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jclin10
jclin10
Known Participant
November 29, 2017
Answered

I'd like to rename my Lightroom catalog - how do I do that?

  • November 29, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 3991 views

Hi everyone

I'd like to rename my Lightroom catalog. How do I do that? What are the different files/folders that I'd need to rename?

Thanks,

John

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer john beardsworth

    In LR, go into Catalog Settings and click Show - this opens Explorer or Finder. Or just open Explorer or Finder if you know exactly where the catalogue is.

    Close LR. Now change Lightroom Catalog.lrcat to My New Name.lrcat, and do the same with Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata which will become My New Name Previews.lrdata and the corresponding smart previews folder. Then double click the catalogue file and you're done.

    2 replies

    philipn95815980
    philipn95815980
    Inspiring
    November 12, 2018

    Hope no-one minds me re-opening this old-ish post, but for LR Classic, does the same renaming advice also now apply to the  "Lightroom Catalog Helper.lrdata" and "Lightroom Catalog Smart Previews.lrdata" files ?

    Bob Somrak
    Bob Somrak
    Legend
    November 13, 2018

    Yes

    M4 Pro Mac Mini. 48GB
    john beardsworth
    Community Expert
    john beardsworthCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    November 29, 2017

    In LR, go into Catalog Settings and click Show - this opens Explorer or Finder. Or just open Explorer or Finder if you know exactly where the catalogue is.

    Close LR. Now change Lightroom Catalog.lrcat to My New Name.lrcat, and do the same with Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata which will become My New Name Previews.lrdata and the corresponding smart previews folder. Then double click the catalogue file and you're done.

    jclin10
    jclin10Author
    Known Participant
    November 29, 2017

    Thanks!

    My catalog is in a folder (within the Pictures folder) with the same name. Can I change the name of the folder also? Would I simply do that in the Finder?

    john beardsworth
    Community Expert
    john beardsworthCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 29, 2017

    Yes. Again, with LR closed, and then double click the catalogue file to reopen LR.

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