Where Does Shotwell Store Its Photo Database?
Shotwell data folder on Linux with photo.db library database, thumbnails and settings.
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Shotwell keeps its photo library index in photo.db under its data folder, with thumbnails alongside. Originals stay in your Pictures tree and are only referenced, unless you told Shotwell to copy on import.
Tags, ratings and edits live in the database, not the files. Back up photo.db plus the originals or organization evaporates on restore.
Where Shotwell stores this, by platform
~/.local/share/shotwell/photo.db
Main library database with tags, events and edits. Thumbnails sit in the thumb subfolder next door. Photos stay in your own library paths. Copy photo.db with Shotwell closed; SQLite dislikes live copies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up my Shotwell library?
Copy photo.db plus the thumbnail folder with Shotwell closed, alongside your actual photo files. The database alone cannot restore missing originals.
Where are Shotwell thumbnails?
In the thumb folders next to photo.db above. Delete them to reclaim space; they regenerate on next browse.
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