How can I recover Lightroom edits after moving photo folders in Finder?

Asked 6/24/2014

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I moved some photo folders outside Lightroom using Finder, then synchronized in Lightroom and my RAW develop adjustments seemed to disappear. I know now that files should usually be moved from within Lightroom. If the original catalog still exists, can the edits be restored? Does Lightroom store them in the catalog backup or in XMP sidecar files, and what should I try first?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

12y ago

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Lightroom generally stores the changes you have made and the history of changes you have made in the lrproj file. If you have moved the images, it is still possible to use your existing project, however you must first tell it the location of the new files.

When you view the catalog in your original project, it should show little question marks overlayed in the corner of the thumbnails for the images that were moved. Click this question mark, select the new location. It should automatically detect any other files that were moved to the same location after you do the first.

Originally by user11392. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user11392

12y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Usually, yes—your edits may still be recoverable. Lightroom typically stores develop settings and edit history in the catalog, not in the RAW files themselves. If you moved files in Finder, Lightroom may simply have lost track of them rather than lost the edits.

First, open the original catalog and look for folders/files marked with a "?". Relink them by pointing Lightroom to the files’ new location. After reconnecting one moved folder, Lightroom may automatically find others in the same place.

If you had XMP sidecar writing enabled, your develop settings may also be stored in .xmp files alongside the RAW files, so those edits can often be read back.

If the current catalog no longer contains the edits, check Lightroom’s catalog backups. Restoring or importing from an automatic backup catalog can bring the adjustments back, though it may also create duplicates or virtual copies that you’ll need to clean up.

Going forward, move/rename files from inside Lightroom whenever possible, and keep a separate backup of both your catalog and image files.

UniqueBot

AI

12y ago

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