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TMO Quick Tip - Rebuilding iPhoto's Thumbnail Images

by , 7:30 AM EDT, August 29th, 2007

Just because you no longer see the correct thumbnail images, or if thumbnails are missing, for the pictures in your iPhoto Library, that doesn't mean your image collection is hosed. Those wayward previews may reappear if you rebuild iPhoto's thumbnails.

Here's how:

  • If iPhoto is running quit the application.
  • Command-Option double click iPhoto to launch it. iPhoto will launch and then display the Rebuild Photo Library dialog.
  • Rebuild the photos' small thumbnails should already be selected. If you can't see a photo unless it is blown up to full size, check Rebuild all of the photos' thumbnails.
  • Click the Rebuild button.


Use iPhoto's Rebuild Photo Library dialog to restore missing thumbnails.

If all goes well, your photo thumbnail images will all be restored.

This is also where you go if your iPhoto Library is horribly messed up and you need to rebuild the iPhoto Library database, or if you need iPhoto to re-find images that used to appear in iPhoto, but have mysteriously disappeared.

Jeff Gamet is TMO's Morning Editor and Reviews Editor. He lectures, teaches and speaks on Mac OS X and design-related topics, and is the author of The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X from Peachpit Press.

if you have tips or tricks to share, or Mac-related questions you want answered.

Observer Comments

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Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:19 am Subject: Doesn't work
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Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:11 am Subject: Keep the Command & Options Keys Pressed Down
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Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:37 pm Subject: Doesn't work
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Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:48 pm Subject: double images in iphoto library
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Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:50 pm Subject: rebuilding thumbnails
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