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LibraR
Participating Frequently
January 7, 2024
Answered

Lightroom missed importing folders of images

  • January 7, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 574 views

I had to do a clean install of OSX Monterey on my iMac and before doing so I copied/backed up my images in Lightroom classic to an external HDD.    

 

Now on the fresh system in I have copied the 'Lightroom' folder back over to 'Pictures' folder on my iMac HDD and now Lightroom is missing folders on the pane on the left, but these folders are in the the the back up folder (lightroom) on my hard drive.   It is like Lightroom has missed importing these folders/images into lightroom isteself.  

 

How do I fix this?

 

Do I just import the folders manually or can I use a previous catalog (not sure which one) to fix this?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer GoldingD

    Additional file structure observations

     

    Looking at that screenshot showing all those catalog. Is that all under one folder? Perhaps if you scroll up the folder would be apparent. or are all those folders separate folders in your MAC Hard Drive. Curious

     

    • I note that you have a folder called backups on whatever hard drive that is. Are those your LrC catalog and Photo backups? Bad location, they should be on separate media, be that a different hard drive internal, or external, a NAS, the Cloud, where ever, and preferably multiple. That hard drive breaks, your originals and your backups break.

     

     

    2 replies

    GoldingD
    GoldingDCorrect answer
    Legend
    January 7, 2024

    Additional file structure observations

     

    Looking at that screenshot showing all those catalog. Is that all under one folder? Perhaps if you scroll up the folder would be apparent. or are all those folders separate folders in your MAC Hard Drive. Curious

     

    • I note that you have a folder called backups on whatever hard drive that is. Are those your LrC catalog and Photo backups? Bad location, they should be on separate media, be that a different hard drive internal, or external, a NAS, the Cloud, where ever, and preferably multiple. That hard drive breaks, your originals and your backups break.

     

     

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    January 7, 2024

    I think more detail would be helpful here. You said you copied your images to an external HDD. Did you also copy the catalog file(s)? You don't mention that. If so, what happens when you open the catalog file? You don't even say you opened the catalog file.

     

    Your title mentions importing folders, were you doing an import of some sort? If so please explain.

     

    When you say folders are missing, does that mean there is a question mark icon on the folders? Or does that mean the folders simply don't appear in LrC.

     

    Please note: There is NO IMPORTING photos or folders in this process. This is so important, I am going to say it again. There is NO IMPORTING photos or folders in this process. No matter how badly you think you should import photos or folders, do not import photos or folders.

    L
    LibraRAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    January 7, 2024

    Appoliges.  I backed the whole folder with catolog files (copy and paste) to the external HDD before the frest installation of OSX Monterey.   I have copied that same folder back to my iMac HDD on the fresh system.

     

    The folders are missing in LrC - 'dont appear'.   In one instance,  so inside the Lightroom folder  i have one called Motorsport, and inside this I have sub folders each titled a year, e.g 2006, 2007 2008 etc.  I am missing 2018, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 - which all have subfolders inside of them. 

    (but these 'missing folders are in the Lightroom folder in Pictures on my iMac's HDD)

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    January 7, 2024

    Okay, please comment on these issues as well:

    • what happens when you open the catalog file? You don't even say you opened the catalog file. Is it a blank catalog file? Is it a catalog which contains some (but not all) photos?
    • Your title mentions importing folders, were you doing an import of some sort? If so please explain.

     

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