Lightroom classic downloads duplicate RAW files uploaded from Lightroom CC

[Praefec7uS]

I was trying to make a cloud backup of my RAW files using Lightroom CC and syncing the albums to Lightroom Classic. My problem is when I start the sync on Lightroom Classic after I have uploaded the RAW files, it downloads everything again, making duplicate RAW files on my disk (it does not even organize the duplicates by collection).

Any idea on how to mitigate this?

[Jao vdL · Accepted solution]

The trick to getting this to work is to FIRST sync the raw files from Classic to the cloud. Classic will upload all the files as smart previews. Then you open Lightroom :sun_behind_cloud:️ Desktop and import all the raw images from the exact spot they are referenced from in Classic (do not copy them or move them). The cloud system will then realize that they belog to the already uploaded smart previews and combine them. It is too late for that now as you already have all these duplicates but you can probably do this by deleting everything from the cloud and starting over with this sequence.

[Praefec7uS]

Thanks! Tried it on a hundred photos and it work like a charm!