Why are simple file operations so slow in LR?

Moving files inside lightroom is definitely slower than outside also on a Mac but not as extreme as a factor of 10 as experienced here at most a factor of 2 slower. I generally copy outside of Lightroom and then reconnect to the new location before deleting the files in their original location as already suggested as a better way of doing it. The few times I do it inside Lightroom I have not experienced any issues apart from it being a bit slower. I think that is mostly because it is just constantly busy with shuffling icons on the screen and rewriting the catalog entries and reindexing the numbers every time a file is moved instead of just copying over in one more efficient process and doing it all in one fell swoop.

There are numerous reasons for NOT moving a large number of image files from inside LrC beside the time it takes. Please see my suggestions and comments at the below post on this subject. Following these suggestions you can be confident that all files were moved sucessfuly and properly relinked inside the LrC catalog. As mentioned this is also the fastest possible method for moving a large number of files and folders.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/how-do-i-move-my-pictures-to-external-hard-drive/m-p/5029125#M12054

Lightroom is doing two things not one, when you move files to another drive: telling the operating system to do a series of file operations, and updating its own database to reflect the change.

In order to keep the these two tasks synchronised, and to make sure a safe situation will be left in the event that one or more of the file moves might be unsuccessful, or delayed - or if the user were to cancel midway - or in case LR was closed while background operations were not yet complete - it may be that this is carried out as a sequence of individual moves AND individual database updates - each one needing to be verified and cleaned up after, in turn; leaving something sensible displayed throughout, perhaps including e.g. the image counts progressively reducing for one drive, and increasing for the other.  Also various indexing, and emergent matters such Smart Collection contents must be updated in response to the changed location of each image file.

If OTOH you carry out a multiple-items move using your operating system's file browser then this is well optimised for speed and safety without needing lots of extra to-and-fro. Also then telling LR about the move of (say) a single containing folder, can kick off the needed cascade of database updates relating to a whole batch, to all be done in one go.

AFAICT it might be the interdependent mix of internal LR tasks and external OS tasks which has made the overall operation so slow and laborious.

Some people advocate doing a copy instead, not a move (doing this external to LR), which is often physically faster to carry out than a move, as well as safer. Then re-browse to the new location inside LR. Then confirm the outcome of doing so. Then delete the now redundant stuff from the starting location at leisure, having made a recent backup of that.

This is one of several reasons why you should move the files using your operating system, and then reconnect in Lightroom; and why you should not move the files in Lightroom. Or better yet, develop a workflow that doesn't require moving files from here to there, which would then be even faster.

Hi there,

Sorry that Lightroom is running slower than expected while working on multiple tasks. 

Which version of Lightroom are you using? As Lightroom is running slow, could you please try turning off the GPU option from Lightroom's preferences? Go to Lightroom > Preferences > Performance tab > Uncheck "Use Graphics Processor" > Restart Lightroom and let us know if it helps?

Also please checkout the the steps mentioned here and let us know if it helps: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/kb/optimize-performance-lightroom.html

Thanks, 

Akash