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media kat
Known Participant
May 15, 2023
Answered

Locating photos that have not yet been imported?

  • May 15, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 591 views

I have tons of folder on a drive that have been imported into Lightroom, and tons of folders on the same drive that I never imported into Lightroom. My goal is to locate all of the folders of photos that have not been imported yet and to do so.

 

1. Is there someway I can determine which of my folders and subfolders on my drive have not been imported?

 

Thanks

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer dj_paige

I am a bit afraid of crashing my computer and Lightroom and causing some type of issue or corruprtion of the Catalog as a result of trying to import and process all of that.

 

You do have backups of everything, don't you?

 

Catalogs are designed for large databases, there isn't an issue with adding lots of photos into the LrC Catalog.

 

I could go through and drag individual folders, though that will take a LONG time having to go through all of them, and this is what I was also trying to avoid.

 

Yes, if you have a lot of photos not yet imported, it WILL take a long time. It SHOULD take a long time. You don't have to do it folder by folder, although that's where I would start. There is no other way to identify the photos not already imported into the Catalog.

1 reply

dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
May 15, 2023

Are you talking about Lightroom (Lr icon) or Lightroom Classic (LrC icon)? What version NUMBER?

 

If you are using Lightroom Classic, and then try to import the photos from a specific folder, only the photos not already imported will be imported (this assumes you have set the proper option in the Import dialog box — under File Handling, the box that says "Don't Import Suspected Duplicates" should be checked).

    M
    media katAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 15, 2023

    I am using Classic 11.3.1 on a Mac. I thought about doing what you suggested, though there are thousands and thousands of photos and videos across tons of folders and subfolders. I am a bit afraid of crashing my computer and Lightroom and causing some type of issue or corruprtion of the Catalog as a result of trying to import and process all of that. I could go through and drag individual folders, though that will take a LONG time having to go through all of them, and this is what I was also trying to avoid.

    Thanks

    dj_paige
    dj_paigeCorrect answer
    Legend
    May 15, 2023

    I am a bit afraid of crashing my computer and Lightroom and causing some type of issue or corruprtion of the Catalog as a result of trying to import and process all of that.

     

    You do have backups of everything, don't you?

     

    Catalogs are designed for large databases, there isn't an issue with adding lots of photos into the LrC Catalog.

     

    I could go through and drag individual folders, though that will take a LONG time having to go through all of them, and this is what I was also trying to avoid.

     

    Yes, if you have a lot of photos not yet imported, it WILL take a long time. It SHOULD take a long time. You don't have to do it folder by folder, although that's where I would start. There is no other way to identify the photos not already imported into the Catalog.

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