Moving referenced images to a new external drive

[rustyLr]

Lightroom Version Number

8.4.1 Classic

Operating System

All my current images are stored in multiple folders (about half a dozen) on a 4TB drive and I'm upgrading to a 10TB drive. I've copied the image folders across and all that needs to change is the top level location "4TB LaCie" to "10TB LaCie" as everything below that level is unchanged in the relative sense. Without individually repointing about 100 folders in the Folders panel in Lr, is there a way to simply change the high level drive location?

 

[Jim Wilde]

Yes, just repoint the parent (top-level) folder(s). If both drives are online when you start Lightroom, the original drive will be the one that shows the images, so right-click on the parent folder(s) in the Folders Panel and select "Update Folder Location" and use the ensuing browser to navigate to and select the copy of the parent folder(s) on the 10TB drive.
If you only have the new drive connected when you start Lightroom, all the files and folders will be "missing", i.e. all the folders will be greyed out and displaying a "?". In which case, right-click on the parent folder(s) in the Folders Panel and select "Find Missing Folder" and use the ensuing browser to navigate to and select the copy of the parent folder(s) on the 10TB drive.

See this post: How do I move only my photos to another hard drive, leaving the catalog where it is? | The Lightroom Queen

 

[rustyLr]

Thanks Jim - I just realised the missing element. I didn't have Show Parent Folder enabled so all I saw was a long list of individual folders. That's where I was getting confused. Works a treat.

Yes, just repoint the parent (top-level) folder(s). If both drives are online when you start Lightroom, the original drive will be the one that shows the images, so right-click on the parent folder(s) in the Folders Panel and select "Update Folder Location" and use the ensuing browser to navigate to and select the copy of the parent folder(s) on the 10TB drive.
If you only have the new drive connected when you start Lightroom, all the files and folders will be "missing", i.e. all the folders will be greyed out and displaying a "?". In which case, right-click on the parent folder(s) in the Folders Panel and select "Find Missing Folder" and use the ensuing browser to navigate to and select the copy of the parent folder(s) on the 10TB drive.

See this post: How do I move only my photos to another hard drive, leaving the catalog where it is? | The Lightroom Queen