Sync the catalog via cloud between MacOS and Windows

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
November 28, 2022
1 reply
372 views

Hi,

so I DON'T want to sync my photos, only the catalog itself.

Is it possible to sync just the catalog using the build in Lightroom Sync feature?

The actual RAWs are on an external drive.

What I imagine it to work like is:

Working on my Windows Desktop. External Drive plugged in.

Switching to my Macbook, taking my drive with me. And just continue where I left off.

Is that possible without syncing all kinds of RAWS over the cloud?

Thank you!

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer JohanElzenga

No, Lightroom's sync feature syncs photos, not catalogs. Because you intend to use an external drive, you can place the catalog on that drive as well however. That works with one caveat: because MacOS uses a disk name and Windows uses a drive letter, you will see 'missing' images and folders when you switch from one computer to the other. That is easy to fix however. Make sure all your images are in a folder hierarchy with one top folder, then you can simply 'relink' that top folder by right-clicking on it and choosing 'Find Missing Folder'.

JohanElzenga

Correct answer

Community Expert

No, Lightroom's sync feature syncs photos, not catalogs. Because you intend to use an external drive, you can place the catalog on that drive as well however. That works with one caveat: because MacOS uses a disk name and Windows uses a drive letter, you will see 'missing' images and folders when you switch from one computer to the other. That is easy to fix however. Make sure all your images are in a folder hierarchy with one top folder, then you can simply 'relink' that top folder by right-clicking on it and choosing 'Find Missing Folder'.

-- Johan W. Elzenga

D

David27340688a7fvAuthor

Participant

Update 1 year later: This is what I ended up doing. It works for me.

Kinda awkward to do the Catalog backups, cause I now have them in two different locations, but this could also be seen as an advantage. Could also be resolved by using a NAS or shared folder in local network.

DdeGannes

Community Expert

As far as I know it's not recommended to have your Catalog file on your NAS.

The Folder containing your Catalog file and support data files should. be on a fast internal or external drive. It's ok to have your image files on the NAS.

Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5,; Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; (also Laptop Win 11, ver 24H2, LrC 15.0.1, PS 27.0; ) Camera Oly OM-D E-M1.

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