm going to drag my original  

library there to the Trash. When I launch  photos now it's going to say it can't find  
library there to the Trash. When I launch  photos now it's going to say it can't find  

it. So I'll say Open Another. It should  locate the library here or I can just  
it. So I'll say Open Another. It should  locate the library here or I can just  

click Other Library and I'm going to go to  Archive my Temp folder there. Open this one  
click Other Library and I'm going to go to  Archive my Temp folder there. Open this one  

and there's all my stuff. If I go to Photos  Settings and then I look here I could see  
and there's all my stuff. If I go to Photos  Settings and then I look here I could see  

that the library location is now on my external  drive in this folder here. There it is! Now I can  
that the library location is now on my external  drive in this folder here. There it is! Now I can  

click Use As System Library. It will switch  to it but it is the same library. So it is  
click Use As System Library. It will switch  to it but it is the same library. So it is  

just going to take a little bit to sync up to  make sure that is has got all the same photos  
just going to take a little bit to sync up to  make sure that is has got all the same photos  

and everything is the same. Then I'll successfully  have moved my Photos Library to my external drive.
and everything is the same. Then I'll successfully  have moved my Photos Library to my external drive.

This is not a good idea if you're using a  MacBook because now you have to have that  
This is not a good idea if you're using a  MacBook because now you have to have that  

external drive always connected to your Mac in  order to use Photos. It's a little easier if it  
external drive always connected to your Mac in  order to use Photos. It's a little easier if it  

is a desktop Mac because you can just have that  drive attached 100% of the time. You don't have  
is a desktop Mac because you can just have that  drive attached 100% of the time. You don't have  

the problem of figuring out how to carry it around  with you and always keeping it connected and using  
the problem of figuring out how to carry it around  with you and always keeping it connected and using  

up more of your MacBook's battery because you  have an external drive that is powered up. So  
up more of your MacBook's battery because you  have an external drive that is powered up. So  

I hope you found this look at different photo  storage options useful. Thanks for watching.
I hope you found this look at different photo  storage options useful. Thanks for watching.