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To open apps, click their icons in the Dock or click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, then use Launchpad to open apps. Tip: Every app that comes with your Mac includes help so you can become a pro using it. Aug 15, 2019  If you’re running macOS Mojave and macOS Catalina and experience missing apps in Launchpad, we suggest that you let Apple known about the issue. There’s a good chance that Apple will address the bug in a future update if enough people bring it to their attention.

by Jenefey AaronUpdated on 2019-10-22 / Update for Mac OS

“Library is not working in photos in macOS Catalina. Recently I updated to macOS Catalina but after the update, photos are not working. I am getting library could not be opened error. How can I recover from it?” – From Apple Discussion.

The library not working is one of the most famous macOS issues. So, the users have faced it numerous times and it mostly occurs after an update. Although it is a well-known error, when this error occurs, there are also several associated issues like;

• the library could not be opened
• Photos app crashes on launch in Catalina
• photos are missing after Cataina
• updating library is not working in photos

So, this needs to get fixed immediately in order to enjoy the much-awaited advanced features of macOS Catalina. Just read the article below and you will get your answers.

• Part 1: Fix Library is Not Working in Photos in macOS Catalina

Part 1: Fix Library is Not Working in Photos in macOS Catalina

There are multiple ways to fix photos library could not be opened. These procedures are effective. So, follow the details provided below, carefully.

Solution 1: Use Mac Built-in Photos Library Repair Tool

If Mac photos the library could not be opened or it is showing unexpected errors, then Photos Library Repair Tool is one of the best ways to fix it. This is a built-in repair tool, comes with macOS and it is pretty easy to use.

Step 1: Press and hold the “Option” and “Command” keys while photos are opened on your Mac.

Step 2: Then, a dialog box will appear, click on “Repair” to proceed.

You will be asked to provide a password for your user account. The tool will analyze the library database at the beginning. Depending on the size of the library, the repair could take a while.

Solution 2: Update Photos App If It is Not Up to Date

It is possible that Photos app on your Mac has not been updated in a while. As you have just updated to Catalina, the latest version of macOS. It is possible that macOS Catalina is interfering with the older version of Photos app.

So, if you just update the Photos app to its latest version, the issue may get fixed.

Solution 3: Force Quit Photos then Re-launch to Fix Library is Not Working in Photos in macOS Catalina

It is also possible that you are facing a temporary glitch with the app. So, force-quit the Photos app and launch it again.

Possibly the library issue may get fixed.

Solution 4: Disable Autoplay Videos Setting in Photos

This is a very simple fix. Here’s how to do it;

Step 1: Click Launchpad from your mac desktop and open Photos app.

Step 2: Go to Photos > Preferences and you will find the option Autoplay Videos and Live Photos.

Now, simply uncheck the feature.

Solution 5: Reinstall macOS Catalina to Fix Library is Not Working in Photos in macOS Catalina

You should also try re-installing macOS Catalina if the error still hasn’t disappeared. But the proper way to re-install macOS Catalina is to use Mac’s Recovery Mode. Here’s how to repair photo library Mac:

Step 1: So, restart your Mac. While the device is starting, you need to hold “Command and R” keys together in order to enter Recovery Mode.

Step 2: As the follow-up window appears, click on “Reinstall macOS”. Then, click on “Continue”.

Step 3: Then, you have to agree to “Terms & Conditions”.

Step 4: Finally, select the drive where you want to install macOS Catalina and click “Install”.

Part 2: What If Your Photos are Lost after Fixing Library is Not Working in Photos in macOS Catalina

There is a possibility that photos from your photo library may get erased even after fixing the library. If that happens, you need to make a photo recovery Mac.

Although, the discussed solutions for the library fix are very effective but so many changes were made on the Mac system that lost photos are a possibility. Now, in order to recover lost photo on Mac, an effective data recovery program is required and it needs to be used immediately. As the longer you wait, the chances of photo recovery gets slimmer.

So, stop using the Mac and use Tenorshare UltData-Mac Data Recovery. UltData is a great software developed by Tenorshare, provides effective data recovery with precision and software is quite secure as well. Here are a few important features of the software:

• UltData is capable of recovery of any sort of lost files on Mac.
• May it be a deleted file of lost due to format, UltData will make the recovery anyway.
• Files can be restored from internal hard drive, as well as external drives.
• The data recovery rate is 100%.
• The program is also safe to use and very secure.

