How to move Capture One to a new computer?

You can easily transfer Capture One to a new computer. Depending on your license type, you can activate Capture One on up to three computers at the same time. This guide walks you through downloading, activating, and migrating your Catalogs, Sessions, Styles, and Presets.

For details on activation limits, see: How many computers can I install Capture One on?

Contents

• Download and Activation
• Catalogs and Sessions
• Styles and Presets
• Compatibility
• Troubleshooting

Download and Activation

Downloading the correct version

• For the latest version, download directly from your Capture One account.
• To download older versions, scroll to Previous Downloads.

Activating Capture One

• Activate Capture One (16.5.2 and newer)
• Activate Capture One (up to 16.5.2)
• Activate older versions (15.0.1 and earlier)

Catalogs and Sessions

When you install Capture One on a new machine, you can create new Catalogs or Sessions, or migrate your existing files from your previous device.

Moving Sessions

1. Locate and open the .cosessiondb file on your new machine.
2. Verify folder links via Library > Show Info.
3. Use Show in Finder/Explorer to confirm file paths.

Moving Catalogs

If using Referenced Catalogs:

1. Copy the .cocatalog file to your new machine.
2. Ensure all source image files are accessible.
3. Launch Capture One while holding Option/Alt.
4. In the Recents window, click Browse and select your Catalog.
5. If any images show a "?" icon (offline), right-click and select Locate to reconnect missing files.

If using Managed Catalogs:

Managed Catalogs are fully portable and can be copied directly between devices.

Note: Managed Catalogs can be several GB in size depending on your image collection.

Moving between macOS and Windows:

The process is the same, but you may need to locate offline referenced files due to disk name differences.
Note: Some settings like Workspaces may not be fully compatible between macOS and Windows, and might need to be manually reconfigured after migration.

Styles and Presets

Since version 16.5.0, All-in-One bundle and Studio users can synchronize Styles & Presets via Cloud Settings.

Manual transfer for all users

Step 1 — Locate your Styles & Presets folder:

Mac:
/Users/[your user name]/Library/Application Support/Capture One

Note: The User Library is hidden by default. In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder and enter: ~/Library/Application Support/Capture One

Windows:
C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\CaptureOne

Note: AppData is hidden by default. Learn how to show hidden folders on Windows.

Step 2 — Back up and transfer:

Copy your Styles & Presets folders from the original machine. Paste them into the same directory on your new computer. Capture One will automatically detect them on launch.

Compatibility

Before downloading, check that your operating system supports your intended Capture One version:

• Capture One system requirements
• Some older versions may not be compatible with newer OS updates.

Troubleshooting

Problem: My license key doesn’t work.

Solution: You may be trying to activate a version not supported by your license. Check your eligibility:
How do I know which version I am eligible for?