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jclin10
jclin10
Known Participant
November 29, 2017
Answered

I'd like to rename my Lightroom catalog - how do I do that?

  • November 29, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 4071 views

Hi everyone

I'd like to rename my Lightroom catalog. How do I do that? What are the different files/folders that I'd need to rename?

Thanks,

John

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer john beardsworth

    In LR, go into Catalog Settings and click Show - this opens Explorer or Finder. Or just open Explorer or Finder if you know exactly where the catalogue is.

    Close LR. Now change Lightroom Catalog.lrcat to My New Name.lrcat, and do the same with Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata which will become My New Name Previews.lrdata and the corresponding smart previews folder. Then double click the catalogue file and you're done.

    2 replies

    philipn95815980
    philipn95815980
    Inspiring
    November 12, 2018

    Hope no-one minds me re-opening this old-ish post, but for LR Classic, does the same renaming advice also now apply to the  "Lightroom Catalog Helper.lrdata" and "Lightroom Catalog Smart Previews.lrdata" files ?

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 13, 2018

    "Lightroom Catalog Smart Previews.lrdata" files ?

    Yes, Rename as in Correct answer.

    "Lightroom Catalog Helper.lrdata"?

    Can be deleted, it will be automatically re-created with new name of the catalog.

    The three files that must be renamed the 'same'-

    1. Change {Lightroom Catalog.lrcat} to {My New Name.lrcat},

    2. Change {Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata} folder to {My New Name Previews.lrdata}

    3. Change {Lightroom Catalog Smart Previews.lrdata} folder to {My New Name Smart Previews.lrdata}

    Then double click {My New Name.lrcat} to re-open the Catalog.

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
    M
    Melissa29371373dz3v
    Participant
    April 12, 2023

    Thank you for clarifying that for me.


    I hate to reopen this question but I have Lightroom and I accidentally named my main catalog a clients session and I have no idea how to change it. Can someone please help me?

    john beardsworth
    Community Expert
    john beardsworthCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    November 29, 2017

    In LR, go into Catalog Settings and click Show - this opens Explorer or Finder. Or just open Explorer or Finder if you know exactly where the catalogue is.

    Close LR. Now change Lightroom Catalog.lrcat to My New Name.lrcat, and do the same with Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata which will become My New Name Previews.lrdata and the corresponding smart previews folder. Then double click the catalogue file and you're done.

    jclin10
    jclin10Author
    Known Participant
    November 29, 2017

    Thanks!

    My catalog is in a folder (within the Pictures folder) with the same name. Can I change the name of the folder also? Would I simply do that in the Finder?

    john beardsworth
    Community Expert
    john beardsworthCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 29, 2017

    Yes. Again, with LR closed, and then double click the catalogue file to reopen LR.

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