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Participant
February 18, 2017
Answered

Catalog size is more than 4GB

  • February 18, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 1807 views

I am using an iMac and my catalog size is larger than 4GB! Therefore it will not back it up. I get the message to use a 3rd Party utility such as 7-zip or StuffItExpander to extract my catalog backup. BUT!!! It Adobe doesn't tell me how to solve the problem and more importantly HOW TO DO IT!!

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Correct answer Rob_Cullen

There is a bug in Lr- Mac Users on Backing Up: “Your Catalog Size Is Larger than 4 GB” | Laura Shoe's Lightroom Training, Tutorials and Tips

This link explains it.

It is unlikely your catalog is >4Gb anyway.  (Previews probably- but not the problem)

You would only need an 'expander' program IF you have to recover from a backup (such as after a crash or corrupt catalog), AND the catalog is >4Gb, AND your OS will not extract from a zip file.

1 reply

BKKDon
Inspiring
February 18, 2017

Hi,

What are you saying here ... are you trying to recover a catalog from a backup? Or are you trying to backup a catalog from Lightroom?

What version of Lightroom are you using?

If you need 7-zip or StuffitExpander just download from the internet.

Look at this explanation from Adobe: Extracting compressed Lightroom catalog backups larger than 4 GB on Mac

Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Rob_CullenCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
February 18, 2017

There is a bug in Lr- Mac Users on Backing Up: “Your Catalog Size Is Larger than 4 GB” | Laura Shoe's Lightroom Training, Tutorials and Tips

This link explains it.

It is unlikely your catalog is >4Gb anyway.  (Previews probably- but not the problem)

You would only need an 'expander' program IF you have to recover from a backup (such as after a crash or corrupt catalog), AND the catalog is >4Gb, AND your OS will not extract from a zip file.

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
Participant
February 18, 2017

Many thanks that answers my question