How to Start Over with Mylio Photos

!Resetting Mylio Photos is a major step that is rarely needed and should only be done with caution. Most issues can be resolved without starting over. Before proceeding, we strongly recommend consulting Mylio Support to explore alternative solutions. You can reach our support team through the in-app Help menu or at https://support.mylio.com.

This guide explains how to perform a factory reset of Mylio Photos. Only proceed with these steps if explicitly instructed by Mylio Support or if you are certain that resetting your account and system is necessary for your desired configuration. Before proceeding, carefully review all steps to fully understand their implications.

Important Considerations Before Resetting

Before you reset your Mylio Photos setup, ensure the following:

• You know where your media files are stored and are comfortable re-importing them.
• Your original-quality files are stored locally (not only on a Mylio-connected cloud device).
• Metadata changes (face tags, date corrections, GPS data, edits, etc.) are saved in sidecar XMP files, allowing them to be re-imported later. However, organization elements such as Albums, Events, QuickCollections, Categories, and Spaces will be permanently lost and must be recreated manually.

Steps to Reset Mylio Photos

Resetting Mylio Photos involves two key actions:

1. Unregistering your devices from your Mylio account.
2. Performing a factory reset on each device.

*NOTE: Reinstalling Mylio Photos alone will not reset your account. You must follow the Factory Reset process outlined below.

Step 1: Unregister your Devices

1. Click the Dashboard icon in the left sidebar.
2. Click Devices.
3. Unregister all devices except your primary computer (the one you are using) and Mylio Drive+ (if applicable).
   • Click a Device Card.
   • Choose Unregister Device.
   • Type confirm and then click Confirm
4. Repeat the process for each device, leaving your primary computer and Mylio Drive+ for last.

!NOTE: If you cannot launch the Mylio Photos application, you can manually Unregister Devices by logging in to your account in a web browser. Click on Manage Devices, then click Remove next to each device associated with your Mylio account.

Step 2: Prepare Mylio Drive+ (If Added)

If you have Mylio Drive+ enabled:

1. Click on the Mylio Drive+ Device Card in Dashboard > Devices.
2. Click Device Sync Policies.
3. In the Preset dropdown, select Catalog Only, then click Apply Changes.
4. Click Clear Cache.
5. Remove all folders from Mylio Photos:
   • Go to the Folders View (double-click the folder icon in the left sidebar).
   • Right-click each folder (or use the Actions menu in the right sidebar) and select Remove Folder from Library. This disassociates the folders from Mylio Photos but does not delete the media from your computer or connected external drives.
6. Unregistered Mylio Drive+.
   • Go to Dashboard > Devices.
   • Click the Mylio Drive+ Device Card.
   • Select Unregister Device, type confirm, and click Confirm.

Step 3: Unregister Your Primary Computer

1. Click the Dashboard icon in the left sidebar.
2. Click Devices.
3. Select Unregister Device, type confirm, and click Confirm.
4. When prompted, click Yes to Reset Local Library.

Step 4: Perform a Factory Reset

1. Close Mylio Photos.
2. Restart the application.
3. When prompted, type reset and click Confirm.

!NOTE: If you’re unable to launch the Mylio Photos application, hold down the alt/option key on the keyboard, launch the Mylio Photos application to access the Support Options, then choose Factory Reset Mylio Photos.

Step 5: Rename the Mylio System Folder

4. Locate the Mylio System Folder:
   • macOS: /Users/yourname/
   • Windows: C:\Users\yourname
5. Rename the folder (e.g., Mylio_OLD)

Step 6: Reset Additional Devices

• Computers: Repeat the Factory Reset process on any additional computers and rename the Mylio System Folder on each device.
• Mobile Devices: Delete the Mylio Photos app, then reinstall it from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
• External Hard Drives: Locate the Mylio_xxxxxx folder (where xxxxxx is a unique identifier) and rename it.
• Cloud Devices: Delete the Mylio folder in your connected cloud storage.

Step 7: Set Up Mylio Photos Again

1. Open Mylio Photos and log in using your registered email address.
2. If you previously used Mylio Drive, DO NOT add new media immediately.
   • Close the Guided Import dialog.
   • Go to the Dashboard > Devices and enable Mylio Drive.
   • Allow Mylio Drive to fully sync (check progress using the Activities icon in the top bar).
   • If any old files reappear, delete them and allow syncing to complete.
3. Once syncing is finished, you can add media by clicking the Add Media icon in the top bar.

!WARNING: DO NOT re-import the Generated Images folder (Windows) or GeneratedImages.bundle (macOS) into Mylio Photos after resetting your account or performing a factory reset on the Mylio Photos application. These files contain thumbnails and optimized images, and importing these files will result in duplicate files and may cause catalog corruption.

*NOTE: A factory reset does not change the email address associated with your account. If you need to change the email address associated with your account, visit the account management page.