Participant

Question

Deleting old catalog files in the Lightroom folder

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
September 16, 2023
2 replies
930 views

Hello,
I looked at the Lightroom folder for the first time (due to missing XMP files) and saw that it contains older versions of the system files (v10, v10-v11, also a catalog without version information from 2015) in addition to the current version -v12. The attached screenshot shows all the items in the Lightroom folder. Can I just delete all older versions in the folder?
Remark:
A similar discussion from 2020 was about the backups of the catalogs, if I understood it correctly. However, this is about the original catalogs in the Lightroom folder.

I have a second question:
As the screenshot shows, the file Lightroom Library.lrlibrary is outside the Lightroom folder. Is this correct?

I tried to find hints to both questions in the Lr support, unfortunately without success. So I appreciate any comments or suggestions.

My application:
Mac Studio with Apple M1Max and mac OS 13.5.2. Lr Classic program in version 12.5.

macOS

This topic has been closed for replies.

JohanElzenga

Community Expert

"As the screenshot shows, the file Lightroom Library.lrlibrary is outside the Lightroom folder. Is this correct?"

Yes, that is correct. This file has nothing to do with Lightroom Classic, it is the library of Lightroom desktop.

-- Johan W. Elzenga

B

Bernward323214187fe8Author

Participant

Thank you for the clear assignment. Does the library then belong to earlier programs like Lightroom 3 or Lightroom 4/5/ 6 ?

Since I no longer use these versions, I could also delete this library. Do you see it the same way?

Sean McCormack

Community Expert

No, it's the one for the Lightroom Desktop program from the Lightroom ecosystem. If you use this program as well, don't delete it.

Sean McCormack. Author of 'Essential Development 3'. Magazine Writer. Former Official Fuji X-Photographer.

dj_paige

Legend

Can I just delete all older versions in the folder?

If there is nothing in these catalogs that you need, then delete them. How can you determine if you still need these? Most likely the catalogs with the version number are simple upgrades, and you don't need them. But even so, you would be wise to actually look in these catalogs and confirm that you don't need these catalogs, because honestly, I can't tell you what is in your catalogs. The catalog from 2015 without the version number requires you to look at the contents with your own eyes and see if there's anything in there that you need.

B

Bernward323214187fe8Author

Participant

Thank you for your comment and recommendation. Since I don't remember changing anything fundamentally in the last 12 years of using Lightroom, I will delete the files. As a precaution, I'll spread the deletion of the 3 versions over three days.
Thank you very much for your time!

dj_paige

Legend

@Bernward323214187fe8 wrote:
Thank you for your comment and recommendation. Since I don't remember changing anything fundamentally in the last 12 years of using Lightroom, I will delete the files. As a precaution, I'll spread the deletion of the 3 versions over three days.
Thank you very much for your time!

Maybe your memory is a lot better than mine, but with regards to Lightroom (and computer files in general), sometimes I find stuff that I have no memory I ever created, but I'm glad I haven't deleted them. Why don't you just move these catalog files to a different disk which has plenty of space, instead of actually deleting them. Keep them for a while (months or a whole year) just to be sure.

In any event, deleting the 2015 catalog without looking in it first seems to be a decision I would not advise.

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