Classic downloading duplicate raw files when syncing from Lightroom

[Johannes35232422y4ej]

I started organizing my images with Lightroom CC a while ago. I saved all raw files on my MacBook and imported them to Lightroom CC. Then I wanted to start using Lightroom Classic, so I synced all images from Lightroom CC and downloaded the sync to Lightroom Classic. Unfortunately, Lightroom Classic saved a copy of each raw file on my machine. Now, I have every raw file twice - once in the original folder that I saved it in and the other copy in the folder that Lightroom Classic saved it in. How can I fix this?

The files are saved in the folder specified in the path that the screenshot shows.

[Sameer K]

Hey, @Johannes35232422y4ej. Welcome to the Lightroom Community. This is a tricky situation. I'll clarify & try to help you figure this out.

Images imported from Lightroom mobile (iOS/Android) & Desktop sync as full-size raw files to the cloud at Lightroom Web (https://adobe.ly/3RYYXR6).

You are using Lightroom Classic on the same device, which downloads the full-size raw image to the system as, by design, Lightroom Classic needs access to the full-size image at all times. Our recommendations are listed here: https://adobe.ly/3Qm2U1V

Which app would you prefer to use over the other? If your goal is to back up the original images on the cloud, Lightroom will handle that. You can remove Lightroom Classic, its catalog & related files. 

However, if you prefer Lightroom Classic, you can skip syncing and manage a local image library.

I hope this helps. Thanks! 

Sameer K

[JohanElzenga]

Lightroom Classic needs local images, and so it downloaded all the cloud images on sync. Lightroom does not need local images, however. The images you saved on your laptop and then imported in Lightroom are not used by Lightroom anymore (it uses the copies it synced to the cloud), so you could delete those in order not to have all images twice on your laptop. 

[Johannes35232422y4ej]

Thank you, Johan! That makes sense and matches my experience. Will proceed accordingly!