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leiman
leiman
Participant
June 27, 2023
Question

Lightroom (6.4) - Local Storage (External Drive)

  • June 27, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 248 views

I keep a local copy of my entire Lightroom Library on an External SSD.  I've out grown it, how do I move the current library over to the new SSD?  It seems if I redirect it in Lightroom, it's going to 'sync' each picture from the cloud.  I have almost 1 terrabyte of pictures in the cloud.  I just want to copy the library from one drive to the another and direct Lightroom to start on the new drive where it left off on the old drive?  

 

Is this possible? 

 

This is Lightroom - NOT Lightroom Classic. 

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1 reply

Jim Wilde
Community Expert
Jim WildeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 28, 2023

Can you clarify what you mean by "entire Lightroom Library"? 

 

Are you referring to the "Lightroom Library.lrlibrary" package that is stored by default in the user's Pictures folder? If so, that package is in a fixed location and cannot officially be changed. However, I have seen reports that using a symbolic link has allowed some users to successfully move the library to a different drive.

 

You say that you've "outgrown it", so what does that mean? All locally stored original files are by default stored in that library package, and that can cause a significant increase in space used.....if that's the cause of the problem, that is one location that the user can change to an external drive by using the option on the Lightroom Preferences>Local Storage tab.

leiman
leimanAuthor
Participant
June 28, 2023

In order to have a double back up (Cloud + Local), I used feature in preferenses > Local Storage > keep a copy of all pictures (Something to the effect),  Sorry, I won't be with my computer for a few days.  I have that going to a 1 terabyte drive.  Outgrown that drive meaning that is almost full.  I have a new 4 terabyte drive.  I want to copy to that file over to the new drive.  But I think in doing that I will break the 'link' between Lightroom and that file.  I don't see an option in preferences to move it?  You can direct the 'keep local' option but from experience it then downloads all your pictures again from the cloud.  I want to avoid that as I already have it all, just need to move to the new drive.  

Jim Wilde
Community Expert
Jim WildeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 28, 2023

Setup the new parent folder on the new drive, then launch Lightroom with BOTH the old and new drives connected. Then use the option on that Preferences>Local Storage tab to change the location for the originals to the new drive. Lightroom should then move the originals from the old to the new drive automatically.

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