P: LrC 12.2.1 fails to start/launch or is extremely slow launching.

@evan.sante, "After removing the JSON file even if everything is working set your Adobe Preferences"

Yes, that's the first step in the workaround -- see here for the complete list of steps:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-lrc-12-2-1-fails-to-start-launch-or-is-extremely-slow-launching/idc-p/13695275/page/6#M41952

A number of people have reported that the option Share Information On How I Use Adobe Desktop App has been getting turned back on automatically after they turned off.  It's been turned back on for me four times in the last week or so.

So it's entirely possible that's what happened to you -- it got turned back on, and when you restarted LR, it picked up the new value of the option.

All,

Just as an FYI... 

If you remove the JSON File without reseting your Adobe Preferences and everything is working  the issue WILL RETURN.

Initially on my personal install of Lightroom I only removed the JSON file and everything worked for a week but this afternoon after a reboot the issue came back.

!!! - After removing the JSON file even if everything is working set your Adobe Preferences (See Screenshot) - CES

I have also encountered the issue of Lightroom Classic 12.2.1 failing to open on my PC running Windows 11. I returned from several weeks away and updated Lightroom Classic and the other Adobe programs in my 20GB Photography plan, before importing approximately 5000 images. I deleted some unusable images, added keywords and then started to process some of the images in the Develop module. I decided to edit one in Topaz AI, which advised me that there was an upgrade available, so I closed Lightroom Classic and ran the Topaz AI upgrade.

On completing the Topaz upgrade to 1.2.9, Lightroom Classic would not reopen. The blue circle was displayed briefly but the splash screen did not appear. Windows Task Manager showed that Lightroom Classic was running, so I closed it and moved the lrcat-lock, -shm and -wal files to the recycle bin, reset preferences and tried unsuccessfully to restart. Some time later I returned to my PC and noticed that Lightroom Classic had reopened so I optimised the catalog and processed several more images. I saw that 4 images appeared to have stuck in the synch process so I selected the option to 'rebuild synch data' under 'Preferences' and the Lightroom Classic screen closed and failed to reopen.

After researching the issue in the Adobe Support Community and 'Lightroomqueen' forums, I have turned off the option to share information with Adobe in the Creative Cloud Desktop, restarted my PC and deleted the file 'metrics.json' file as recommended and I am pleased to find that Lightroom Classic now appears to be working again. Thank you to all for the advice.

@Jimmy29198263p4bzThere are full instructions for Windows at https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-lrc-12-2-1-fails-to-start-launch-or-is-extremely-slow-launching/idc-p/13695275/page/6#M41952

I have the same problem, on pc, the latest version 12.2.1 won't start. I tried a clean install did't work, i tried older version the same, only ehen i reach 11.5 version worked. Why adobe won't fix this it's been 3 days for me now, an i see people with more than 7 days with this problem?

For me, all my other programs work fine. I can search the web and use word and do whatever else. I just can't use adobe.

Mine was closed and restart performed prior. Just had the laptop in at Apple maybe a graphic card failure. 

hopefully get a new machine and test it in the next few days

I'm having the same issues. I'm on a PC and it completely crashes windows 10 for me. The same thing happens with photoshop as well. I'm guessing it's probably all the recent adobe apps that were recently updated. The work around provided doesn't work for me since I'm not on a mac. I'm unable to use either Photoshop or Lightroom as a result of this.

Kerry Wilcox

and 

Berts74084431

Was LrC open when you looked for the file? If so, try again, but with LrC closed.

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@Micke, Finland wrote:

Hi,

 

LRC 12.2.1 is not starting anymore, just launches as a background process using significant amounts of RAM and CPU, but the visible window never shows up. 

 

I have already:

- Tried the alt-shift-click thingie.

- Tried logging out and in from CC.

- Wiping all data files from the computer and letting LRC create a fresh Lightroom folder and catalog file (sometimes it does that, sometimes it hangs before the folder is created). 

- Wiping all Adobe products with the cleaner tool and reinstalling just LRC.

- I have even formatted and reisntalled the computer (becuase it was a good time to do that anyway).

 

But LRC still fails. What to do next?

 

Edition Windows 10 Pro
Version 22H2
Installed on ‎17.‎03.‎2023
OS build 19045.2728
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.4190.0

 

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@berts74084431 , the file name is " metrics.json file "

You will not find the file if LrC is open or running in the background.