Moving large folder to another drive: error and missing images

Report · Nov 20, 2023

I just tried moving a folder (within LR Classic, not in Finder) from my internal drive to an external drive. It's a large folder, with more than 2,000 images. After a while I got an error message, something like "LR could not complete folder move." The folder still exists in folders panel for internal drive, with 0 images. The folder also exists in the external drive (within LR folders panel), with most, but not all of the images.

I do have backups, so can find the missing images. But this makes me realize, I should always keep track of the number of images in folders before moving, to make sure they're all getting moved.

Any advice on avoiding this in the future? Is 2k plus images too big to move inside LR?

LR Classic 13.0.1

MacOS 14.1.1 MBP

Report · Nov 20, 2023

Yes, do not move large numbers of files from one drive to another drive within the Lightroom Classic interface. Do the move in your operating system and reconnect. Use these instructions (see Part 2 — Updating Folder Location), which avoids these problems.