Copying Lightroom from one HD to another HD.

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
October 14, 2021
3 replies
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how to copy lightroom from one external HD to another externaL HD using the same catalogue.

macOS

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Jonathan BethAuthor

Known Participant

Ok here are the steps for COPYING not MOVING your Lightroom files and main catalog from one HD to a new HD.

1. backup the main catalog. (assuming you have only one catalog)

2. Copy the entire folders and files from HD1 to HD2. (use bridge or the OS explorer or finder)

3. Disconnect or eject the old HD1.

4. In Lightroom right click the old drive top header for a missing Location (will have a question mark), then point to the new HD top header and click enter, all files will be connected to the main catalog with all the edits and ratings.

5. copy the main catalog to the new HD, then change the catalog location in Lightroom catalog settings.

6. The catalog backup should be on a third external HD, make sure you update the location of the Backup in the Lightroom settings.

dj_paige

Legend

Ok here are the steps for COPYING not MOVING your Lightroom files and main catalog from one HD to a new HD.
1. backup the main catalog. (assuming you have only one catalog)
2. Copy the entire folders and files from HD1 to HD2. (use bridge or the OS explorer or finder)
3. Disconnect or eject the old HD1.
4. In Lightroom right click the old drive top header for a missing Location (will have a question mark), then point to the new HD top header and click enter, all files will be connected to the main catalog with all the edits and ratings.
5. copy the main catalog to the new HD, then change the catalog location in Lightroom catalog settings.
6. The catalog backup should be on a third external HD, make sure you update the location of the Backup in the Lightroom settings.

By @Jonathan Beth

If you are really talking about making backups (as opposed to copying to a different HD) ... most of the above is not needed. Use a third party program to make backups at some automated and regular interval.

If you feel you need to copy the photos to a different (new?) hard disk, then copy them and name the new disk the same as the old disk. That's all.

Jonathan BethAuthor

Known Participant

I already have an online back thank you, I simply wanted to copy, not move, the files to a new HD. I just wrote the steps to do it.

dj_paige

Legend

Lightroom or Lightroom Classic?

Do you want to move the software, or the catalog, or the photos?

Jonathan BethAuthor

Known Participant

I AM COPYING NOT MOVING, so the old hd is like a backup. thanks

dj_paige

Legend

So you are talking about making backups of the catalog file and the photos? Please confirm this is what you are talking about because you started this thread by talking about making a copy of Lightroom.

You can simply make copies of the catalog file and photos on a different HD using your operating system. But honestly, copying files manually is a poor solution. Backups ideally must be automated and performed at a regular interval (daily or weekly). Anything that relies on a human to do it increases the likelihood that your backup will be considerably out of date when you need it.