rrayrob Loc: Las Vegas, NV

Running out of storage space on my iMac desktop computer. Since most of my files are photos I want to transfer my LR files to a brand new WD 4 TB desktop hard drive. But not sure how to set up hard drive and transfer files. Understand that the LR catalog will remain on computer and pictures go to external hard drive. And thiis will clear alot of space on computer storage. Running mac OS Mojave 10.24.6. How do i do this safely. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

bleirer

You can do it from within Lightroom, in the library module, using the folders panel on the left. Or you can move them with your operating system and then tell Lightroom where you put them. Most people think the first way is better.

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/move-photos-another-hard-drive-leaving-catalog/

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

To do it from within Lightroom open Lightroom under the folders panel on the left side will be your folders in hard drives just drag the existing folder to the new hard drive then sit back and watch it happen.

abc1234 Loc: Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Definitely the way to go. I would suggest that OP move one picture or folder first as a test to get comfortable with the process. Yes, it is just that simple. To be on the safe side, make sure the pictures are backed up first.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

If you do not already have a a backup copy external to your computer AND if you instinctively know the difference between file COPY and file MOVE I would recommend the option of moving them with the OS. That way you might be tempted to create a backup copy.

The concept of two copies of the original image files is alien to LR since it can associate only one with a single catalog entry? Hence, the virtual copy.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

As per the recommendation of Adobe, do it from WITHIN LrC. It's a simple drag and drop procedure. Hook up the new drive. Open LrC. You won't see the new drive. Since you are simply moving files one way to have the drive show up is to create a new folder that you will delete later on. Once you create a folder, telling the software to put the new folder on the new drive, the drive will show up on the left hand side along with your other drive(s). Drag a folder over, you can start with one to test it. If you have a lot of images you might want to batch the process. Some people do have trouble with this process, perhaps because their hardware is older, who knows. If you don't already have all of your image folders in one main folder this would be a good time to use that new folder you made and simply do a drag/drop to that new folder, call it something like ALL PHOTOS. If you do have everything in one existing folder you can drag and drop that one folder onto the new hard drive.