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RoosterMan64
Participant
October 20, 2026
Question

Invalid Path error when accessing a "Windows 11" Catalogue when I switched to Mac

I had a Windows 11 Laptop which failed. I decided to go Mac when buying a replacement.

I rocovered the Catalogues and the like off the Windows 11 laptop and moved to my Mac and the main root Catalgue works fine.

The problem is I have is that on the windows machine i moved photos to a NAS. These are what I cannit acces now on the Mac. I get an Invalid Path error.

As I understand it the problem arises with the “path” being in windows format (UNC) rather than Mac format.

Is there a fix for this as I don not want to try and remap NAS folder so to speak.

    3 replies

    RoosterMan64Author
    Participant
    October 21, 2026

    I have tried that however I still get the “invalid path” error

     

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    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    October 21, 2026

    I have tried that however I still get the “invalid path” error

     

    What is the complete unedited word-for-word error message?

    Are there question mark icons on your folders, or exclamation point icons on your photos (for example, like Figure 2 here)?

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    CORCTON34033231
    Community Expert
    CORCTON34033231Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 21, 2026

    Hi RoosterMan64,

     

    The catalog still points to the Windows path for those NAS photos, so a one-time relink is needed — but only at the top level, not photo by photo:

     

    1. In Finder, mount the same NAS share first, so macOS can see it.

    2. In the Library module, in the Folders panel, Control-click the missing top-level NAS folder and choose Find Missing Folder. If the folder is listed but still points to the old path, choose Update Folder Location instead.

    3. Navigate to that same folder on the mounted NAS share and click Choose.

     

    As long as the folder structure inside it has not changed, the subfolders and photos below that top folder should reconnect with it.

     

    Official steps: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/desktop/manage-catalogs-and-files/locate-missing-photos.html

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