Lightroom Backups going into an old folder

[timballic]

Lightroom Version Number

11.3.1

Operating System

1. Other (please note in thread)

(Using an old iMac, late 2012, running OS 10.15.7 Catalina, the latest this iMac will run, but it works fine.)

I have only just noticed that at LrC backup, which I do 2-3x a week when I shut Lr down, Lightroom has stopped creating a new folder each time I backup, (the latest new folder being 2025-12-11 1136) and is now constantly using 2024-02-10 2041. I must have done something I shouldn't??

It still loads up fine when I restart Lr.

My question, how do I get it to go back to doing what it always did before 2025-12-11, and create a new folder each time I backup?

See attached for screenshot of a section of my Lightroom backups file.
(Please keep it simple, I'm an oldie with limited computer skills.)

 

[Johan Elzenga]

In the dialog that asks you if you want to make a backup, you can select the location. You probably have this '2024-02-10 2041' folder selected as location, rather than the parent folder.

 

[timballic]

In the dialog that asks you if you want to make a backup, you can select the location. You probably have this '2024-02-10 2041' folder selected as location, rather than the parent folder.

Yes, thanks Johan, you're right. How that happened I can't imagine!

However, if I press "Choose" it shows me the more recent backups, but they have all been made within the 2024-02-10 folder.
How do I get it to choose to make a new folder "outside" the 2024-02-10 folder? (See attached)

 

[clee01l]

You need to find your original backups folder. You can use that Backup dialog to navigate to it and choose it.
From your screen shot I see possible two issues, First it look like your master catalog is also inside the 2024-02-10 folder. This does not seem to be the best place for your master catalog file and associated support files .
Second, the Backup folder and the master catalog are on the same volume. When that drive fails, not only will you lose your master catalog but also all backup catalogs. For best safety practices, your back up catalog folder should be on a separate drive so that when one drive fails, there will be a good catalog on the other to recover.

 

[Johan Elzenga]

Yes, thanks Johan, you're right. How that happened I can't imagine!

However, if I press "Choose" it shows me the more recent backups, but they have all been made within the 2024-02-10 folder.
How do I get it to choose to make a new folder "outside" the 2024-02-10 folder? (See attached)

You simply need to navigate up (Click on Backups in the title bar of the dialog). Like @clee01l already pointed out: Your catalog itself is also in there...

 

[timballic]

You need to find your original backups folder. You can use that Backup dialog to navigate to it and choose it.
From your screen shot I see possible two issues, First it look like your master catalog is also inside the 2024-02-10 folder. This does not seem to be the best place for your master catalog file and associated support files .
Second, the Backup folder and the master catalog are on the same volume. When that drive fails, not only will you lose your master catalog but also all backup catalogs. For best safety practices, your back up catalog folder should be on a separate drive so that when one drive fails, there will be a good catalog on the other to recover.

Thanks Clee, I'm busy right now, but I will get back to sorting this problem in a few days and report back.

 

[timballic]

You simply need to navigate up (Click on Backups in the title bar of the dialog). Like @clee01l already pointed out: Your catalog itself is also in there...

Thanks Johan, I will report back how I get on with it in a few days.

 

[timballic]

Thanks Guys, I've successfully managed to back up the catalog and it's gone back to where it should be, and opening up correctly too. See attached with new file 2026-02-02 1106 where it should be.

Thanks Clee, I'm busy right now, but I will get back to sorting this problem in a few days and report back.

However, when I click on Lightroom Classic > Catalog settings > General, I'm still seeing the location as 2024-02-10 2041. How do I get it to change to say just "Lightroom Backups"?

When I click on "show" it's still highlighting 2024-02-10, even though the later 2026-02-02 file is there. (see attached)

 

[Johan Elzenga]

However, when I click on Lightroom Classic > Catalog settings > General, I'm still seeing the location as 2024-02-10 2041. How do I get it to change to say just "Lightroom Backups"?

That is the location of your working catalog, not the location of the backups. Your working catalog should not be in ‘Lightroom Backups’ at all! You should move all the catalog files to a proper location, and then start Lightroom Classic by double clicking on the catalog file (.lrcat), so it knows where the catalog is located from now on.

 

[Johan Elzenga]

In case that wasn’t clear: moving your catalog files to another location is done in the MacOS Finder, you can’t do that in Lightroom. It is strongly advised to have your catalog on a different disk! If your catalog and all its backups are on the same disk, then you risk losing all if that disk crashes.

 

[clee01l]

then you risk losing all if that disk crashes.

Not IF but WHEN.