Moving LR cloud to a new PC when files are stored on an external drive

[marke]

Lightroom Version Number

9.1

Cloud vs. Local

Cloud Sync & Local Folders

Operating System

1. Windows 11

Hi all,

I've bought a new PC and want to move LR to it from a PC I have used for 6 years.
I use LR cloud as a PC app with all the origionals stored on an external drive. I do not use the cloud storage.

I have installed LR on the new machine. When I plug in the external drive , all my photos are visible as unedited originals under the local tab but none of the edits are showing and all the albums are empty. These still show on my old PC when I attach the drive.

I can't find the LRCAT file apart from a small txt file that does nothing, but Im not sure its needed on the cloud version????

Any help to move the edit data etc to my new PC gratefully recieved,

thanks

Mark

 

[Johan Elzenga]

The Lightroom cloud version does indeed not use an .lrcat file. That file is a Lightroom Classic catalog file.

Your albums are an online feature, so they should automatically restore if you log into the Creative Cloud app on the new computer, using the same Adobe account as on the old computer.

 

[marke]

Thanks for this.

I have logged on with the same user account but all i see on the new laptop now is the small number of photos in the 20GB storage that i dont really use. The 600GB onn the drive simply shows on the drive as the originals. I just can't see how to obtain the edit information for these files.

 

[clee01l]

I use LR cloud as a PC app with all the origionals stored on an external drive. I do not use the cloud storage.

On your old computer. Look for a folder named "Lightroom Library.lrlibrary". It should contain all of the information about your local edits. You should copy that file to your new computer. Make sure the Drive letter on the new computer corresponds to the drive letter that was used in the old computer Are the originals JPEGs or Proprietary RAW files? If they are proprietary RAW files there should be an XMP sidecar file with the same file name. It has all of your edits. If the file are nonproprietary then the XMP section is stored in the header for the original file.

Lightroom was designed first as a cloud based app and all of your information including copies of your original files are stored in the Adobe Cloud and easily shared across. multiple devices . Not long ago Adobe added the Local option which you have been using. When using the Local option all of the information remains local. This local option has not been IMO very well thought out. I'm not entirely comfortable telling you how to properly migrate Lightroom (cloud version) to a new computer when using the local option. Copying the folder named "Lightroom Library.lrlibrary" to the new computer is my best guess as to how to get your Lightroom work off of one computer and onto another.

 

[marke]

thank you for this.
I have search for .lrlibrary file and cannot find any such file using file explorer.

could it be called something else?

 

[Jim Wilde]

Can we back up a little, as I'm a bit confused. If you don't use the cloud storage, that means you must only be using thge Local Mode in Lightroom. Is that correct? If so, you mention that your albums are missing, but albums don't feature in the Local Mode, so why do you think they are missing?

Secondly, using File Explorer, look at some of the folders on the external drive and verify that alongside the raw files is a companion .xmp sidecar file (which is where Lightroom stores the edits when editing in Local Mode).

BTW, the "Lightroom Library.lrlibrary" folder is a Mac-only name, on Windows the equivalent is in AppData>Roaming>Adobe>Lightroom CC>Data (if my memory serves me correctly, it's been a long time since I last used Windows). But naming apart, I don't see how the library would help in this case if you really were using Local Mode only.

 

[marke]

Please see screenshot below from my old computer.
Under the cloud tab I have 7753 photos and a range of folders with photos in.
I filled my 20GB of storage some time ago hence the red dot in the top Right Hand corner.

So, it looks like i'm using cloud mode bit without a cloud back up rather than local mode?

Re your second point, there are no .xmp files on the external drive.

Re third point , I found the files you mention. I guess I can copy these into the same file on my ne PC?

Thank you for your help so far!

MARK

 

[Johan Elzenga]

Yes, you are using cloud mode here, not local mode. The screenshot suggests the albums are downloading, so it should just be a matter of time.

 

[clee01l]

So, it looks like i'm using cloud mode bit without a cloud back up rather than local mode?

Re your second point, there are no .xmp files on the external drive.

Re third point , I found the files you mention. I guess I can copy these into the same file on my ne PC?

Yes your assumptions are correct. And thanks to Jim for clarifying the differences between a Windows install and a Mac.

Since you are using the cloud to store your image, there will be no XMP file since it is all in the cloud and as Dan suggests, it will take some time for the Adobe cloud to update this new computer.

No need to copy files. The Adobe Cloud will rebuild this automatically.

 

[marke]

Thanks to all for you're help with this.

In the end I chatted online with some rather helpful agents at Adobe.
As suspected, my lack of data in the plan was the issue.

They tried to sell me a pro plan for £30pm.
I've moved to a LR only plan with 1 TB plan for £10 pm


The computers are now uploading and downloading stuff like there's no tomorrow.
Lesson in all this - don't run our of data on an adobe cloud plan (and check out the options before they charge you far more than you need!)

thanks again. This is a great resource!

 

[clee01l]

Lesson in all this - don't run our of data on an adobe cloud plan (and check out the options before they charge you far more than you need!)

I think the best advice on which plan suits your needs can be found in this forum. We have a wide variety of users with different needs and we have no vested intrest in upselling Adobe products.

 

[jojofunfic]

Lightroom Cloud edits and albums are stored in the cloud under your Adobe ID, not on an external drive. To see all your changes on a new PC, sign in with the same account.