Session and Catalog documents in Capture One mobile

Capture One mobile 3.0 introduced Sessions, giving photographers more control over their workflow, file organization, and tethered shooting on the go. Whether you're importing, managing, or sharing your images, Sessions make it easier to work across devices – without compromising flexibility.

Also, with the release of Capture One mobile 3.0, you can work in a document stored on an external drive. With external drive support, storing and transferring Sessions and Catalogs between desktop and mobile is even easier.

Contents

• What are Sessions in Capture One mobile?
• Compatibility
• Sessions management
  • How to create a new Session
  • How to open or switch to an existing Session
  • How to delete a Session or Catalog
• Working with Session Folders
• Importing images to Sessions
  • How to import images to Sessions
• Tethered capture with Sessions
• Live Sharing from Sessions
• Transferring Sessions between desktop and mobile

Compatibility

Sessions are supported starting from version 3.0 of Capture One mobile on iPad and iPhone. Make sure your app is up-to-date to access this feature. For a full list of compatible devices, check this article. 

Sessions created in desktop version 16.6.4 or earlier need to be upgraded to version 16.6.5 or higher to work on mobile. For the best experience, use the latest version of both Capture One desktop and Capture One mobile.

What are Sessions in Capture One mobile?

Sessions in Capture One mobile offer a flexible way to organize images into portable, easy-to-manage projects. Each Session includes its own folder structure and settings, allowing for a seamless workflow from shoot to export – now fully integrated with mobile. Desktop users should be familiar with Session workflow already.

Session or Catalog document management

You can create and open a document:

• Anywhere in your device’s file system
• On connected external drives

How to create a new Session or Catalog document

1. Tap the Document dropdown (two arrows) to open the document selector.
   
   
2. Tap New > New Session or New Catalog
3. Enter a name of your document.
4. Pick the location where a new document will be stored. By default, this is in the Capture One folder on your device, but you can pick either other folder in the internal storage or in the external one. 

How to open or switch to another Session or Catalog document

1. Tap the Document dropdown (two arrows) to open the document selector.
2. Tap Open from Files
3. Navigate to your Session or Catalog folder and select Open.
   
   

You don't need to tap on the database file (.cosessiondb) to open the document, but rather navigate to the document folder – that'll do. 

How to delete a Session or Catalog document

1. Tap the Document dropdown (two arrows) to open the document selector.
2. Tap Manage.
   
3. Tap Delete (Trash bin icon) next to the Session or Catalog you want to delete.

Working with Session Folders

Build out your Session folder tree by adding nested folders under your existing Session structure. This allows detailed organization for shoots, edits, client selects, and more.

Sessions in Capture One mobile come with the default set of folders just like in a desktop version – Capture, Output and Selects. There are also All Images, Current capture folder and Trash collections you can use.
 

Things you can do in these default folders:

• Nest folders inside any of these folders by hitting three dots> Add folder inside
• Shoot tethered to any folder by assigning it as Capture Folder (tap Assign Capture Folder).
• Share images in Capture One Live (tap Share Online).
• Move folders inside existing folders (tap Move).

Importing images to Sessions

Import photos directly into any folder within your Session. Whether from the camera roll (Photos), Files folder, external storage, or a connected camera, you can send images exactly where you need them.

How to import images to Sessions

1. In the Import section, pick the location you want to import images from. Choose Files for your internal or external storage. It may be already available from the Import locations list. 

2. In the Import To window, specify which folder you want to import images to. You can create a new folder inside the existing one if you like.

   

3. Navigate to the images for import and hit Open.

   

4. Choose the images and tap Import.
   
   

Tethered capture with Sessions

Sessions offer the most efficient workflow for tethered shooting in Capture One mobile. Images are saved directly to the assigned Capture folder, allowing instant review, organization, and editing. This also makes them portable, so you can shoot tethered to an external drive and transfer your work to your desktop later.

To assign a Capture Folder:

1. Click three dots near the folder you want to assign as Capture Folder.

   

2. Tap Assign Capture Folder.

If the folder doesn't exist, you can create one by hitting the Folder icon in the Folders section. To nest it inside an existing folder, click three dots in the parent folder and pick Add folder inside. 
 

Live Sharing from Sessions

Capture One Live works directly from your Sessions, allowing you to share folders with clients or collaborators instantly. Just select a Session folder and select Share Online. See more here: Capture One Live (mobile)

Transferring Sessions between desktop and mobile

Transfer your Sessions between Capture One on desktop and mobile:

• Maintain all folder structures, edits, and metadata
• Work seamlessly between devices

This makes Capture One Mobile a powerful extension of your desktop setup.

To copy Session from one device to another, you have to copy the entire Session folder to the external drive and then move it to your other device.