Copy link to clipboard
Copied
In preparation to purchase a new iMac and also, in a greater effort to keep things on an external HDD, I'd like to move my Lightroom files to an external HDD from my internal HDD. How do I do that? What files/folders do I need to move and do I do that from within Lightroom or in the finder? Are there any files/data that should stay on my internal HDD instead of getting moved to an external HDD?
You COPY (not MOVE) the photos to the external HD, keeping the folder hierarchy 100% the same. Then you would connect LR to the photos on the external HD. Once you have everything working, you can delete the photos on the original HD. Full instructions with screen captures in this article, scroll down to the section entitled "Part 2 – Updating Folder Location". Adobe Lightroom - Find moved or missing files and folders
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
You COPY (not MOVE) the photos to the external HD, keeping the folder hierarchy 100% the same. Then you would connect LR to the photos on the external HD. Once you have everything working, you can delete the photos on the original HD. Full instructions with screen captures in this article, scroll down to the section entitled "Part 2 – Updating Folder Location". Adobe Lightroom - Find moved or missing files and folders
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thanks!
I seem to have some other stuff in my Pictures folder including
* Backups
* Previews.lrdata
* lrcat
* Temporary Import Data
What do I do with all of that?
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Leave them untouched. Do not move them.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thanks.
So in that case, I'm just moving the actual photo files to an external HDD, but the library and everything else, I'm keeping in place in the internal HDD, right?
Also, do I ever get rid of the backups, or do I just leave them as is?
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Yes, that's right, photos on external HD, catalog file and related files on internal HD.
You can get rid of backups (except the most recent one) as you feel comfortable ... you could just keep the most recent backup, but I keep about 10 recent backups. It's up to you.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thanks!
If I get rid of backups, do I just go into the finder and delete them, or is it something that needs to be done through Lightroom?
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
That's all there is to it, delete the ones you don't want.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
This is helpful. I'm moving to a MacBookPro where I will be using an external drive for the photos.
Just wanted to confirm:
A few quick questions:
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
See this link to make sure you are not skipping any files.
https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-move-lightroom-to-new-computer/