Skip to main content
M
Mark Eburne
Participant
January 18, 2017
Answered

Moving Photos

  • January 18, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 619 views

I want to move all my photos to a external hard drive because I have used up all my space on they desktop.

What is the best and proper way to do this. I have read that everything needs to be done in Lightroom but when I use Lightroom it only shows it done but it doesn't really do it. I tried with Update folder location.

Hope some can understand what I am trying to do.

Thank you in advance

Mark Eburne

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Rob_Cullen

    Read the forum posts at:

    Re: How do I move my pictures to external hard drive?

    For moving ALL photos, it is recommended you do that using COPY in the Operating System (Lightroom shut-down).

    And use the OS to compare the copy to insure all files have copied correctly.

    Open Lightroom, then with the new drive connected- use the "Update Folder Location" to point the top-most photo folder to the new location. This will re-link all photos in their new location. Later the 'old' photo versions can be deleted from the internal drive. (and you do have other backups -naturally!)

    "Space on the desktop."

    Windows computers have a limit to the number of files that can exist on the desktop (including any folders) so it is a poor idea to use the Desktop for storage. Better to use a folder like "Documents", etc, or the external drive as you are intending.

    2 replies

    ManiacJoe
    ManiacJoe
    Inspiring
    January 18, 2017

    When moving a large number of files, like a folder tree, it is best to do this outside of Lightroom using OS tools Finder or Explorer.

    Copy the files to the new location.

    After you have verified that the images are successfully there, you can delete the files from the old drive.

    Then, in Lightroom, Library module, Folder panel, use the "find missing folder" or "relocate folder" commands from the right-click menu.

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    January 18, 2017

    I prefer the method explained by wobertc​ to the method explained by ManiacJoe​

    Wobertc:

    1. Copy
    2. Update Folder Location
    3. Delete originals once you are 100% sure everything is working properly

    ManiacJoe

    1. Copy
    2. Delete originals
    3. Find Missing Folder

    I think it's safer to delete the originals photos at the end of the process once you are sure you have done everything properly, rather than in the middle of the process. There's no extra work involved to obtain the slight extra safety of the first method.

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    January 18, 2017

    Read the forum posts at:

    Re: How do I move my pictures to external hard drive?

    For moving ALL photos, it is recommended you do that using COPY in the Operating System (Lightroom shut-down).

    And use the OS to compare the copy to insure all files have copied correctly.

    Open Lightroom, then with the new drive connected- use the "Update Folder Location" to point the top-most photo folder to the new location. This will re-link all photos in their new location. Later the 'old' photo versions can be deleted from the internal drive. (and you do have other backups -naturally!)

    "Space on the desktop."

    Windows computers have a limit to the number of files that can exist on the desktop (including any folders) so it is a poor idea to use the Desktop for storage. Better to use a folder like "Documents", etc, or the external drive as you are intending.

    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 .
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices