How to Fix Photos Library.photoslibrary Keeps Showing Every Restart

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If your Mac keeps creating a new Photo Library.photoslibrary file every time it restarts on your desktop, it's sign that the Photos app can't properly locate or access your default library.

Every time I restart, Mac OS (Sequoia 15.5) creates a "Photos Library.photoslibrary" on my desktop with "Zero Bytes" in Get Info.  I checked the Photos App Settings, and it still shows the correct Library Location on my external SSD drive. -apple.discussion.com

The issue that Mac creates Photos Library itself occurs due to incorrect library settings, permission problems, iCloud syncing conflicts, or corrupted perferences. Not only does it clutter your Mac with endless duplicate libraries, but it may also disrupt your photo organization.

Fortunately, there iBoysoft summarizes several ways to stop your Mac from generating a new Photos Library on every reboot or appearing in Mac Trash.

How to stop Mac from creating Photos Library.photoslibrary itself

According to trying and testing the solutions from the forums, you can try:

Fix 1: Set the correct System Photo Library

The first step is to set the correct System Photo Library.

  1. Hold the Option key and open Photos on Mac.
  2. Select your primary library (Usually ~/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary). 
     
  3. Go to Photos > Settings.
  4. Under the General tab, select your main library and click Use as a System Photo Library. 
     

# Fix 2: Check Library's location & permissions

Incorrect permissions or moving the library to an external drive that isn't always mounted can cause Photos to generate a fresh library.

  1. Make sure your main library is stored in the Pictures folder (~/Pictures/).
  2. Right-click your Photos Library > Get Info.
  3. Confirm you have Read & Write access.
  4. If permissions are incorrect, click the lock icon, enter your password, and adjust them.

# Fix 3: Remove Photos from login items

Sometimes Photos launches at startup and can't find the right library.

  1. Apple menu > System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions.
  2. Click the - button to remove Photos from the list.
  3. Restart your Mac and open Photos manually to confirm the correct library loads.

# Fix 4: Disable iCloud Photos sync temporarily

Conflicts with iCloud Photos may cause the Photos Library.photoslibrary keeps showing on the desktop.

  1. Open Photos > Settings > iCloud.
  2. Turn off iCloud Photos temporarily. 
     
  3. Set your main library as the system library.
  4. Re-enable iCloud Photos after confirming the issue is resolved.

# Fix 5: Reset Photos App Preferences and Cache

Corrupted preferences can force Photos to create a new library file.

  1. Quit Photos.
  2. Finder > Go > Go to Folder> Type ~/Library/Preferences/ and delete com.apple.Photos.plist.
  3. Clear the cache at ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Photos/.
  4. Restart Photos and select your main library again.

# Fix 6: Rebuild the Photos Library Database

If your library is damaged, rebuilding it may help:

  1. Hold Option + Command while launching Photos.
  2. Select your main library.
  3. Click Repair and wait for the process to complete.

# Fix 7: Hide the Photos Library File Using Terminal

As a workaround, you can hide the unnecessary library macOS keeps generating in Terminal:

  1. Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
  2. Run the command: chflags hidden ~/Pictures/Photos\ Library.photoslibrary.

By following these solutions, you should be able to fix that Mac creates Photos Library.photoslibrary every restart and keep your photo collection organized. Share our post to help more users.

FAQs about macOS creates Photos library itself

QWhat is Photos Library.photoslibrary on Mac?
A

It's the main file package that stores all your photos, videos, edits, albums, and metadata used by the Photos app.

QHow do I disable the photo library on Mac?
A

You can't fully disable it, but you can prevent it from auto-launching by removing Photos from Login Items and disabling iCloud Photos in Photos > Settings > iCloud.

QHow do I change the default library in Apple Photos?
A

Open the Photos app while holding the Option key, choose a different library, then go to Photos > Settings > General and click Use as System Photo Library.