How to move a media library to a new computer

The short answer

Copy the media folders as they are, keep the same folder structure, verify the copy, then move each app's library or catalog separately and point it at the new location. Keep the old drive untouched until you've checked the new setup works.

Before you copy

• Take stock. Note where media lives: internal drive, external drives, a NAS. Libraries are often spread wider than people think.
• Tidy first. Clearing duplicates before a move saves time and space. See finding duplicate videos.
• Check the destination. Make sure there's room to spare and that the drive format suits the new computer, especially when moving between Mac and Windows.
• Back up. A move isn't a backup. Have a separate copy before you start erasing anything.

Copying and verifying

For a few folders, dragging in the Finder or File Explorer is fine. For large libraries, a tool that can resume and verify is safer: rsync -a on macOS and Linux, or robocopy with its mirror option on Windows. Run it a second time at the end; a second pass that copies nothing is a good sign.

Then compare file counts and total sizes between the old and new folders, and open a sample of files from different years. Mac's Migration Assistant can move a whole user account, which keeps paths the same, but external drives and their paths still need checking.

What breaks, and why

Apps remember files by path. If /Volumes/Footage/2023 becomes D:\Footage\2023, editor projects show offline media and catalogs show missing files. Keeping the same folder names and structure makes relinking a one-step job. Editors have their own relink tools; point them at the top folder and they usually find the rest by name.

How to do it in MediaFind

MediaFind keeps its library (the transcripts, index and your organization) separate from your media, so you move them separately.

1. On the old computer, export your MediaFind library as a portable ZIP. The original media files stay where they are and aren't inside the ZIP.
2. Copy your media folders to the new computer, or connect the drive they live on.
3. Install MediaFind on the new computer and import the library ZIP.
4. If the media now lives in a different folder, relink it to the new location.
5. Run a couple of searches you know the answers to and play the results to confirm the timestamps line up.

After the move

Keep the old drive for a few weeks before erasing it. MediaFind's folder watching re-checks your added folders about once a minute while the app is open and indexes new or changed files, so re-add the folders on the new machine if you rely on it. If you use Memory, your imported chats and notes are part of the library too. Related: media asset management, family archives and photographers.

Frequently asked questions

What's the safest way to copy a large video library?

Use a copy tool that can resume and verify, such as rsync or robocopy, then compare file counts and sizes and spot-check files before erasing the original.

Why do my projects show missing media after moving?

Apps store file paths. If the drive name or folder structure changed, relink by pointing the app at the new top-level folder.

Do I have to re-index my library in MediaFind?

You can export the library as a ZIP and import it on the new computer instead, then relink any media that moved to a new folder.

Does the MediaFind library ZIP include my videos?

No. The export holds your library, and the original media stays where it is. Copy the media folders separately.