Lightroom Classic worked w/Big Sur on old MacBook - not on New MacBook

[lisasBLUE]

Not only did I get the spinning beachball, when I tried to open Lightroom Classic on brand new MacBook Pro 13" with the new M1 chip, it locked up on the "what's new" page and I had to force quit. After using the Apple Migration assistant, the catalog with all the folders and files show with the correct amount of photos and names but no actual photos or previews. Its the same catalog from my old computer where it works. Not sure why I bought a new computer... or what is actually better about the new Lightroom Classic. I only use it on a computer. 

[GoldingD]

So,

you migrated the program

you migrated the catalog

but, did  you migrate the photos?

The photos are not in the catalog. The catalog is just a database with records as to where the photos are, and what you want done with them.

[GoldingD]

see:

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-move-lightroom-to-new-computer/