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defaultgriuso65amgc
Inspiring
December 12, 2022
Answered

How to reduce or remove Lightroom Library.lrlibrary file ?

  • December 12, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 22512 views

Hi,

I was checking my free disk space usage on my MacOS and it was getting smaller.

I found that a file Lightroom Library.lrlibrary is 75GB.

It was last used June 2021 and now I mainly use Lighroom CC.

Are there any problems if I remove this file and how to safely do it on MacOS 11.1 (Big Sur) ?

If this file is used like a catalog could I move it to my external hard drive and how to safely do it?

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer selondon

Additionally in the Prefeences, you can set a separate location for Originals when they are imported or accessed from the Cloud. Although the Lightroom Library.lrlibrary will remain on your local disc.

2 replies

selondon
selondonCorrect answer
Community Expert
December 13, 2022

Additionally in the Prefeences, you can set a separate location for Originals when they are imported or accessed from the Cloud. Although the Lightroom Library.lrlibrary will remain on your local disc.

    D
    defaultgriuso65amgcAuthor
    Inspiring
    December 14, 2022

    On my Macbook Pro, I first brought up Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6.0 and then clicked on Adobe Lightroom (top left) -> and then scrolled down to click on Preferences -> and then the preferences window pops up and then -> select "Local Storage" -> and then I clicked on "Browse" ->  and then I selected a directory like Backup -> Lightroom photos -> and then clicked on "Move Now".  This moved the hundreds of photos that were temporarily stored in Lightroom.lrlibrary to Backup -> Lightroom_photos -> Lightroom CC -> 9be0a35b11c04b3fb724cd0af9e5ddte -> originals -> (directories at same hierarchy) 2014   2015  2016  2017   2018   2019   2020   2021   2022  (similary subdirectory and files) -> 2014-07-01 -> file.tif, file.arw

    I wish Adobe would create a video to explain the various options and what it means for the user.

    For example, I don't want to pay for cloud backup so I backup to my external hard drive.  If one is such a user then one needs to set the appropriate options in Lightroom preferences.

     

    selondon
    selondon
    Community Expert
    December 14, 2022

    I would add that if you don't require Cloud backup (and syncing to all mobile devices) then, would not Lightroom Classic (the traditional disc based versions) be a better option for yourself?

      selondon
      selondon
      Community Expert
      December 13, 2022

      When you mention that you mainly use Lightroom CC (Adobe don't use the CC anymore), assume you mean the Cloud Bassd Lightroom? (Now just called Lightroom)

       

      The Lightroom Library.lrlibrary is the local catalog for the cloud based Lightroom.

      As your photos are stored in the Cloud (or should be) then this Catalog is where imports initially go to plus when you perform certain edits, photos are downloaded from the Cloud if required.


      You can set the Library Cache size in the Preferences:

      https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-cc/using/preferences.html
      Reducing this, restating and cleaning the cache should reduce the size of the Catalog (best to make sure all photos are synced the cloud first)

       

      If that doesn't work then you can delete the Lightroom Library.lrlibrary and it will

      rebuild from new, downloading files as required. If you want a smaller Library, set the Cache limit lower.

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