Always back up first

Before any big change — a major cleanup, moving drives, or updating the app — make a backup. It takes a minute and means you can always get back to where you were.

In the Library tab, choose Export library. As Brolla describes it: “Save every clip’s metadata — names, paths, tags, notes, durations — as a CSV (for spreadsheets) and a JSON (full backup). You’ll pick where to save them.” The CSV is handy for opening in a spreadsheet; the JSON is the full backup you’ll use to rebuild later. Click Export library… and choose a safe spot, ideally on a separate drive.

Rebuilding or merging

To restore from that backup, use Import library and the Import from JSON… button. Brolla “re-links to media still on disk, copies in any media stored elsewhere, and brings back every name, tag and note.”

If you’re bringing one library into another, you’ll be offered merge choices: Merge into this library, Skip them, Update them, or Replace everything. Pick Skip them to keep what you already have, Update them to refresh existing entries, or Replace everything to start clean from the backup.

Moving to another drive

A Brolla library is just a folder. To move it to a bigger or faster drive, quit Brolla, copy the whole library folder across in Finder, then open it again from Brolla on its new home. Your media, tags and notes all travel together because they live inside that one folder.