User Guide Cancel

Import photos from a folder on a hard drive

  1. Lightroom Classic User Guide
  2. Introduction to Lightroom Classic
    1. What's new in Lightroom Classic
    2. Lightroom Classic system requirements
    3. Lightroom Classic | Common Questions
    4. Lightroom Classic Key Concepts
    5. Lightroom Classic tutorials
    6. Feature summary | Lightroom CC 2015.x/Lightroom 6.x releases
  3. Lightroom and Adobe services
    1. Creative Cloud Libraries
    2. Using Adobe Stock in Creative Cloud apps
  4. Lightroom for mobile, TV, and the web
    1. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for mobile and Apple TV | FAQ
    2. Sync Lightroom Classic with Lightroom ecosystem
    3. Photoshop family of mobile apps
  5. Import photos
    1. Import photos from a camera or card reader
    2. Import photos from a folder on a hard drive
    3. Import photos automatically
    4. Import photos from Photoshop Elements
    5. Import photos from a tethered camera
    6. Specify import options
    7. Set import preferences
    8. The Filename Template Editor and Text Template Editor
  6. Workflows
    1. Apply Masking in photos
    2. Export and save your photos as JPEGs
    3. Export and watermark your photos
    4. Import your photos
    5. Adjustment Brush: the basics
    6. Adjustments with the Tone Curve
    7. Advanced video slideshows
    8. Control white balance
    9. Create a contact sheet
    10. Enhance your workflow with Lightroom Classic
    11. Adjustments with Lens Blur
    12. Edit and Export in HDR
  7. Workspace
    1. Workspace basics
    2. Set preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
    3. Display the Library on a second monitor
    4. Personalize identity plates and module buttons
    5. Watermark your photos in Lightroom Classic
    6. Color management
  8. Viewing photos
    1. View photos
    2. Browse and compare photos
    3. Set Library view options
    4. Share photos for comments and feedback
    5. Smart Previews
  9. Manage catalogs and files
    1. Lightroom Classic catalog FAQ
    2. How Lightroom Classic catalogs work
    3. Create and manage catalogs
    4. Back up a catalog
    5. Locate missing photos
    6. Create and manage folders
    7. Manage photos within folders
  10. Maps
    1. Work with the Map module
  11. Organize photos in Lightroom Classic
    1. Face recognition
    2. Work with photo collections
    3. Group photos into stacks
    4. Flag, label, and rate photos
    5. Use keywords
    6. Metadata basics and actions
    7. Find photos in the catalog
    8. Work with video in Lightroom Classic
    9. Advanced metadata actions
    10. Use the Quick Develop panel
  12. Process and develop photos
    1. Develop module basics
    2. Create panoramas and HDR panoramas
    3. Flat-Field Correction
    4. Correct distorted perspective in photos using Upright
    5. Improve image quality using Enhance
    6. Work with image tone and color
    7. Masking
    8. Apply local adjustments
    9. HDR photo merge
    10. Develop module options
    11. Retouch photos
    12. Cure red eye and pet eye effects
    13. Use the Radial Filter tool
    14. Use the enhanced Spot Removal tool
  13. Export photos
    1. Export files to disk or CD
    2. Export photos from Lightroom Classic
    3. Publish photos online
    4. Export to hard drive using publish services
    5. Presets for export, and other settings
  14. Work with external editors
    1. External Editing preferences
    2. Open and edit Lightroom Classic photos in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements
  15. Slideshows
    1. Create slideshows
    2. Slideshow module panels and tools
    3. Specify the slide layout
    4. Add overlays to slides
    5. Play and export slideshows
  16. Print photos
    1. Print module basics
    2. Print module layouts and templates
    3. Work with print job options and settings
  17. Photo books
    1. Create photo books
  18. Web galleries
    1. Create web galleries
    2. Use the Web module panels and tools
    3. Work with web gallery layouts
    4. Work with web gallery templates and settings
    5. Preview, export, and upload web photo galleries
  19. Keyboard shortcuts
    1. Keyboard shortcuts
  20. Troubleshooting 
    1. Fixed Issues
    2. Known Issues

When you import photos into Lightroom Classic, you create a link between the photo itself and the record of the photo in the catalog.

