Create a partition to the photo library dedicated, if you create a new photo library in there, and the maximum size is limited to the partition size. Of the 500GB of system drive, are using divided into partitions for the photo library of 50GB (10%). I have a picture of 200GB on icloud, are used without any problems with the above settings. 3 March 2021: Maximum file upload size updated to 250 GB. 16 September 2020: Updated info about OneNote notebooks to clarify that the 2GB file size limit applies to SharePoint as well as OneDrive. 31 August 2020: Updated the invalid or blocked file types guidance about.PST files when Known Folder Move is turned on. To limit the Photos library, we’re going to create a sparse disk image, set it to mount at login, and move the Photos library file onto it. A disk image is like a virtual disk on your Mac.

1. Mac Photos Maximum Library Size Limit
2. How Big Can A Mac Photos Library Be

Prepare your external drive

You can store your library on an external storage device, such as a USB or Thunderbolt drive formatted as APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled). However, you can't move your library to a disk that's used for Time Machine backups.

To prevent data loss, Apple doesn't recommend storing photo libraries on external storage devices like SD cards and USB flash drives, or drives that are shared on a network.

Move your Photos library to an external storage device

1. Quit Photos.
2. In the Finder, go to the external drive where you want to store your library.
3. In another Finder window, find your library. The default location is Users > [username] > Pictures, and it's named Photos Library.
4. Drag your library to its new location on the external drive. If you see an error, select your external drive's icon in the Finder, then choose File > Get Info. If the information under Sharing & Permissions isn't visible, click the triangle , then make sure the 'Ignore ownership on this volume' checkbox is selected. If it's not selected, click the lock button to unlock it, enter an administrator name and password, then select the checkbox.*
   
5. After the move is finished, double-click Photos Library in its new location to open it.
6. If you use iCloud Photo Library, designate this library as the System Photo Library.

Delete original library to save space

After you open your library from its new location and make sure that it works as expected, you can delete the library from its original location.

In a Finder window, go back to your Pictures folder (or whichever folder you copied your library from) and move Photos Library to the trash. Then choose Finder > Empty Trash to delete the library and reclaim disk space.

Open another Photos library

If you have multiple libraries, here's how to open a different one:

1. Quit Photos.
2. Press and hold the Option key while you open Photos.
3. Select the library that you want to open, then click Choose Library.
   

Photos uses this library until you open a different one.

Learn more

Mac Photos Maximum Library Size Limit

If you have a permissions issue with your library, you might be able to resolve the issue by using the Photos library repair tool.

How Big Can A Mac Photos Library Be

* If the volume isn't formatted APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled), or has been used for Time Machine backups but hasn't been erased, this checkbox will either not be present, or won't be selectable after unlocking. Erase and reformat the drive for this option to be available.