Can't move some images to folder: says they are already there

[kikapoo]

Lightroom Version Number

15.5.1

Operating System

1. macOS 26 Tahoe

I am trying to move images from a parent folder into a subfolder. Most of the images move without a problem, but there are four that can't be moved. I get an error message saying that they already exist at this location, but they don't.

 

[Gnits]

One possibility... the option to show images in subfolders is active ... and the images may be already in the sub folder. (In the Library Menu).

The other possibility is that the file name may already exist but is not in the catalog. This can easily happen if say exporting small jpgs to a subfolder (say for web or email) and the export option is not configured to include the exported images back into the catalog (views differ on the the best approach here).

There may be other reasons, but I would start by checking these out.

 

[BHousto]

From the Parent folder in the Folders panel select one of these 4 photos in the grid or filmstrip.
Then right click on the photo and choose Go to Folder in Library from the popup menu
If the file is already in the subfolder the highlighted selection in the Folder panel will change to the subfolder, if it is located in the parent then the folder panel selection will not change.
Also use Show in Finder to confirm the location LR currently thinks it is in.

 

[dmedlock]

I had this issue a while back when I deleted images from Lightroom (but not from disk). When I tried to add the images back, I got this error.

My transition from Aperture to Lightroom was a disaster. The Aperture import plugin had a major memory leak and I had to move files peicemeal.

To check for this issue, open the destination folder in Finder and see if there are files of the same name that Lightroom is internally ignoring. These files are on the disk, but cannot be seen in folder view in Lightroom.

 

[MarkNicholas]

I had this error message in the past. I recall it was caused by me trying to move the photos twice in close succession because the first attempt appeared not to work. Just check if the photos have actually been moved or not. If they have then fine if they haven't just restart LrC and try again.

 

[kikapoo]

What I have discovered is that somehow the photos that can't be moved have the same file name as four others. They are different images, but have the same file name. These photos were all taken the same day. I'm attaching screen shots of one set of duplicate file names.

 

[Gnits]

It is extremely easy to end up with different images with the same file name in LrC.

You might not know/notice their presence. I discovered the problem initially with my first dslr.. which had a default config to reset to suffix number to 1 when formatting the card. I did not notice the problem initially.. until I realised (fairly quickly ) that my most recent images were overwriting most of my previously saved images. I suspect this was pre Lightroom. When I got a second camera I was aware of the issue, so had a workflow ready to avoid images from the two different cameras having overlapping filenames / suffix numbers. The last major category is if shooting high volumes and the suffix number reaches a 999 or 9999 or 99999 limit and starts again.

There are other ways to end up with duplicate file names... eg import a card fo images from another photographer, administer a photo competition for a local camera club or participate in a camera club project. High volume shooters (eg wildlife / sports) who shoot 1000's of images on a single session / card may have 1000's of duplicate filenames on the card, but each time the suffix number reaches a limit the new sequence starting from 1 are placed in a new DCIM subfolder.

This is potentially a big topic... and different photographers adopt different strategies to suit their workflow patterns.

Were the duplicate photos shot using the same camera. Do you still have the card or a backup of the card. If so you can check if the images are in different DCIM sub folders on the card.

 

[kikapoo]

I don't think I've erased the card with the duplicate file names on it yet if that's of any use.
All the 'problem' images were shot the same day, and within a two to three hour time frame. In this particular session, I had 640 images on the card, so there should not have been any problem with reaching suffix 999, etc. All the images were shot with the same camera.
I've had this problem in the past but didn't bother to pursue it. I just erased the 'problems' and moved on. I decided to try to find the source of the problem this time because I don't want to erase a couple of the images, AND it seems prudent to find out what's happening. So, do you have any other possible avenues that might be pursued? Thank you!

 

[bobsomrak]

Looking at the filenames it appears you have an Import Rename Preset or you did a Rename after import. If so, check your Rename process.

 

[Gnits]

Looking at the filenames it appears you have an Import Rename Preset or you did a Rename after import. If so, check your Rename process.

Agree.. it would be useful to post the original filenames... we might spot a rename syntax error.

