Catalog backup for cloud

Report · Oct 27, 2025

I'm trying to sort out a backup solution for my content.

Previously (many years ago) I used LR Classic and had a reasonably backup solution - local NAS with LRCAT+RAW images, also sunk to a cloud storage provider.

I since migrated to LR cloud (really wanted multi-device access, and at the time it felt like Adobe was pushing towards Cloud as the superset of features).

Now I sit with ~100K images (just under 2Tb) in my LR cloud collection.

The problem - there is no backup solution. What I've been doing is having a PC setup with LR desktop that syncs full res images and then I backup the cache directory to NAS, which gets me the 3 backups w/ 1 offsite that is recommended (LR cloud being the offsite copy). The problem is that this doesn't capture edits or my actual catalog (taging, collections, etc.)... so in the event of catastrophic failure I'd have all my raw images, but have to start from scratch on editing.

I am trying to use LR classic and sync to the cloud collection, but it is hung after syncing 319 files (out of 100K). The sync dialog in settings show a bunch of files pending asset download, but it doesn't make progress.

I either want a fix for LR classic sync (at which point I can backup the LR classic LRCAT file) or a way to bulk export XMP or LRCAT for my LR cloud.

Any thoughts?

Report · Oct 28, 2025

Hey, @codemonkeychris. Welcome to the Lightroom Community. I'll help you figure this out.

When you enable Syncing in Lightroom Classic, the original full-size images are downloaded to your computer at the default catalog location or a user-specified location. Ensure that you have sufficient storage available for Lightroom Classic to download the originals.

Generally, you can log in to Lightroom Web (https://adobe.ly/3uv2zCA) and make small changes to your images on Lightroom Web to verify if Sync is working one way (Web > to classic), and while you're on Lightroom Web, look for the Sync Issues category near the Deleted section on the left part of the screen. If there are any Sync issues, check the file name & the original upload source, apply minor edits or tags to these images, and wait a while to check if the edits sync to the cloud. You can even leave Lightroom Classic running for a few hours to resolve any errors.

Let me know how it goes. Thanks!

Sameer K

(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)