Lightroom Classic 15.5 fails to import photos. Import starts for 2–3 seconds, then stops and no photos are added to the catalog.

Adobe Lightroom Classic 15.5 import problem on Windows 11

Hi Adobe team and Lightroom Classic users,

I’m experiencing a serious import problem with Lightroom Classic 15.5 on my Windows PC, and this only started happening recently.

System:

• OS: Windows 11 Pro 25H2

• Lightroom Classic: 15.5

• Catalog: Tested with both my current catalog and an older catalog

• Photos: Sony ARW RAW files

• Import: Using Add

• Storage: Tested from different physical drives

Problem:

Lightroom can see and read the photos normally in the Import dialog. For example, I can select 1,446 ARW files and Lightroom correctly displays all the thumbnails and recognizes the files.

However, when I click Import, the import progress bar only runs for around 2 to 3 seconds and then disappears.

After that, Lightroom returns to the Library and shows:

All Photographs: 0

None of the photos are added to the catalog.

This is happening even when I try importing only a few photos.

What I have already tried:

• Tested the original photo drive

• Moved the photos to a completely different physical drive

• Tested my current Lightroom catalog

• Tested an older Lightroom catalog

• Tried importing only a few photos

• Reset Lightroom Classic preferences

• Confirmed Lightroom can read and display the RAW files in the Import dialog

• Used the normal Add import option

The result is the same every time.

This workflow has worked normally for me before, so I'm wondering if there is an issue with Lightroom Classic 15.5, Windows 11, or the current import process.

Could Adobe please advise what might be causing the import to terminate after only a few seconds?

Has anyone else experienced the same issue with Lightroom Classic 15.5 on Windows 11?

Thank you.