How to clean up Lightroom messes all over my computer

[sarahpeller]

I'm trying to free up space on my computer and I've discovered that there are a plethora of Lightroom files on my mac and I have no idea if they are needed or not. I'm still using Lightroom Classic on my computer and have a current library going, but I've had many previous libraries. In my files list, I see:

• Lightroom Library.lrlibrary
• Lightroom Catalog Smar Previews.lrdata
• Lightroom Catalog-2-2-v10-v11 Previews.lrdata
• Lightroom Catalog-2-2-v10-v11 Smart Previews.lrdata
• Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata

All of these are taking up huge amounts of space. It seems that some of these could be trashed, but how do I know which to trash? Happy to provide more details once I know what is needed!

Thanks for your help!

[Rob_Cullen]

Difficult to determine because you do not show a complete list of files that concern you.

A Lightroom-Classic Catalog ( .LRCAT) requires several support files to operate, and these support filenames will have a reference to the primary catalog file.  (Like "-v13"  as in my screen-clip of my v13 catalog:)

In your screenclip I see {Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata} that is obsolete as {Lightroom Catalog-2-2-v10-v11 Previews.lrdata} would appear to be a more recent version for LrC v11.

Catalog upgrades (in the past) would add a "-2" to the end of a catalog name. Versions 10 and 11 would add -v10 -v11. LrC v13 now just uses the Catalog name text and adds a "-v13" (as in my screen-clip)

Do not delete any files until you understand completely which files you need.

xxx.LRCAT files are the CATALOG and essential.!

xxx.LRCAT-DATA files contain masking information for your images.

xxx Previews.LRDATA files are the image thumbnails and previews you see in the UI.

xxx Smart Previews.LRDATA files are 'Smart Previews' you might have created to eidt when master image files are offline.

[GoldingD]

see:

https://lightroomkillertips.com/clean-up-the-clutter/