Move large Photos library to smaller disk and iCloud

[DTphonehome]

Hi,
I need to migrate a 200 GB Photos library (on an external HD) to a Macbook Air with 128 GB SSD. Obviously, I will be utilizing iCloud Photo Library and the "Optimize Storage" feature to allow most of the library to reside in iCloud (I have a 2 TB storage plan). How do I do this? I can't transfer the library over directly as it won't fit on the smaller SSD, but I don't want to break it up into smaller libraries either.
Thanks!

 

[TonyK]

Can you copy directly to your iCloud drive from the system where the library is attached to? If so you should be able to do that and then change the library location.

I don't use Photos like that so this is only a suggestion.

 

[DTphonehome]

Can you copy directly to your iCloud drive from the system where the library is attached to? If so you should be able to do that and then change the library location.

I don't use Photos like that so this is only a suggestion.

I don't think it works like that. I get what you're saying, but when using iCloud Photo Library, there's a smaller local library with all your thumbnails, and then the larger library stored in the cloud. So I somehow have to get the library to reside on the small internal SSD and then offload the majority of the pictures into iCloud.

 

[robgendreau]

I think you have to let it synch, don't just copy the library over, as that may not help that much. That's cuz a synch can make use of the storage optimization and get you the non-original preview images. See this: https://www.imore.com/how-use-photos-os-x-multiple-macs