The Retroactive app can modify Aperture, iPhoto, or iTunes to run on macOS Big Sur and macOS Catalina. Download the Retroactive app here. Step 2: Open Retroactive. Apple yesterday acknowledged that its photo management and editing software Aperture for Mac will not run in future macOS version after macOS Mojave. The news was made official in a support document which offers step-by-step instructions detailing moving existing Aperture libraries to the stock Photos app or Adobe’s Lightroom Classic. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, boot the non-working Mac in target disk mode by holding down the key combination command-T at the startup chime. Connect the two Macs with a FireWire or Thunderbolt cable.

Unable to access the iPhoto app after installing Catalina? It is because iPhoto has already retired, meaning Apple no longer supports it. In exchange, Apple introduced the Photos app, which does pretty much the same tasks as iPhoto.

Now, we understand if it’s hard for you to let go of the iPhoto app, especially if you have been using it for years. Well, in that case, we have solutions. Below, we’ve enumerated problems and possible solutions related to the use of the iPhoto app. Hopefully, by the end of the post, you’ll have a better understanding of how to overcome your problem and gain access to your media files.

Problem #1: How do you access your media files if iPhoto is no longer here after updating your macOS to Catalina?

Do you have thousands of photos saved in iPhoto? Are all your media files lost? Is there anything you can do? Do you think it is possible to retrieve all your media files when iPhoto no longer works in Catalina?

Many iPhoto app users have these questions, too. So, to make things clear, we can answer by saying that macOS Catalina is keeping you from accessing the app. Macs that run Catalina or later will no longer launch iPhoto because Apple has retired the app.

So, what can you do with this problem? Try any of the solutions below:

1: Simply use the Photos app, which comes pre-installed with macOS Catalina.

Again, iPhoto will no longer work with Catalina. And there seems to be no chance of it working in the future. Thus, your best solution is probably to get all your media files transferred or migrated to the Photos app on your device.

Don’t worry because this new app allows you to quickly import your photos from the iPhoto app. Here’s what you should do:

1. Press and hold the Option key.
2. Open the Photos app from the Dock.
3. A prompt will pop up asking you to choose a specific library that you want to access. From the list, select the iPhoto library.
4. Click Choose Library.
5. Wait for your photos to be loaded and launched in your new Photos app.

From now on, you can manage all your photos using this app.

2. Recover all your missing photos via the iPhoto app, especially if you have failed to migrate.

In the event that the migration process did not go as planned and you ended up losing all your photos, your best option is to install and use recovery software to recover your lost media files.

There are plenty of file recovery apps you can find online. But we suggest that you use a trusted file recovery tool like Auslogics File Recovery. With this app, you can easily retrieve all the files that you thought were already lost for good. It also works with external storage devices like memory cards and USB drives. It can also be used to recover various file types. With this tool in your arsenal, you won’t have any reason to panic.

Problem #2: I want to upgrade the iPhoto app so it will be compatible with Catalina. Is it possible?

Unfortunately, this is not possible because the iPhoto app is no longer supported on Catalina. iPhoto has long been retired, so no matter what you do, the app will never run on your device. The app uses an outdated framework that Apple no longer supports. Your best option here is to use other apps like Photos.

Aside from the built-in Photos app, which comes with Catalina, here are other app alternatives you can try:

1. Picasa – It is photo-editing software developed by Google. It is used for organizing and editing photos and albums.
2. Apple Aperture – It is hailed as one of the best apps to replace iPhoto on Apple devices.
3. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom – There is a specific version of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom intended for Macs. And it’s more interesting to use compared to other Adobe Photoshop versions.
4. Lyn – This app is the perfect companion for Mac users who are also fond of taking photos. It is a must-have for those who have galleries filled with photos from various storage devices.
5. Pixa – This app received instant fame because of its way of organizing photos on Macs.
6. Google Photos – It is one of the best alternatives to iPhoto as it allows you to manage, upload, and store photos on the cloud. It actually provides you with 15GB of free storage space, which you can use not only for photos but for other files as well.

But before you use any of these recommended apps, we suggest that you optimize your Mac first. This way, you can ensure nothing comes your way when editing or organizing your photos.

The best way to optimize your Mac is to use a trusted Mac repair tool like TweakBit MacRepair.

In just a few clicks, you can get rid of unnecessary files that may trigger problems and resolve any issues that may arise in the future.

Problem #3: How do you create an iPhoto backup before upgrading to Catalina?

Aperture Download For Mac

Worried that you might no longer be able to retrieve your media files? You may back up your photos to an external drive before proceeding with the macOS update. It’s probably the best way to safekeep your photos.

Aperture Software Mac

The good thing is that Mac allows you to easily back up your iPhoto media files. You don’t even need another app to do that. As long as your Mac is in a good running state, then you can proceed with creating a backup in a jiffy.

Here’s what you should do:

1. Open Finder.
2. Navigate to Users and select Pictures.
3. Right-click on the iPhoto Library section.
4. Choose the Show Package Contents option.
5. Open the Masters folder. You should see all your photos sorted by date or year.
6. Copy all the folders and save them onto your external drive.

Congratulations, you have successfully backed up your iPhoto files on your external drive.

The Bottom Line

If you are still hoping to use the iPhoto app after upgrading to Catalina, then you are only wasting your time. There is no way you can use the app after the Catalina update. However, the solutions above should help you get by.

What do you think about the new Photos app? Do you think it makes a great replacement for iPhoto? Let us know in the comments!