iCloud photo library not loading on my MacBook Air after macOS Sequoia 15.6 update

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iCloud photo library not loading on my MacBook Air after macOS Sequoia 15.6 update

Last night I updated my mac OS to Sequoia 15.6. No matter what I do, it will not sync my Mac with the iCloud photo library. I've read several threads, but still am unable to load the icloud library. My iPhone has the library still intact (whew!). What can I do to fix this issue?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: icloud photo library not loading after update

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.6

Posted on Aug 21, 2025 4:58 PM

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Answer 1

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Richard.Taylor

Level 6

17,047 points

Aug 22, 2025 7:56 AM in response to HikerZeph

Double check at iCloud.com and make sure all your pictures are there. It sounds like it's OK. I don't remember a problem going from 15.5 to 15.6, but an upgrade from 14 to 15 can involve days of re-syncing. What does it say at the bottom of the Library view, like this?

Are you using Optimize Storage on your Mac? (Photos Settings>iCloud)

How is your storage situation? Strange things can happen when the free storage gets to be less than 10% of the total.

To narrow things down, try these steps:

Restart the computer (of course)
Re-start in Safe Mode. This bypasses certain potentially disruptive processes, and it often helps. Safe Mode is different for different computers, so see this:

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

Rebuild your Photos Library--close Photos and re-launch by option-command-clicking the app icon. I put this last because this may work, but it may take a day or more for the Library to re-scan and re-sync with iCloud Photos.

The idea is to find out if the problem is with the Library, with your account, or with caches and login items, and stuff like that. One of these steps may fix the problem, but their failure to work also helps figure out what's happening.

Let us know what happens…

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