Lightroom classic

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
April 4, 2020
2 replies
162 views

Hi. Im importing an image folder into Lighroom classic, from an external hard drive, but when i exit lightroom i find that lightroom has placed the folder on my desktop. Obviously taking up valuable space on my computers main hard drive. But if i move the folders back onto the external drive and try to access the images again later on LR message saying image cant be found.

Problem or error

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Just Shoot Me

Legend

This happens because YOU have not reviewed all the options available and you have selected Copy or Move instead of Add at the top of the LR Import dialog window.

Rob_Cullen

Community Expert

Importing from a folder (where you want the files to remain) you must use the 'ADD' option at the top of the main import window. 'ADD' will import the photos to the catalog and not change their location on the drive.

Using the 'COPY' or 'MOVE' options will place the imported photos in a 'new' location as defined in the Destination panel (in your situation -defined as the desktop!).

Now if you move the folders or photos using Finder/File Explorer, then the Lightroom catalog (database) has no knowledge of their location, showing them as 'missing'. You need to re-link the photos to the Catalog. (like correcting a friend's address in your phone contact list)

MISSING FILES & FOLDERS (Lightroom Queen)

MISSING FILES & FOLDERS (Adobe link)

I suggest you research some tutorials on the basics of Lightroom-Classic folder and file management.

Organize and Manage Your Photos and Folders (Laura Shoe)

And obtain and read the free eBook on Lightroom-Classic here-

LIGHTROOM QUEEN HOME SCREEN -eBOOKS

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.3, Photoshop 27.5, ACR 18.3, Lightroom 9.3, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .