Libraries and importing

Create a library, then import your images and videos. The library stores organization, thumbnails, and search data. Your import mode determines whether it also keeps a copy of each original.

Import your first files

1. Open a library. To create one, click the library name at the top of the sidebar and choose New Library.
2. Drag files or folders into the window, or choose ＋ (Import) → Import Assets to select files.
3. Open the import queue to check the result. Resolve any reported errors, then retry failed items.
4. For text-to-image search or image similarity search, wait for the visual index. Searching dialogue requires the subtitle index.

Importing and search readiness are separate stages. You can browse and organize imported media while indexes build in the background. An index failure does not remove an imported asset.

Two ways to import folders

What you want	How to do it
Import Assets from a folder and all its subfolders	Drag the folder into the window.
Create a category with each folder's name and import only its first-level media	Choose ＋ (Import) → Import Folder and select one or more folders. Existing same-named categories are reused.

Importing inside a folder's asset list puts new assets in that folder. Importing inside a tag's asset list applies that tag. Duplicates normally reuse the existing asset and keep its folder; importing a duplicate from a tag page adds the current tag.

Supported files

Images: JPEG, PNG, WebP, BMP, GIF, SVG, HEIC, and HEIF. Videos: MP4, MOV, M4V, AVI, MKV, and WebM, including ProRes RAW / RAW HQ. The extension should match the actual media format.

A successful import does not guarantee that the operating system can play the video directly. For Windows decoding messages, see Windows video extensions. To associate matching subtitle files, see Subtitle search.

Choose how originals are stored

Open Settings → Asset Storage → Import mode. Keep the default, Copy into library, if you are unsure. Changes affect future imports and do not convert existing assets.

Asset Storage settings with import mode and invalid-source checks

Asset Storage settings with import mode and invalid-source checks

Mode	Where the original lives	What to know
Copy into library (default)	A copy is stored inside the library.	Uses extra space. Moving or deleting the external source later does not affect the library copy.
Reference source files	The original stays where it is; the library records its path.	Avoids a second original copy. Playback, export, and trimming require the source to remain accessible at that path.

Both modes keep thumbnails, organization, and completed search indexes in the library, and can coexist in one library. If a referenced file is moved, renamed, or offline, its existing thumbnails and indexes remain available for browsing and search. Re-import the same file from its new location to restore the link.

Large collections

Keep the library on a local disk. Reference large originals when they already have a stable storage location. The Free edition's 5 GiB quota counts active original media, including referenced files.

Build search indexes after importing

Indexes are local search data that help ClipSeek find content. The two types serve different purposes:

Index	What it enables	What it needs
Visual index	Describe a scene, search with an image, or find video keyframes.	Local AI models and access to the original during processing.
Subtitle index	Find video moments by dialogue in a subtitle file.	Associated text subtitles. It does not transcribe speech.

Under Settings → Index management, Build visual indexes on import and Build subtitle indexes on import are enabled by default. You can turn them off and still import, browse, and organize. With visual indexing off, videos still get a cover image but no search keyframes.

These switches affect newly submitted imports only. Turning one off keeps existing indexes; turning it back on does not index older assets automatically. Select assets and choose Build search indexes to add missing indexes. This is also available in asset details, folder or tag multi-selection, and Index management.

See Manage search indexes for status, cancellation, and retry instructions.

Large imports and interrupted tasks

Check free disk space before importing. Copy mode needs room for another original; both modes need thumbnails, keyframes, and indexes. Use smaller batches when space is limited. Keep the computer awake and the sources and library disk accessible.

The import queue shows importing, visual indexing, subtitle indexing, and notices separately. Review errors and retry there. Clearing processing records only hides the records; it does not delete assets or indexes.

If the app or computer exits during import, reopen the same library and follow the Unfinished imports found prompt:

• Continue tasks resumes from the saved source paths and skips completed duplicate content. Restore source access, permissions, or free space first.
• Abandon tasks stops unfinished imports and keeps assets already in the library.

Submitted index tasks recover separately. Cancelled tasks need a manual index build. Check imported counts and index readiness separately.

Create, switch, and manage libraries

Click the library name at the top of the sidebar to open the library menu. When creating a library, enter a name, choose a color, and select a parent directory. ClipSeek creates the library inside it.

Library switching and management menu

Library switching and management menu

Action	Result
Import Library	Open an existing library directory or its library.json, for example after restoring a backup.
Rename Library	Change the library's display name.
Move Library Directory	Move the complete library after checking space. Use this to change its location.
Merge into…	Merge the source library's assets, folders, and tags into a target. After everything succeeds, delete the source directory and remove its registration.
Remove registration only	Remove the library from the list and keep its directory.
Delete files on disk too	Delete the complete library directory. ClipSeek cannot undo this.

Check the source and target before merging

A successful merge deletes the source library directory. Back up first, check the direction, and resolve the source library's Trash contents; its Trash must be empty. Referenced originals outside the library are neither copied nor deleted.

Keep the app open and disks accessible during migration or merging. Stop playback and other work using the media first. On failure, the source is kept; resolve space, permission, or missing-file errors before retrying. Completed items may already be present in the merge target.

Folders page with asset counts

Folders page with asset counts

Where to keep a library

Use a local disk. New libraries cannot be created, registered, or migrated to network volumes. Removable drives and cloud-synchronized directories are also poor choices for an actively used library. Do not let two computers or a sync service write to the same live library concurrently.

Keep the whole library directory together and avoid changing its internal files manually. Use Move Library Directory for relocation and follow Back up a library when making a backup.

What is inside a library directory?

My Library/
├── library.json       Basic library information
├── images/            Managed originals, thumbnails, and keyframes
└── .clipstudio/       Database, indexes, and recovery data (hidden)

The hidden .clipstudio directory must be included in backups. Referenced originals are outside the library and need a separate backup. Do not rename individual files under images, or edit or delete internal databases and indexes.