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How to Combine Two Photos Libraries on Mac
On macOS Monterey or later, you can merge two Photos libraries by opening the destination library and using File > Import to select the second library.
To combine two Photos libraries on a Mac, you can import photos and videos from one library into another if your Mac runs macOS Monterey or later and the library you are importing from does not have iCloud Photos turned on [Apple Support]. You must ensure the destination library is open before beginning the import process [Apple Support].
Preparing the Mac and Destination Library
Before starting the merge, confirm that the library you want to import from does not have iCloud Photos turned on, as this is required for the import to work in macOS Monterey or later [Apple Support].
Next, make sure the library you want to import photos into is currently open [Apple Support]. If it is not open, you need to switch libraries by choosing Photos > Quit Photos, then pressing and holding the Option key while you click the Photos icon in the Dock [Apple Support]. In the Choose Library dialog, select the specific library you want to import into and click Choose Library [Apple Support].
Executing the Library Import Process
Once the destination library is open, choose File > Import, navigate to the location of the library you want to import from, select it, and then click Review for Import [Apple Support]. If you participate in an iCloud Shared Photo Library, you will need to click the Library pop-up menu in the toolbar and choose the library to import into [Apple Support].
At this point, you can choose how much of the source library to merge. To import the entire library, click Import All New Photos [Apple Support]. Alternatively, to import selected photos, select the specific photos you want to move and click Import Selected [Apple Support].
Removing the Redundant Source Library
As a practical suggestion, thoroughly scroll through your updated destination library to verify your media is accessible. After you confirm that your photos imported successfully, you can save space by deleting the library that you no longer need [Apple Support].
