Start with these three steps
Identify the affected collection
Write down the missing dates, events and media types. Note whether the problem affects Photos, a folder of images or an external disk.
Check recovery views
Look in Recently Deleted and Hidden, confirm the Apple Account and review any Shared Library view on a working device.
Keep libraries intact
Do not delete a seemingly empty library or edit its internal package. Preserve available copies before library repair, migration or consolidation.
An empty Photos window may be the wrong library
Quit Photos, then hold Option while opening it to choose an existing library. Look for older libraries in Pictures and on known external disks. Record their names and locations rather than immediately merging or designating a new System Photo Library.
Only the System Photo Library participates in iCloud Photos. A separate archive library may contain years of pictures that were never uploaded. This is especially relevant to an iMac used as a long-term photo workstation with multiple attached drives.
Sources: [1] Apple Support
Find full-resolution originals and separate imports
With Optimise Mac Storage, an iMac may not retain every full-resolution original locally. A small library copy therefore should not be assumed to contain a complete offline archive. Check whether originals can still be downloaded from the correct iCloud Photos account.
Photos can also reference image files outside its library. Apple warns that copying the library alone does not back up those referenced files. Include camera-import folders, external working disks and associated RAW files when identifying what must be recovered.
Sources: [3] Apple Support [4] Apple Support
Separate library problems from storage problems
Apple’s library-repair procedure requires a backup first. If the library’s disk is stable and a protected copy exists, repair may help a library that cannot open correctly. It is not evidence that deleted originals will return.
If the external archive clicks, vanishes or freezes the iMac, stop working on that source. Give an assessor the library location and priority events. Ask for both usable originals and the library structure where possible; a folder of recovered JPEGs may not retain all albums, edits or project organisation.
A realistic view of recovery
- Thumbnails, shared images and exported copies may have lower resolution or fewer editing options than originals.
- A recovered library may be incomplete if referenced files or cloud originals are unavailable.
Your questions, answered
Does iCloud Photos provide a second history of every deletion?
Should I recover the library or individual pictures?
Can I restore a Photos library from Time Machine?
Need help with the original iMac?
Describe the model, what happened and which data matters. Data Recovery Lab NZ is an external specialist; ask it to confirm the assessment route for your exact device.
Sources & further reading
Primary and specialist guidance checked 27 October 2026. Features and instructions depend on the model and operating system.