Can you move XMP files

[sportshots09]

Lightroom Version

LR Classic 10.1

Operating System

1. Windows 10

I import my RAW images into LR using COPY, they go into a 1TB SSD and remain there till either I need to move them due to space or I'm finished editing.

When I move them to an external drive where do the XMP files go?

O r maybe a better question is where are the XMP files stored on import?

I have over 1.million images, Sports photographer

 

[clee01l]

If you are creating XMP files with your Proprietary RAW files or any other sidecar file or any other sidecar file, then if you move the image using Lightroom Classic, then all of the side car files will be moved with it. If you move image files outside of Lightroom you will have to move all sidecar files along too. AND you will then need to update the path in the Lightroom Classic catalog so that there are no missing photos.

XMP metadata files are created as sidecar files and are stored in the same folder as the original Proprietary RAW file. XMP metadata for non proprietary files (JPEG, TIFF, DNG) are written in an XMP section of the file header.

 

[Denis de Gannes]

Cletus, is correct, one thing you need to be aware of is that will only happen if you have checked the “Automatically write xmp to the file” in LrC preferences or manually “Save metadata to the file” from the Menu bar.
By default LrC writes metadata to the Catalog file. Writing to xmp is in addition to the default function.