Skip to main content
P
parasky
Participant
June 28, 2023
Answered

Can't move folder in Lightroom Classic

  • June 28, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 1032 views

I have an external hard drive with two folders of photos that have already been imported into Lightroom. I created a new folder in Lightroom named "All Imported Photos". I'm not trying to move the two existing folders into the newly created "All Imported Photos" in Lightroom. However, every time I try to drag either folder into the new folder, it doesn't work and I get an error message stating "Could not complete the folder move. An uninown error occurred." It's driving me crazy! Does anybody know what I'm doing wrong?

 

Thanks!

Correct answer RedwingCreative

I had the exact same problem, and making sure I had granted full disk permissions on my external drive and all the relevant folders did not fix the issue. What did fix it was going into the folder view WITHIN LIGHTROOM, right-clicking on both the top level folder where all the photos are stored and also the subfolder I was trying to drag into, and selecting "Update folder location...", and then pointing out where the folder was again to Lightroom. After that, I was able to drag another folder into the folder I had just updated with no error.

3 replies

R
RedwingCreativeCorrect answer
Participant
December 18, 2024

I had the exact same problem, and making sure I had granted full disk permissions on my external drive and all the relevant folders did not fix the issue. What did fix it was going into the folder view WITHIN LIGHTROOM, right-clicking on both the top level folder where all the photos are stored and also the subfolder I was trying to drag into, and selecting "Update folder location...", and then pointing out where the folder was again to Lightroom. After that, I was able to drag another folder into the folder I had just updated with no error.

P
paraskyAuthor
Participant
June 28, 2023

I figured it out. I went through permissions again and Lightroom has full disk access. I then went to the external drive and for some reason my access was changed to read only. I never changed it so that was weird. I then was able to move the folders, which makes sense. Thanks!

    P
    precise_Dolphin5C04
    Participating Frequently
    April 13, 2025

    This fixed it for me, too. Thanks. 

     

    I needed to reboot to make the change effective. 

    P
    precise_Dolphin5C04
    Participating Frequently
    April 13, 2025

    Update: This fixed it for some folders, but not others.  Super frustrating...

     

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    June 28, 2023

    Is this a typo?

    I'm not trying to move the two existing folders into the newly created "All Imported Photos" in Lightroom.

     

    Should it say

    I'm now trying to move the two existing folders into the newly created "All Imported Photos" in Lightroom.

    P
    paraskyAuthor
    Participant
    June 28, 2023

    Yes, I can't type. It should say now. I can't figure out how to fix it. Thanks

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    June 28, 2023

    Generally, you should be able to drag one folder into another folder if that's what you want to do. However if it is not working for you, perhaps you have a permission issue with the new folder (or maybe even this problem https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/quick-tips-how-to-give-full-disk-access-to-lightroom-classic-on-macos/td-p/12913413). Another solution is to do the folder move in your operating system and then re-connect the folders in LrC (see https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/quick-tips-how-to-give-full-disk-access-to-lightroom-classic-on-macos/td-p/12913413)

     

    Also, I propose to almost everyone a different approach, where folder hierarchy and folder location is not important. Use keywords and other metadata for organizing and searching. In that case, folder hierarchy and folder location becomes irrelevant.

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices