When you first launch Lightroom after a major update, such as the October 2023 update to 13.0, it asks your permission to upgrade your catalog - but why? Is it safe? What does it actually do?Sometimes database changes need to be made in the … Click to continue
Is it safe to store a Lightroom catalog on the new Dropbox macOS beta?
We're often asked if you can store a Lightroom catalog on Dropbox, and the question is cropping up even more frequently at the moment as Dropbox has a new beta version for macOS.While you can't store a catalog on a Network Storage Device (NAS), … Click to continue
How do I copy keywords to a new catalog?
How can you get the same keywords and hierarchical structure in a second catalog? And why would you want to? Generally, we recommend using just one catalog. Maintenance is easier, and you get full search ability. However, if you go on vacation, you … Click to continue
How do I use Lightroom Classic on my laptop when I go on vacation?
With Summer fast approaching, and travel becoming easier now, many are thinking of taking a vacation. For most of us, taking photos is one of the highlights. But what if you want to edit them in Lightroom while you're away?There's a few options … Click to continue
World Backup Day – what should I be checking?
It's March 31st again... it's World Backup Day! But as far as Lightroom's concerned, what do you need to back up? Here's our definitive guide for Lightroom Classic. We also mention Lightroom Desktop (Cloud) and a suggestion on backing up. The details … Click to continue
How often should I back up my catalog, and how long should I keep backups for?
We're frequently reminded of the importance of backing up our catalog(s). But how often should you back up, and then how long should you keep the backups for? Here's a few tips to help make your decision. How often should I back up my … Click to continue
How do I check my catalog for missing files?
The sooner you discover that Lightroom can't find some of your photos, the easier it is to fix. Perhaps you've simply unplugged an external hard drive, or Windows has changed the drive letter. But what if you've accidentally moved or deleted a … Click to continue
Moving Lightroom to a New Computer – Updated FREE eBook
Just got a new computer? One of the questions we're most frequently asked is ‘How do I move Lightroom to a new computer?’ It's one of those scary moments when you know all your precious photos and edits rely on getting the move right, and … Click to continue
My hard drive died! How do I restore Lightroom from my backups?
Need to restore your Lightroom catalog and photos from a backup, perhaps because your hard drive has died? Here's how to do it... Restoring a Catalog If your normal backup includes a current copy of your working catalog, you can simply … Click to continue
Where should I put my backups?
Where should you put your backups? Let's talk about the catalog that holds all your photo edits.By default, the catalogs are backed up in a 'backups' subfolder alongside the original catalog. But is that the best place for them? If you don't … Click to continue
Why should I let Lightroom run its own backups?
Have you ever wondered why would you want to let Lightroom back up its catalog, especially if you already have a perfectly good backup system?All of your edits are stored in the catalog, so keeping it safe is essential. There are four main things … Click to continue
Top Lightroom Questions
Have you been tripped up by one of our top support questions? Here’s the solutions and some tips to avoid them becoming a disaster!We thought we’d review some of the most common issues people report or ask for assistance on. We won’t just tell … Click to continue
Disaster strikes – a corrupted catalog!
"The Lightroom catalog is corrupt and cannot be repaired." Words that strike fear into Lightroom users worldwide.Catalog corruption is very rare, but if you're the unsuspecting victim, that's no consolation. But don't worry, it's very easy to … Click to continue
Lightroom Performance – Previews & Caches
Lightroom uses numerous kinds of previews and caches for different purposes. Having a basic idea of their usage can help you pick the right ones for your needs. The main ones you need to know about are rendered previews and smart previews. To fully … Click to continue
Merging Catalogs – Stage 4 – Cleanup
In the last few posts, we've been merging multiple catalogs into a single new Master catalog. Once the photos are all in a single catalog, you can finish cleaning up. Fix Missing Photos If any photos are still marked as missing, now's the time to … Click to continue
