Lightroom: Moving To New Computer

category: Lightroom • 1 min read

Here are the steps if your computer is dying or you want to upgrade your hard drive/computer.

  1. You should install Lightroom on your new computer/hard drive.
  2. Copy all the directories that contain your photos.

  3. Copy all of your Lightroom presets:

    • Windows XP: It’s in the Documents and Settings[username]\Application Data\Adobe\Lightroom folder with the file names ending in .lrtemplate
    • Windows Vista: It’s in the Users[username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom folder with the file names ending in .lrtemplate
    • Apple OSx: It’s in the [username]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom folder with file names ending in .lrtemplate

    • Copy all of your Lightroom preferences

    • Windows XP: Documents and Settings[username]\Application Data\Adobe\Lightroom\Preferences\Lightroom 2 Preferences.agprefs

    • Windows Vista: Users[username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\Lightroom 2 Preferences.agprefs
    • Apple OSx: In the [username]/Library/Preferences folder: com.adobe.Lightroom2.plist
    • Backup all of your Lightroom catalogs.
    • Do not bother copying all the previews, they will be regenerated by Lightroom when Lightroom will need them.

Replace [username] with your logon id.

Lightroom LR_Howto