Equally.. it would be worth finding the original file names for the source and target images where the duplicates were reported.

 

[Califdan]

The rename error appears to be that one of nodes in the template is "title" but the images shown probably have/had no title at the time the reanme was performed. Thus the "_untitled_" portion of the file name.

As a general rule folks who routinely change files names on images with complex templates tend to hit problems. There are two valid reasons to rename image files that have come across

1) You shoot with two cameras on the same shoot both of which can produce the same file names for images that will go into the same folder. (Many cameras allow you to alter the default file names to prevent this)

2) You are exporting an image for some purpose which requires a specific file name structure (or for some other reason you need a specific file name format). For example many competitons require the photographers name at the front of each submitted image file name. Even though such exported images are typically not added back into the catalog you can use an LrC rename template during the export process.

 

[clee01l]

It appears to me that the renaming occurred before or during import and was used for two different imports. AND each import started with 001

I avoid this possibility by not renaming any image on import and having a continuous in camera numbering that does not repeat until 10,000 images are shot with this camera. If I feel the need for renaming anything ,I rename on Export since Lightroom manages all of my images that are imported And all of the information in this naming scheme with the exception of Sequence number is contained in the image file metadata. which is easily searchable with a Lightroom filter or Smart Collection.

The naming scheme "Mmmmm DD, YYYY_untitled_nnn.DNG" could be improved. First by assigning a unique value in the "CustomText" field which defaults to "untitled". The second thing that should IMO be done is import into date named folders and this would eliminate the overly long file names.

If the OP had simply assigned a unique value in the "CustomText" field, this issue would never have happened.

 

[kikapoo]

Thank you 'bobsomrak', Gnits 'califdan' and 'clee01l' for your suggestions. Please note that I am not especially knowledgeable about the technical aspects of cameras, computers and Lightroom, but I have muddled my way through for about 15 years now, when I first began the steep learning curve using Lightroom.

1. I don't use Import Rename Presets.
2. I didn't change the original file name on any of the images (I wouldn't know how to do this!)
3. My import process is very basic: I insert the memory card into my card reader and plug the card reader into my MacBookPro and let the computer download the images into Lightroom.
4. I don't do any renaming of files before, during or after importing.
5. I only use my Canon R5 Mark II
6. I typically download the images from the memory card at 400 and 700 images. I never reach 1000.
7. I erase/format the card in the camera just before a shooting session.

If I do need to make changes in my camera to make the file names meaningful or correct I would appreciate some basic and non-technical instructions as to how this should be done. Or any other nuggets of knowledge that might improve my technique.
Thank you!

 

[Gnits]

The standard import has an option to rename files on import. The most likely cause is this option my have been clicked in error. I am not sure if it is a sticky setting such that it will persist.

Images are saved to cards using a very old standard naming convention, that has not changed for years and years. The images referenced above do not conform to these standards so have been renamed somewhere along the way. There is also a Rename feature within LrC, to rename individual images or batches of images.

I suggest you review a few of your recent imports and see if the structure of the filename has changed.

Image names and how best to manage them is the subject of much discussion.. and can be a tricky subject.

But it a vip topic .. and worth tracking down what may have happened with these images.


The following is a section of the Canon documentation re naming of Canon files. There are more rules and they are applied strictly by Canon and all camera makers.

"File names​

File names conforming to the following rules are called DCF file names.

• The file name is 8 characters (not including the file extension).​
• The first four characters consist only of the upper-case alphanumeric characters (A - Z), (0 - 9) and the underscore "_" character. If an existing directory or file name uses lower-case letters, they shall be treated as all upper-case letters. These are referred to as the DCF file name Free characters.​
• The four characters that follow are a number between "0001" and "9999". "0000" shall not be used. These four digits are referred to as File number.​

For more information, see http://tsc.jeita.or.jp/avs/data/cp3461.pdf. "

 

[Califdan]

The symptoms shown in your screen shots very much imply that a file renaming has taken place, either on purpose or accidentally. I think @Gnits suggestion of the File Rename checkbox being accidentally checked is the most probable.