When importing, you work from left to right in the import window. First, on the left, identify what files you want to import (the source files). Then, in the middle of the window, choose how you want to import them into the catalog (add, move, or copy them). Finally, on the right, specify where you want to store the files (the destination folder) and other options for the imported files.

Note:

Important: When importing for the first time, think through how you want to organize your photos and where you plan to store them before you start to import. Planning ahead can help minimize the need to move photos later and possibly lose track of them in your catalog.

  1. Do one of the following to open the import window:

    • Click the Import button in the lower-left corner of the Library module.

    • From the main menu, choose File > Import Photos And Video.

    • Drag a folder or individual files from the Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac OS) into the Grid view, and then skip Step 2.

    The import window in Lightroom Classic.
    The Lightroom Classic import window

    A. Preview area B. Source panel C. Toggle Minimal import D. Options and Destination panels 

  2. In the upper-left corner of the import window, click Select A Source or From, or use the Source panel on the left side of the import window to navigate to the files you want to import.

    Note:

    Connected networks appear in the Source panel. To add a network location, click From or Select A Source, choose Other Source, and navigate to the networked folder. On Windows, click the Plus button to the right of the Source panel name and choose Add Network Volume.

  3. In the top center of the import window, specify how you want to add the photos to the catalog:

    Copy As DNG

    Copies photos to the folder you choose and converts any camera raw files to the Digital Negative (DNG) format.

    Copy

    Copies the photo files to the folder you choose, including any sidecar files.

    Move

    Moves the photo files to the folder you choose, including any sidecar files. Files are removed from their current location.

    Add

    Keeps the photo files in their current location.

  4. Select the photos that you want to import from the preview area in the center of the import window. A check mark in the upper-left corner of the thumbnail indicates that the photo is selected for import.

    • To filter photos in the preview, select any of the following:

    All Photos

    Removes all filters.

    New Photos

    Excludes suspected duplicates and previously imported photos.

    Destination Folders

    (Available only when copying or moving photos into a catalog) Groups photos by their destination folder.

    Filter photos in the preview area by Destination folders in Lightroom Classic CC
    Select Destination Folders (above the preview area) to see photos organized by the folders where they will be saved. The Destination panel (right) shows the folders that will be added in italics and the number of photos that will be saved in that location.

    • Click the Loupe view button  in the toolbar to zoom in to a single photo.
    • Click Check All or Uncheck All in the toolbar to globally select or deselect all photos in the folder.
    • Click the Sort pop-up menu in the toolbar to sort photos by capture time, checked state, filename, or media type (image or video file).
    • Drag the Thumbnails slider to adjust the size of the thumbnails in the grid.
    • Click the box in the upper-left corner of a preview to select or deselect specific photos. Or, Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) anywhere on the thumbnail to select and deselect photos.
  5. If you're importing photos by moving or copying them, specify where to put them: In the upper-right corner of the window, click To and choose a location for the photos. Or click a location in the Destination panel and specify other options:

    Into Subfolder

    Copies or moves the imported photos into a new folder. Type the name of the new folder in the text field.

    Organize

    Organize the photos in the new subfolder in one of three ways: preserve the original folder hierarchy of the source folder; create subfolders by date; or put all photos into one folder.

    Date Format

    Choose a format for the dates.

    The import Destination panel in Lightroom Classic CC
    The Destination panel

    Note:

    Folder names that are italicized in the Destination panel indicate new folders that will be created when you import. Review the Destination panel carefully to help ensure that you are correctly importing the photos to your intended location.

  6. Specify other options for the imported files using the panels on the right side of the window. See Specify import options.

  7. Click Import. If you do not want to import right now but want to save the changes you made to the import settings, then click Done

 Adobe

Get help faster and easier

New user?

Adobe MAX 2024

Adobe MAX
The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Adobe MAX

The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Adobe MAX 2024

Adobe MAX
The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Adobe MAX

The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online