How to Copy a Photo Library from One Mac to Another

This practical guide walks through how to copy a photo library from one Mac to another, explains the main requirements, and highlights common issues that may appear along the way.

Clone a photo library with AirDrop

The fastest way to transfer a small number of photos or videos from one Mac's Photos app to another is to use AirDrop. However, Keep in mind that To use this method, both devices need to be close enough to each other to establish a Bluetooth LE connection.

First, open the Photos app on your Mac that contains the photos or videos you want to copy.

Next, select the images that you want to send to your new Mac.

Click the Share Sheet icon in the top right corner.

Select AirDrop from the drop-down menu.

Confirm the transfer on the other Mac.

Copy photo messages with iCloud Photos

The simplest way for you to transfer large amounts of photos and videos from one Mac to another is to use iCloud Photos. During the Mac setup, you'll be asked to sign in to your Apple ID account. When you do, your Mac automatically syncs with the corresponding iCloud account. Then, you just need to sign in to the same iCloud Photos account to access a library of photos and videos on any Mac device.

To confirm iCloud Photos are synced, you need:

On the Mac where you want to receive photos and videos, click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen.

From the drop-down menu, click System Preferences.

Next, click on the Apple ID option at the top.

Click iCloud on the left side.

If necessary, check the box next to Photos on the right. Once selected, your Mac will start syncing your photos from iCloud.

It's also a good idea to remove any unnecessary content before transferring your photos from one Mac to another from the Photos app. This can be a tedious and time consuming process, depending on how many images you have.