Now, the recovery of those lost photos will be very easy with UltData. Just follow the steps below:

Step 1: Download and install Tenorshare UltData for Mac on your computer and launch it.

Step 2: Choose the location of the lost photos and click “Scan” to proceed.

Step 3: It will take a while to complete the scan but upon its completion, the scan results will get displayed on the screen. You can click on them to preview the details.

Step 4: The lost files will be among the results. Just choose them and click “Recover” to restore them successfully.

You also have to choose a path where the restored photos will be located. Don’t choose the same location from they were originally, erased. Doing it will cause permanent data loss.

Part 3: Some New Features of Photos in macOS Catalina You Need to Know

The macOS Catalina is the newest addition to the macOS line up. It is brand new, better, faster and equipped with some amazing new features. Let’s have a look.

Photos View

All your photos and videos will be displayed on a grid. This is the new Photos View. You will be able to zoom in and get a larger view and additional details. The photos on the grid will be visible in a square format.

Live Photos and Videos

Live videos and photos are also included in the photo library. You just have to click “Auto-Play” when they are visible on the screen. It uses a dynamic display system.

Memory Movies

You will be able to view memory movies that you created on your iOS device. So, finally, memory movies came to Mac.

Machine Learning

Machine learning is included. It helps to realize the photos app, who is in the photo and what is going on. This helps users in many ways.

Conclusion

Hence, you will be able to repair photo library Mac and it will be easier if you just follow the detailed solution mentioned in the article, above. But as mentioned before, it is possible that you may lose some of your stored images from the library while fixing it. If it happens, you need to stop using the Mac immediately and use Tenorshare UltData for the fast and successful recovery of those photos.

In case you are puzzled to find a particular App or certain Apps missing from the Launchpad on your Mac, you will be pleased to know that most problems with the Launchpad on your Mac can be fixed by resetting the Launchpad.

The Launchpad On Mac

The Launchpad on your Mac is intended to provide an iOS like environment, making it easy to see, access and manage all the Apps on your Mac in one convenient location.

Just like an iPhone, the Mac Launchpad displays a screen full of neatly arranged App icons. In case there are more Apps, the Launchpad creates another page of icons that can be easily accessed by swiping on your Trackpad or by clicking on the page indicators at bottom of the Launchpad.

As you must have noticed, the Launchpad never appears sluggish, lags or drags in any way. Every time you click on the Launchpad, it instantly displays App icons, that too in high resolution graphics. This lightning speed of Launchpad is made possible by the cleaver manner in which the Launchpad is programmed in MacOS.

The Launchpad maintains its own dedicated database which includes the App icons, information about where the Apps are located in the file system, where the Apps need to be displayed and other related information. This allows the Launchpad to display App icons with lighting speed, which would not be possible if the Launchpad was programmed to build thumbnails for App icons, each time it was launched.

Sometimes the Launchpad on Mac is known to suffer from minor failures like Deleted Apps appearing in Launchpad, Apps not appearing in the Launchpad or Apps missing from the Launchpad. Luckily, all such programs can be easily fixed by resetting the Launchpad.

Recover Apps Missing From Launchpad On Mac

Since, the Launchpad relies on its database to store all the information needed for it to perform, most Launchpad related problems can be fixed by forcing the Launchpad to rebuild its internal database.

This can be done by deleting the Launchpad Database and then restarting the Launchpad. When the Launchpad is unable to find its Database, it scans for the Apps on your Mac, grabs their icons, and rebuilds its internal Database File.

1. Left-click your mouse anywhere on the screen of your Mac. This will reveal the Go Option in the top menu bar of your Mac.

2. Next, click on the Go option in the top menu-bar of your Mac.

3. While you are still on the Go option, press and hold the Option key on your Mac and then click on the Library option that appears when you press down the Option Key.

Note: Press the Alt Key in case you are using a Windows keyboard with your Mac

4. On the Library window, open the Application Support Folder by double-clicking on it.

5. Next, open the Dock Folder by double-clicking on it.

Mac Launchpad Icon

6. Inside the Dock Folder, you will see files ending with .db, simply move all the files ending in .db into the trash-bin (See image below).

Mac Launchpad Missing Apps

7. Next, Click on the Apple icon located in the top menu bar and then click on the Restart… option.

8. You will see a pop-up, click on Restart again.

Macos Catalina Launchpad

Once your Mac restarts, you should be able to see the missing App icons back in the Launchpad.