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The Complete Guide to Sessions in Capture One

Lily
  • Updated

Sessions in Capture One offer a flexible, file-based workflow ideal for tethered shooting, client work, or managing independent projects. This guide walks you through everything you need to know — from creating a Session to managing, moving, verifying, and upgrading it.

Contents

What is a Session in Capture One?

A Session is a self-contained project format in Capture One. It stores RAW files, adjustment settings, previews, and metadata in a single folder structure, making it easy to organize and transfer.

Why Use Sessions?

Sessions are especially useful for tethered shooting and short-term projects. They offer:

  • Fast access to files via favorite folders
  • Local image settings and cache
  • Simple portability
  • Flexibility for using your existing folder structure without importing

Compatibility

Sessions are supported on macOS and Windows, in all Capture One versions that include Session workflows.

How to Create a New Session

  1. Go to File > New Session, or click the + icon in the Library tool tab.
  2. Name your Session.
  3. Choose a template (or leave it as Blank).
  4. Rename or place Session folders (Capture, Selects, Output, Trash).
  5. Check "Open in new window" if needed.
  6. Click OK to finish.

Create Session UI

Opening a Session

You can open a Session in several ways:

  • File > Open and navigate to the .cosessiondb file
  • File > Open Recent to access up to 10 previous sessions
  • Drag & Drop the .cosessiondb file onto the Capture One icon (macOS)
  • Double-click the .cosessiondb file

Watch the video tutorial

Importing images into a Session

Please follow a separate article about this: Importing images into a Session

Working with Sessions in a Daily Workflow

You don't even have to import images using a Session, you can continue to use your existing folder structure. Simply go to the folder or individual image using the Finder/Explorer (macOS/Windows), then drag and drop it (Mac only) into the Session window or navigate to your image folders using the Session Library instead. The images will be displayed just as they would when using a Catalog or a typical Session. Any adjustments made are written to the local settings files and are used the next time you visit the image folder.

When it is necessary to move the image folders, the accompanying Session database file of a typical Session is not even necessary. Providing the CaptureOne sub-folder (containing the adjustment files) remains within the source images' folder, it can be moved to any location and viewed on any local computer running Capture One.

  1. Create a descriptive Session (e.g., Image Library).
  2. Drag folders/images into the Session window.
  3. Or browse your folders from the Library tool.
  4. Click images to display and adjust.

Settings are stored locally in a CaptureOne subfolder, enabling easy transport and reuse.

Workflow Browser

Managing Multiple Sessions at Once

  1. Enable Open in new window in Preferences > General.
  2. Open additional Sessions via File > Open Session.
  3. Drag and drop files between Sessions as needed.

Open in new window

Session Templates

Templates save time by storing Album and Favorite structures for reuse.

  1. Open a Session and configure the Albums/Favorites.
  2. Go to File > Save As Template.
  3. Name and save the template.
  4. When creating a new Session, select the template from the drop-down menu.

Moving and Relocating Sessions

  1. In Library, use (...) > Show Info for each folder.
  2. Ensure folder links are Relative to session.
  3. Close the Session.
  4. Use Finder/Explorer to move the Session folder to the new location.

Move Session

Opening a Moved Session for the First Time

  1. Open the .cosessiondb file in the new location.
  2. Confirm folder links via Library > Show Info.
  3. Use Show in Finder/Explorer to confirm paths.

Show Path

Deleting a Session

Before deleting:

  1. Confirm backups exist.
  2. Use Library > Show Info to verify folder paths.
  3. Delete the Session folder using your OS.

Note: Deleting a Session also deletes original files unless backed up.

Upgrading Sessions

When opening a Session from an earlier major version of Capture One, you’ll be prompted to upgrade the database. Your image adjustments won’t change — only the session database is updated.

  1. Open the .cosessiondb file.
  2. You’ll be prompted to Upgrade — this updates the database only.
  3. Your image variants remain unchanged.

Upgrade Dialog

Verifying and Repairing Sessions

Although a Session does not have the same extensive database of a Catalog, it still makes sense to run diagnostic checks occasionally on Sessions that may be used frequently. The operation looks for errors and repairs damage that might otherwise lead to the eventual corruption of the database.

  1. Go to File > Verify Catalog or Session.
  2. Select the .cosessiondb file.
  3. View results in the Verify Session dialog.

Verify Session

FAQ

Can I shoot tethered using a Session?

Yes, Sessions are ideal for tethered workflows.

Can I move a Session between computers?

Yes, as long as the CaptureOne folder and images are kept in the same relative structure.

What happens if I delete a Session folder?

All files inside are deleted unless you've backed them up.

Do Sessions require importing files?

No, you can browse your existing file system directly.

Can I use multiple Sessions at once?

Yes. Enable "Open in new window" in Preferences.

Do I need to upgrade Sessions when updating Capture One?

Yes, but only when switching between dot release versions (ex. 16.4 to 16.5)

Additional Information

  • Always make backups before moving or deleting Session folders
  • Session Favorites and Albums are stored in the .cosessiondb file
  • Templates don’t store actual images, only folder and album structure

Troubleshooting

  • Use Verify Session if you experience issues opening or saving a Session
  • Avoid working from external drives if they may be disconnected during editing
  • Always test one Session before batch-moving multiple

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