Skip to main content
DClark064
August 5, 2026
Acknowledged

P: LrC 15.5 Video Files Issues (Windows)

I updated to LrC 15.5 a few hours ago.  Since then LrC has problems with video files.  The first problem I noticed was that when I tried to synchronize a folder that had two new video files.  After a couple of minutes I got the error message “An unknown error occurred while reading the video file. (2)”.  I had just completed those files with DaVinci Resolve so I went back and produced the same files again to check if DR had made an error.  When I tried again with the new files but got the same errors.  I was able to play both videos without any issue using VLC Media Player, so they seem to be OK.  I then shutdown LrC and did a backup including optimizing the catalog, and then restarted it to see if that made any difference, but same error.  Then I started looking at other videos that were already in LrC and found that when browsing them in the Library module, most of them pop up a message “There was an error working with the video”.  They will not play in LrC but work fine with VLC Media Player. 

Prior to upgrading to 15.5 I did not experience any of these errors. Is anyone else seeing these problems?

 

    156 replies

    Participating Frequently
    September 24, 2026

    Error while importing from GoPro Mission 1 Pro. Any fix?

    Translate
    Participating Frequently
    September 24, 2026

    I contacted support tonight on this.  A nice friendly person called Roshan said they would escalate this up to the next tiers and that someone would come and update us here (or me by email).

    Translate
    Michael J. Hoffman
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    September 24, 2026

    I’d like to add to this (probably another form of the same bug). For HEVC videos taken on iPhone 16 Pro, then imported to LR Mobile on my device, these sync just fine to LR in the cloud, and I can see them on LR Web and my other mobile devices (i.e. iPad with LR Mobile).

     

    However, when LR Classic 15.5.1 on my Windows 11 machine attempts to sync the videos, they result it an Error. I’ve even removed these videos from cloud and reimported them from the device. All the videos have this error. Other photos are importing fine.

     

    I can also confirm that LR is unable to work with or even display thumbnails for videos that were previously imported:

     

     

     

    Translate
    nico.kaiser
    Known Participant
    September 24, 2026

    Same issue here with 15.5 AND 15.5.1 in LR CC on Windows! I can’t import new HEVC videos or even play already imported HEVC videos.

    Translate
    nico.kaiser
    Known Participant
    October 5, 2026

    Issue still present in 15.6! Come on Adobe!

    Official workaround is not usable to me because 15.4.1 has another bug which prevents AI-denoised images from being opened as layers in Photoshop 😡

    Translate
    Known Participant
    September 24, 2026

    Same problem. Trying to import video files from a pixel 10 pro to version 15.5.1

    Translate
    Thor Egil Leirtrø Freelance concert photographer - thoregilphoto.com
    Participating Frequently
    September 23, 2026

    I see this thread tagged as “needs more info”…  anyone know what info is being asked for ?
    I’m not seeing anything here at the moment that tells me Adobe is even looking at this as an issue.

    Translate
    Participant
    September 21, 2026

    I have an iPhone15 and am running Lightroom on Windows 11. Had the same problem with 15.5 and hoped it would be fixed in the 15.5.1 that came out a few weeks ago but it wasn't. Wound back to 15.4.1 and all worked perfectly so it's a 15.5, 15.5.1 problem running on Windows. We live in hope that it may be fixed but I'm using the 'most compatible' setting in the iPhone camera app until it is.

    Translate
    andreasw5942258
    Inspiring
    September 21, 2026

    Same problem here. 

    Translate
    Participant
    September 13, 2026

    Confirming this on 15.5.1 with an additional data point that may help to
    pin down the regression - and confirming that the rollback works.

    Every HEVC/H.265 video fails to import with "An unknown error occurred
    while reading the video file", while H.264 files import normally in the
    very same batch.

    The key observation: this is not about specific files or cameras. My
    catalog already contains HEVC videos that Lightroom Classic itself
    imported in earlier versions (iPhone 8 Main profile, iPhone 15 Pro Main 10,
    1080p and 4K). When I copy those exact same files to a new folder and
    re-import them with 15.5.1, they now fail as well. Same files, same
    machine, same catalog - only the Lightroom version changed.

    CONFIRMED WORKAROUND: rolling back to 15.4.1 fixes it completely. The
    exact same files that failed under 15.5.1 - including 4K HEVC and files
    from three different devices - import without a single error. The catalog
    needed no modification and opened normally after the downgrade.

    What I ruled out by testing before rolling back, in case it saves someone
    time:
    * Location: fails identically from a local SSD and from a network share.
    * GPU setting in Lightroom: "Custom", "Auto" and "Off" - no difference.
    * Video cache cleared via Preferences > Performance - no difference.
    * Windows GPU assignment for Lightroom.exe: "High performance" and
      "Let Windows decide" - no difference.
    * Windows decoding is fine: Films & TV and all other installed players
      play the files normally.
    * Hardware decoding is fine: ffmpeg decodes the same files without a
      single error using -hwaccel cuda, d3d11va, dxva2 and qsv.
    * Microsoft HEVC Video Extension 2.5.33.0 installed, status OK.

    So the failure is specific to Lightroom Classic 15.5/15.5.1 and unrelated
    to hardware, drivers, codecs, paths or GPU configuration.

    System: Lightroom Classic 15.5.1 (202608131348-cab7eed5), Windows 11 Home
    build 26200, MSI Vector 16 HX AI A2XWIG, Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32 GB,
    NVIDIA RTX 5080 Laptop (driver 32.0.16.1078) + Intel Graphics
    (driver 32.0.101.6629).

    Happy to provide sample files that fail - including ones this same
    catalog imported successfully under an earlier version.

    Translate
    Participant
    September 7, 2026

    I have the same problem with LrC 15.5. Can’t play previously imported MOV or MP4 video files and also can’t import MOV or MP4 video files. Called LR support and they said they will no longer be supporting video playback or importing in LrC. I don’t know how they can get away with that. I have thousands of video files that are organized in LrC and now I can’t see them natively in LrC or continue to organize future videos using LrC. Time to go find a new app to replace Lightroom.

    Translate
    johnrellis
    Legend
    September 16, 2026

    [View this post in your web browser. It contains formatting and images that don't appear in email.]

    ​@coreypro2 Called LR support and they said they will no longer be supporting video playback or importing in LrC. 

     

    Adobe technical support for LR can’t be trusted -- over the years, they’ve acquired the reputation of saying anything to close out an issue.

     

    In this instance, this thread contains a bug report acknowledged by Adobe (since it remains in the Bugs section). In general, the most authoritative information about bugs is provided here by the Adobe moderators, often well before that information reaches Adobe technical support.

     

    So until an Adobe moderator responds here, I think you should assume what Adobe technical support said is bogus.  LR 16 will almost certainly arrive the beginning of November, and if Adobe intends to discontinue support for video in LR Classic (which I doubt), it will surely be announced as part of LR 16.

     

    In the meantime, rolling back to LR 15.4.1 works around the problem.

    Translate
    DClark064
    DClark064Author
    September 17, 2026

    John, I agree that the Adobe tech support is giving out bogus information, but that seems to be the only response from Adobe on this issue other than moving this thread from Questions to Bug-Reports. It may be that Adobe will fix this issue in the November release, but that is only a wish.  It may be much longer.  LrC has been unable to open and play h.265 videos for a long time.  Now LrC cannot even import them.  That’s not progress. 

    We have many examples of bugs that have existed for many years and show no sign of being fixed.  I wish Adobe was more respectful of their customers and would make some statement on this issue, and others.  I wish you were managing Adobe’s LrC development.  I think we would see an immediate improvement in the quality of releases and the responsiveness to customers. 

    Translate