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Smolnar18
Smolnar18
Participating Frequently
December 14, 2025
Question

How to Duplicate Lightroom Cloud Folders to Local Hard Drive

  • December 14, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 119 views

Hi, Folks,

I have my most cherished images beautifully organized into folders I created in Lightroom Cloud, so that I have access to them from my phone wherever I am.  It works perfectly.  People are always amazed when they say something like, "...what did the house look like that you lived in in 2002..." and I can produce photos of it on my phone in about 2 minutes.

 

Not to be morose, I am almost 80 and want to make sure my heirs will have easy access to this folder structure and the images with all their edits.  I don't want them to have to go through some process to figure out anything in Lightroom CC, etc.  I just want the folders and full-size (not preview) images available on an external HD that's connected to my Windows 11 PC. 

 

I would also like any new folders or images I add to Lightroom CC Cloud later to sync to this external HD.  

 

I googled all this, but the answers were confusing.  Some said to use Archive (which I was told removes the folders from the cloud).  I don't want that.  Some say to move it all into Lightroom Classic, then export it all.  That sounds like an arduous process that probably wouldn't sync anything new added to the cloud folders afterward.  

 

I'm on the latest versions of LRCC, LRClassic, and use Windows 11 Home with latest security updates (but not on 25H2 yet).

 

Suggestions?  Thanks!!

 

2 replies

JohanElzenga
Community Expert
JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
December 16, 2025

Syncing with Lightroom Classic does sync anything you add to the cloud later. It is not a one-time only process, but a continuous process. You'd only have to start Lightroom Classic every once in a while to give it a change to update the synced catalog. It does mean that your heirs will have to use Lightroom Classic to access your images, however. If you want your images to be available for anyone, then you would have to export them as JPEGs (or leave instructions for them how to do that).

 

-- Johan W. Elzenga
Noel Orridge
Community Manager
Noel OrridgeCommunity Manager
Community Manager
December 26, 2025

Hi @Smolnar18! Thank you for reaching out! It is wonderful that you’ve documented your life so meticulously. Here's a workflow that could help you achieve your desired results:

 

1) This ensures every photo you take is saved to your hard drive automatically, but it organizes them by date, not by your custom folder names.

- Open Lightroom on your PC.

- Go to Edit > Preferences > Local Storage.

- Check "Store a copy of all originals at the specified location."

- Browse to your External HD.

 

2) Since the cloud doesn't "mirror" your folder names to Windows, do this every once in a while to create a library your heirs can easily browse.

- Right-click an Album or Folder in Lightroom.

- Select Export.

- File Type: JPG (Large).

- Location: A folder on your External HD (e.g., "Family Photo Archive").

- This creates a standard Windows folder that anyone can open without needing Adobe software.

 

Hope this Helps! 

Noel
selondon
Community Expert
selondonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
December 16, 2025

@Smolnar18 

I don't think it's possible. 
As you say, Archive will remove photos from the Cloud and Store a Copy of all Originals is a mirror

of the Cloud which presumably would disappear locally if your account got shutdown (maybe Adobe staff can confirm).

Classic may be the best option as everything in the Cloud would sync down locally.

Hopefully, one of the many Classic users on here can suggest the best workflow.

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