Participant

Answered

Compatibility of storing LRC files on internal Micro SDXC card on my laptop

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
September 24, 2025
3 replies
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I have extended my storage space on my laptop by adding an internal SDXC card (Sandisk 512GB Extreme MicroSDXC Card). I have dedicated this storage space to LR files. I have beeen using LRC since 2020 mainly to edit my camera files. I am encounering sync problems now and getting a message thats preventing me from moving files. I dont know how to repair the situation. Is there a compatabilty problem with the card?

I'm not techy, let me add.

Windows

Correct answer JohanElzenga

Lightroom Classic should not have allowed you to use an SDXC card as storage space to begin with. When you want to import images from such a card, you'll notice that Lightroom Classic does not give you the option to use 'ADD' or 'MOVE' in the import dialog. The only options are COPY and COPY as DNG. That explains why moving them later also is not allowed. So how did you get them accepted? Did you use COPY, but then chose the same card as destination? That's basically a bug. Lightroom Classic should not allow you to do that either, but it does (or at least it did in the past).

Sean McCormack

Community Expert

As per @dj_paige and @JohanElzenga, sources that match camera cards are not normally useable as drives. The only exception used to be CF Express cards and this may have changed. Personally I think it's a bad idea because they're easy to lose, and if you're using devices that require Micro SD cards (action cams, drone, Pocket 3, Insta360 etc), it's only a matter of time before you grab the wrong card and format in the device to make recording space.

Sean McCormack. Author of 'Essential Development 3'. Magazine Writer. Former Official Fuji X-Photographer.

J

Jane HinwoodAuthor

Participant

Thanks for your advice. I needed extra storage space on my laptop and this
seemed like a viable option. I don't have any other devices that use a
microSDXC card so there is no confusion.
Jane

Sean McCormack

Community Expert

SSD prices have come down and are more affordable, not to mention compact and not subject to fall damage in the same was as a HDD. Worth the investment.

Sean McCormack. Author of 'Essential Development 3'. Magazine Writer. Former Official Fuji X-Photographer.

JohanElzenga

Correct answer

Community Expert

Lightroom Classic should not have allowed you to use an SDXC card as storage space to begin with. When you want to import images from such a card, you'll notice that Lightroom Classic does not give you the option to use 'ADD' or 'MOVE' in the import dialog. The only options are COPY and COPY as DNG. That explains why moving them later also is not allowed. So how did you get them accepted? Did you use COPY, but then chose the same card as destination? That's basically a bug. Lightroom Classic should not allow you to do that either, but it does (or at least it did in the past).

-- Johan W. Elzenga

J

Jane HinwoodAuthor

Participant

Thanks for your advice. I went ahead with this option to make more onboard
storage space on my Laptop not knowing of this LR bug. Thanks for
explaining.
I will have to move the LR back the way I had it. 😞
Jane

dj_paige

Legend

I am encounering sync problems now and getting a message thats preventing me from moving files.

What sync problems? Please describe in detail.

What message? Please quote the exact unedited word-for-word error message.

I am skeptical that a SDXC card is a good place to store photos, even if LrC allows this (and I'm not sure it does allow this).

J

Jane HinwoodAuthor

Participant

Thanks for your response dj_paige
<>
When I tried to copy image files to my existing LRC folder I was asked the
question
'Sync this catalog instead?'
Not sure why I only have one catalog
Then I was unable to copy files into the catalog.
How do you know in advance if LR is or isnt compatible with an SDXC card?
I am in no way tech experienced. I do feel like I am in a gordian knot now!
Jane

dj_paige

Legend

Looks like you have good advice from the others in this thread.

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