Skip to main content
N
nanciej
Inspiring
May 30, 2026
Answered

Splitting image folder onto two external SSDs?

  • May 30, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 43 views

I have a 5TB image folder on one external HHD. (Catalogues are on my internal SSD) The drive is showing signs of possible failure so I have split the images onto two external SSD for safety. (Also backed up twice) I used the same naming structure for the nested folder. Combined they have all the folder/images of the orginal drive. Is there a way to point the catalogue to these two different drives?

Drive A (failing) Images_africa_32 nested folders

Drive B  Images_africa_12 of the 32 folders

Drive C Images_africa_20 of the folders

In the Lightroom panel, if I choose the 12 folders on drive A that match Drive B and do Update location. And then chose the 20 and update location to drive C, will this work? Can it point to the two drives? I tested one folder and it seems to work, but before I do everything, I just wanted to see if I was handling this correctly?

Any assistance would be very welcome.

 

Thanks

Nancie

 

 

 

    Correct answer Conrad_C

    It should work. Lightroom Classic isn’t limited to one volume. It has no problem remembering the full volume-to-folder path on any number of volumes, or at least I don’t know of a limit. For many years my catalog has referenced images on several internal and external volumes, including my partitioned internal SSD, several external drives, and some networked drives.

     

    After you update the locations to drives B and C, what you will find is the Folders panel will have multiple top-level volume headings, one for each volume that contains cataloged photos (in your case B and C), and each of those can be expanded to show the folder hierarchies under them. If you want to see all photos across all volumes in a single view, select All Photographs in the Catalog panel.

     

    If any of the cataloged drives are not mounted, the catalog will remember the files it cataloged on them, but you won’t be able to edit those images until their volume is mounted (unless Smart Previews were generated). You might be able to do some limited edits such as metadata.

    4 replies

    N
    nanciejAuthor
    Inspiring
    May 31, 2026

    Thanks for the confirmations. I went ahead and started relocating some of the folders and verified everything is working, so I will complete the rest today. As I had also hoped, the performance of the external ssd’s has improved the response time in my library from the hhd ones using. 

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    May 31, 2026

    It is good that you have everything backed up twice. But if the drive seems like it might be failing, get rid of it, don’t leave some of your photos on this questionable drive.

    KR Seals
    Community Expert
    KR SealsCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 30, 2026

    Yes, that will work ok. Lightroom Classic can address as many drives as you have connected to your computer.

    The quickest way to relink the images on the new drives is to put all the image folders on each drive into a master photo folder, named in a way that you know what is in that master folder. I normally would recommend that you do this on the original drive, but since it may be failing, do it on the new drives.

    Once that is done, in Lightroom Classic, Library, in the Folder List on the left, right click on one of the folders you know to be on the new drive and select “Update Folder Location”. Direct Lightroom Classic to the new external SSD drive master photos folder. Lightroom Classic may pick up all the folders at this point, but I doubt it. You will have to go through the “Update Folder Location” for each folder. 

    Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.
    Conrad_C
    Community Expert
    Conrad_CCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    May 30, 2026

    It should work. Lightroom Classic isn’t limited to one volume. It has no problem remembering the full volume-to-folder path on any number of volumes, or at least I don’t know of a limit. For many years my catalog has referenced images on several internal and external volumes, including my partitioned internal SSD, several external drives, and some networked drives.

     

    After you update the locations to drives B and C, what you will find is the Folders panel will have multiple top-level volume headings, one for each volume that contains cataloged photos (in your case B and C), and each of those can be expanded to show the folder hierarchies under them. If you want to see all photos across all volumes in a single view, select All Photographs in the Catalog panel.

     

    If any of the cataloged drives are not mounted, the catalog will remember the files it cataloged on them, but you won’t be able to edit those images until their volume is mounted (unless Smart Previews were generated). You might be able to do some limited edits such as metadata.

      Firefly Community Gallery
      Adobe Firefly

      Remix with Firefly Community Gallery

      Thousands of free creations to fall in love with and remix in Firefly.

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