Photos Library to New Mac - Confused

[bluespark]

I'm migrating to a new Mac and am confused about how to move my Photos Library. On my old Mac, I kept the Photos Library on an external drive, but my main Photos folder on my internal drive has its own icon for the Photos Library. When I ran Migration Assistant, the "Photos Library" icon appears in the Photos Library, but I cannot see my photos unless I connect the external drive to the new computer. If I want to move the Photos Library to the new Mac, do I simply copy it to the Photos folder and, if so, does this wipe out the icon that's already there?

 

[NoBoMac]

Just leave it on the external drive. Just hold option key while starting Photos, will get prompted for which library to use.

I've gone the extra step of also replacing "$HOME/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary" with a symbolic link to the external drive library.

But if you do copy, will replace what's there by default on the new Mac.

 

[Fishrrman]

As NoBo says:
1. Connect the external drive (that has the Photos Library) to the NEW Mac
2. HOLD DOWN THE OPTION KEY, and click the Photos icon
3. Photos will open with a dialog asking WHICH LIBRARY to use?
4. Select the one on the EXTERNAL drive.
5. Does Photos open the right one? If so, done.
6. Photos will "remember" your choice (of libraries) from then on.

 

[bluespark]

Thank you both.