Skip to main content
B
Brent Guiliano
Known Participant
March 10, 2022
Question

Proper way to move Lightroom library

  • March 10, 2022
  • 1 reply
  • 909 views

Hi all, 

Very soon I will be getting a new computer.

I currently have my Lightroom library on an external HDD

That is currenlty connected to my macbook pro via usb.

Previously, the Lightroom library ext HDD was connected to my iMac.

When moved from the iMac to the MBP - i lost all the ratings and color labels.

When i move to this new machine, i want to be able to keep the ratings and colors.

I don't want to physically copy the image files to the new machine - i want to keep using the ext HDD.

 

Thanks

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

Sean McCormack
Community Expert
Sean McCormackCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 10, 2022

If the catalog is on the hard drive with the images, and pointing at the images, there's no reason anything should get lost. If you've custom labels, this is stored as part of preferences, which are machine specific. If you use Migration assistant, this should bring these over though. 

Sean McCormack. Author of 'Essential Development 3'. Magazine Writer. Former Official Fuji X-Photographer.
B
Brent GuilianoAuthor
Known Participant
March 10, 2022

Currently the ext HDD only has the images 

The catalog is on the MBP - should/can i move that to the ext HDD?

Also, do you mean the migration assistant within macOS? 

I wasn't planning on using that - was going to try to start this new machine from scratch 

B
Brent GuilianoAuthor
Known Participant
March 11, 2022

You can literally copy the entire Lightroom Catalog folder over to the hard drive (with Lightroom Classic closed). Double click on the catalog on the drive, once copied, to open it. It should see the images immediately as they're still in the expected location. 

 

The catalog folder will contain files like Lightroom.lrcat, Lightroom Previews.lrdata, Lightroom.lrcat-data. Make sure it's all copied. The previews files can get pretty big. 


Thanks. Do I need to delete the catalog file on the mbp once I copy it over? Or is ok to have two copies of the file ( on on mbp, one on the ext HDD)

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices