When exporting from Lightroom on iPad, the correct metadata is not recognized by Apple Photos
Device/app: iPad Pro (M5), Lightroom for iOS 11.6.21, Fujifilm X-T50 RAW (.RAF)
Workflow:
1. Export the unmodified RAW original from Apple Photos.
2. Edit in Lightroom.
3. Export as JPEG, Metadata: All Metadata, Save to Device.
Expected: The edited photo lands in Apple Photos next to the same shoot's photos imported directly from the camera's SD card, at the correct capture time and time zone.
Actual:
- The capture time inside Lightroom is correct (21:08:11).
- The exported JPEG contains the correct DateTimeOriginal (2026:10:23 21:08:11), but with OffsetTimeOriginal -07:00. The XMP create date also carries -07:00.
- Apple Photos shows the time zone as GMT-07:00. The SD-card photos from the same shoot show Chicago (-05:00 in October).
- Result: Photos displays 9:08 PM but sorts the photo about two hours late, among photos taken around 11 PM.
Also observed: with iOS 12-hour time on, the capture date was replaced by the export date. Turning on 24-Hour Time fixed that, which matches other reports in this forum.
What I don't know: where the -07:00 originates. It could come from the camera, from Apple Photos' RAW export step, or from Lightroom. I have not yet tested importing the RAW directly from the SD card into Lightroom to isolate it.
Workaround that works (seconds preserved):
1. In Lightroom, tap the pencil next to the capture date and shift the time back by the offset gap (2 hours here).
2. Export as above.
3. In Apple Photos, Adjust Date & Time: change only the Time Zone to the real one and leave the clock alone.
Why not simply fix it in Photos: changing the zone converts the clock time (21:08:11 becomes 23:08:11), and re-entering the correct time loses the seconds because Photos has no seconds field. That scrambles the order of photos shot within the same minute.
Requests:
1. Please confirm whether Lightroom for iOS writes or alters the time zone offset on export.
2. Please preserve the source file's offset, or write one that matches the device's time zone.
3. Please add a time zone option to Edit Capture Time on iPad.
Screenshots attached: Lightroom Info panel, Photos Adjust Date & Time (zone GMT-07:00 vs Chicago).
