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PastaRhymes
Inspiring
October 21, 2021
Answered

Is it possible to drag folders or photos into LR to import them?

  • October 21, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 3932 views

As the title suggests, I'm tired of importing photos via the import function in LR, going through a dozen or more folders to get to the photos I want top edit, even though I already have the folder open in Finder/Windows Explorer.

Is there a way to just drag and drop photos/folders into LR?

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Correct answer Conrad_C

Yes, it’s totally possible. Have you tried it out?

 

If you drag images from the Mac or Windows desktop, and drop then onto the Lightroom Classic application window or the application’s icon/shortcut/alias, the Import dialog box should open, already set to the folder containing the images you dragged. I do it all the time. If you don't need to change any of the settings, just click through the Import dialog box and start editing.

 

There is no way to skip the Import step itself, because what Import really means is to catalog the files in the Lightroom Classic database.

2 replies

DdeGannes
Community Expert
DdeGannesCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 22, 2021

Thanks for the info Conrad and John, good to know however I am comfortable with my present workflow.

 

Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5,; Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; (also Laptop Win 11, ver 24H2, LrC 15.3; PS 27.0; ) Camera Oly OM-D E-M1.
Conrad_C
Community Expert
Conrad_CCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
October 21, 2021

Yes, it’s totally possible. Have you tried it out?

 

If you drag images from the Mac or Windows desktop, and drop then onto the Lightroom Classic application window or the application’s icon/shortcut/alias, the Import dialog box should open, already set to the folder containing the images you dragged. I do it all the time. If you don't need to change any of the settings, just click through the Import dialog box and start editing.

 

There is no way to skip the Import step itself, because what Import really means is to catalog the files in the Lightroom Classic database.

    DdeGannes
    Community Expert
    DdeGannesCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 21, 2021

    Quote, “If you drag images from the Mac or Windows desktop, and drop then onto the Lightroom Classic application window or icon, the Import dialog box should open, already set to the folder containing the images you dragged.”

    Is it necessary to have LrC already launched to perform this function?

    Is it simpler to search finder/explorer to locate folders or images to import than to do that from the import dialog in LrC?

    I have used Lightroom since the beta version prior the launch in 2007 and I have never attempted this option.

     

    Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5,; Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; (also Laptop Win 11, ver 24H2, LrC 15.3; PS 27.0; ) Camera Oly OM-D E-M1.
    Conrad_C
    Community Expert
    Conrad_CCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 21, 2021
    @DdeGannes wrote:

    Is it necessary to have LrC already launched to perform this function?

     

    Not on the Mac, at least.

     

    It’s just a variation on a standard technique that can be used with any (properly coded) application: Using drag-and-drop as a gestural alternative to the Open or Import command, and it doesn’t require the application to be running. Drag a text document onto the Microsoft Word application icon (or shortcut), Word opens with that document. Drag a JPEG file onto the Photoshop application icon, Photoshop opens with that document.

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