Lightroom Version Number

15.6

Operating System

1. Windows 11

I have been running Lightroom since Version two. I now have over 26k photos (DNGs & JPEGs).

System:

1. Windows 11 Pro
2. 16gb ram
3. Multiple 2tb SSD dives with at least 1tb free on each disk.
4. Catalog exits on my "C:/ " drive under "Pictures"
5. Images (DNGs and JPEGs) live on an internal 2tb SSD, "D:/Raw Files"
6. I backup my catalog every time I exit an edit session!

Issue:
Starting two LrC updates ago, I noticed that my catalog has grown to 24gb in size and it takes nearly 5 minutes to optimize/backup my catalog. I am good at clean up and ensure that there are no missing files or other clutter. I had been using the SmugMug Plugin but removed it. I organize my catalog very well so that I can look up photos without relying on either memory or the catalog search.

Action:
I read a "Lightroom Queen" article ("Problems with newest update June 17, 2026") about creating a new catalog and importing files in order to create a new, clean catalog. It promised that such a process would eliminate clutter and possible errors. The sub article response came from a senior member, Cleo1I (June 26, 2026). I followed these directions to the letter and I was able to create a new catalog and import my images as per the Cleo1I's response. Wow, my new catalog was only 5gb in size and ran perfect except very few of my edits transferred. No history and no collections either...

Here is the directions Cleo1I gave:

Problem:

The problem is that most of my edits did not follow the transition. Interestingly enough, changes in exposure and cropping came through but noise reduction, AI edits, sharpening, color adjustments and so for, did not migrate. It was my understanding that these would be saved in either the DNG or JPEG files if I turned "writing to XMPs off". I also noticed that the "History" section is blank as well as the loss of my "Collections." I repeated the actions above and got the same results...

Solution?

Sorry, but this is why I don't like/trust catalogs. I have been repeating this process for two full days now (retired) and am really frustrated since my Original catalog is slow and any new catalog I make will require me to go back and re-edit hundreds of photos again. For photos earlier than 2020, I guess I can "bake in" the edits by writing to TIFF but again, I would still need to re-edit hundreds of photos from 2020 on...

Can you help???

I am attaching a before and after picture along with

Thanks Johan and Clee01I,
I did the export method as per Johan and created a new catalog named, "2027__Master Catalog". As before, I also have the "2027__Master Catalog.lrcat-data". That was never missing so I am not sure what happened. All of my edits are now back!!!

However, the Optimize/Backup time on the catalog is no different than the original. I have 26k images. Is this reasonable for a catalog with this number of photos?
The earlier Lightroom Queen article I read said that if it took more than a few minutes or so to optimize/backup, then the file was probably full of "debris". Exporting to a new catalog would remove the "debris" and more than likely reduce the catalog file size by 1gb or more.

On my last Optimize/Backup, it took 5 minutes 30 seconds.

1. The "2027__Master Catalog.lrcat" file says it is 2.56gb in size.
2. The "2027__Master Catalog.lrcat-data" file is 8.81gb

The catalog size stayed the same but the ".lrcat-data" file did decrease from 15gb to 8.81gb. So, in that case, the export did seem to help.

So, is a 5+ minute Optimize/Backup time right for this many images? I ask because it used to take only 2 minutes a couple of updates back.

Thanks again...

I might also ask, if removing the "History" section, on the images, would decrease the overall file size while retaining the final edits. If so, how would I bulk erase the "History". Just trying to think outside the box...

Thanks again...