How long are you keeping your old LR backup files?

[JMR Photography]

Hello

Trying to free up some space on my computer and noticed I have numerous LR back up folders going back to 2013. I don't feel I need to keep all these old folders do most of you just keep the more current back up folders say for the past couple years?

Thank you

[TheDigitalDog]

I don't use the LR backup schema at all, it only backs up the catalog and a good backup should do far more than that. You want to backup everything you can never afford to lose. Images, catalog, presets etc.

But to answer your question, you don't need old catalog backups. You want one at least, maybe two IF you continue down this road using LR to only backup a catalog. Save space, trash the older ones.

[JMR Photography]

Thank you.  Yes, I do also have Back Blaze and everything cloned on an external - appreciate your input on dumping some of the older ones. 

[dj_paige]

LR backup folders containing WHAT? What is in those backup folders? Inquiring minds want to know (and can't answer your question unless you tell us that information)

Essentially, with regards to any backups of anything (not just Lightroom Classic) ... you keep as many as you feel comfortable with, after all, the risk is yours.

[JohanElzenga]

I use a utility called 'Hazel', that can perform all kinds of automatic actions on folders. What it does in my case is keep the number of catalog backups down to a certain number, by automatically deleting the oldest copy if that number has been reached and a new backup is added. I do make catalog backups (but also general backups of my entire disk) because Lightroom does not only make a catalog backup, but also verifies the integrity and optimizes the catalog.

[TheDigitalDog]

Hazel is awesome, +1.

I use it to convert screen captures; assign disaply profile, convert to sRGB and save as JPEG from TIFF.

And indeed, useful to keep a set of backups, or any file up to a point (date, number of) then automatically delete or move or zip etc. Worth every penny.