If that turns out not to be the case, please send us the following screen shots

1. Your whole Import Dialog screen, In addition to the "File Rename" section i'm especially interested to see if there is anything in the "Import Preset" box below the Import Dialog Grid
   
   
2. After your step #3, a screen shot from Mac Finder showing the image files on your SD card. In Finder you should be able to see the SD card (may say someting like "Canon EOS" but may be different, the images are in a subfolder called DCIM. I want to see the actual image file names.

We can then go from there

 

[kikapoo]

Hello Gnits and Califdan...I'm back after much digging and tracking down of information regarding my mis-guided file naming fiasco. I've taken 3 or 4 screenshots of the information you asked for, Dan.
This first one just shows my file naming information


This shows the Import Screen before I selected "100EOSR5", at which time the actual images appeared. The next screenshot was of the thumbnail images that were subsequently downloaded, but the screenshot was too large, so wasn't included.


This is the screenshot from Finder showing the actual image file names.


What I couldn't include, of course, is the file naming choices I made on the Canon R5, so I'll describe how it is set up:
Under "Stills": File name KIK_
User setting 1 KIK_
(I hope that makes sense to you! I initially set up my menu options back in December 2025 when I was trying to make sense of my newly purchased, really complicated camera! ). I don't know why the four alphanumeric characters KIK_ aren't being included in the file, but instead is 'untitled'.
Thanks again for your help!

 

[Califdan]

Your camera settings are indeed creating files name "KIK_nnnn" as you planned.

Your file renaming template is changing this. Here's an example "October 05, 2026_untitled_001.dng" The reason "untitled" is in the middle is that you did not type anything in the "Custom Text" box in your middle screen shot. The "001" appears to be a sequence number frpm the template.

I don't percieve this as a good strategy (as you are discovering). Unless you are shooting with more than one camera at a time taking photos destined for the same folder I see no reason at all to rename image files. Just leave them "KIK_nnnn.dng" (and use Folders, keywords or collections to differentiate images from differnt shoots). If you think you have a valid purpose for renaming run it by me (many have tried to convice me, few have suceded).

But back to your issue.

What it looks like to me is that you imported a set of images taken on 10/3. Then later tried to import either the same images or a different set of images taken on the same day. LrC notified you (screenshot in post #1) that files with same name are already in the destination folder which could easily be the case using your file renaming template UNLESS in the import dialog you changed the starting number from 1 to some number beyond the ones from the first import or typed something or something different in the "custom text" field.

 

[kikapoo]

I have NO valid reason to change the file name! I think what probably happened was, back when I was trying to learn how to use Lightroom, I followed some instructions without understanding what I was doing. That file naming change was probably made many years ago!
In the sample import in screenshot 1, I had imported 392 images all at the same time, but the actual images were taken over the course of many days, but all on the same memory card.
So, to correct the problem, should I just uncheck "Rename Files" and remove the wording in the Template "Day, Month, Year, etc"?

 

[Califdan]

Yes, Uncheck the reanme box in the import dialog. this will prevent FUTURE imports images from being renamed.

As for these 4 images which LrC says are already present in the destination folder, unchecking the "rename" box in the Import Dialog should let them import. This is the most likely situation.

You may also want to delete that file rename template so you don't accidentallty use it again.

Of course this will not undo all the images previously imported using the file rename template. You can leave those image file names as is and just go on your merry way or you can create a new file rename template to name them back to their original names. There are two metadata fields currently in LrC (Preserved File Name, and Original File Name) which you can see in the metadata panel. But depending on what version of LrC was in place when they were imported, they may not be available.

• "Original filename" is what the file was renamed to during import. In this case I would say that it would be better named "imported as filename". This is a legacy field that predates version 8.3 and in older versions, it only populated if a file was renamed after import within Lightroom, and it often failed to retain the true original name if a rename occurred during import.
  
  
• "Preserved filename" is the name it had on disk when the import dialog was invoked. If that is correct, I would think of this more as the "original" (introduced in LrC/8.3).