Revert to a Previous Version of Capture One and Restore Catalogs or Sessions

If you upgraded to a newer Capture One version—such as during a free trial—but want to return to your older version like Capture One 23, this guide shows how to revert and restore your catalogs or sessions from backup.

Contents

• Restore from Backup
• Additional Information
• Troubleshooting
• FAQ

Restore from Backup

When you open a session or catalog in a newer version of Capture One, the application prompts you to upgrade the database. During this process, a backup of your original version is automatically created.

Note: Only the session or catalog database is upgraded—not the images themselves—so small differences in appearance may occur when reverting.

After upgrading, check the session or catalog folder. You’ll find:

• A new file: .cosessiondb or .cocatalogdb (for the upgraded version)
• A backup file: .cosessiondb.backup or .cocatalogdb.backup (your original file)

To restore the older version:

1. Close Capture One.
2. Delete the newly created .cosessiondb or .cocatalogdb file.
3. Rename the .backup file by removing .backup from the filename.

On macOS, if prompted to confirm the new extension, select Use .cocatalogdb or .cosessiondb.

Your session or catalog is now restored and ready to be opened in your previous version (e.g. Capture One 23). Adjustments made in the newer version will not be available.

Additional Information

To check which Capture One version created or upgraded a catalog/session:

• Right-click the catalog or session file.
• Select Show Package Contents (macOS) or browse directly (Windows).
• Look for the file metadata or backup timestamps to confirm version history.

Troubleshooting

My backup file is missing

If you don’t see a .backup file, it’s possible the catalog/session wasn’t opened in a newer version, or the upgrade failed before backup was completed. If no backup exists, there’s no automatic way to revert.

I renamed the file but it still doesn’t open

Ensure that:

• The new filename ends in .cosessiondb or .cocatalogdb only (no extra extensions).
• The file was not edited or saved by any other application.

I see a database error when trying to open

This may occur if the file was incompletely renamed or corrupted. Try restoring from a manual backup or Time Machine (macOS) if available.

Also, check if you see a file with a -journal extension – try removing it and see if it works. 

FAQ

Can I revert to Capture One 23 after using the trial version?

Yes. If you upgraded a catalog or session in the trial version of Capture One (e.g. Capture One 16.3), you can revert to Capture One 23 by restoring the automatically created backup file.

Why can't I open my old catalog in Capture One 23?

When a newer version opens a catalog, it upgrades the database. Capture One 23 can’t open these upgraded files unless you revert to the original version using the backup file created during the upgrade.

Where can I find the backup of my old catalog or session?

Backups are stored in the same folder as your original catalog or session. They will have a .backup extension (e.g., .cosessiondb.backup or .cocatalogdb.backup).

Will I lose edits made in the newer version?

Yes. Any adjustments or edits made in the newer version will not be present in the restored Capture One 23 catalog or session.

Does this apply to both sessions and catalogs?

Yes. The process is the same for both Capture One sessions (.cosessiondb) and catalogs (.cocatalogdb).