Did I just blow it? iCloud photo library overwritten

[cameronjpu]

So this is a tricky question and my guess is there's little chance someone reading this will have personal experience. I was trying to merge two iCloud photo libraries. I downloaded one entire one, disconnected from iCloud, then copied the data file. So, data file 1, safe. Both data files are still in Pictures, the copy has a new name. Then, I switch iCloud accounts on the computer and open Photos again. I forgot to remove the Photos Library (version 1) so that when Photos opened (iCloud account 2), it opened with that data still there. It immediately said updating. Stupidly, I figured well.... it's not going to DELETE everything in the cloud, surely. And the file size was getting larger, though I didn't see anything in Photos yet. Updating....

So now, 30 minutes later, the iPhone with Photos library 2 has gone from 1500 pictures to 1000 pictures. I disconnected it from wifi/cell just in case.

I'm just surprised to learn that if you open one Photos data file in another iCloud account, IF it doesn't merge their contents, but instead deletes data.

Now, I've just made a copy of both Photos library files (both Library 1) on an external drive, and I have the iPhone with 1000 files (Library 2) cut off from the internet. And now I don't know what else I can do but wait on the sync process and HOPE that it is in fact merging the two libraries instead of nuking what was on the cloud (library2) with what was in the Library file (library1).

Any thoughts?

I was looking to see if there is any option to roll back the photos library by a few hours, to restore what was on the iPhone (library2) but I don't see such an option. Any ideas? There is no computer backup with Library 2 on it.

Edit: also, is there a more appropriate forum? I can't find one for iCloud questions.

 

[kaardowiq]

Never copy whole photo libraries (except for backups on dedicated medias). Your primary photo library is the synced one. You should only export photos from another library and reimport them into your primary one. I‘m still crazy about this how I broke my one a few years ago and struggling how many problems may come up with shared library on iOS 16.

Unfortunately, I do not have a solution for your issue and can only highly warn on playing photo libraries. Alter them only via photos app. TBH, I‘d export all photos from your backups and recreate a new one from scratch.

 

[cameronjpu]

Yeah I mean copying whole libraries is the way to do it, but in this case, I opened a photo library AFTER switching iCloud accounts associated with it, and yes, it actually wiped out the content of the iCloud library and replaced it with the content of the local library. I'm shocked that that's the behavior, frankly, but it is what it is. I was able to recover a large chuck of the pictures using a third party data recovery program, but my hope of discovering a merged library was dashed. Not the end of the world thankfully, because it was the library of a 13 year old, so lots of cat pictures and not a lot of sentimentality, but still not good. Very embarassing. All because I opened Photos before I remembered to rename the Photo library so a new one would be created to sync with iCloud. Facepalm.