Skip to main content
CHD31571240bqwv
Inspiring
Nov 11, 2025 1:31 PM UTC
Answered

Keywords missing in Bridge

Yesterday I discovered that the Keywords list in Bridge 16.0 (2026) was totally empty! Before that I assigned keywords on November 6th latest (probably even on November 9th). I checked the XML file in users\..appdata\roaming etc, but the file size was just 1KB and it had no keywords in it. When checking the 2025 and 2024 XML files, I saw they too were empty. How can I recover the keywords I used until November 6th or November 9th? I updated Bridge from 2025 to 2026 about a week ago.

 

 

 

CHD31571240bqwvCorrect answer
Inspiring
Nov 11, 2025 9:12 PM UTC

In the end a combination of both answers worked for me: first importing the excisting file from the October 19th export and after that selecting the keywords from the folders I edited since then. Took a little while, but worked. Thank you both again!

View reply

7 replies

CHD31571240bqwvAuthorCorrect answer
Inspiring
Nov 11, 2025 9:12 PM UTC

In the end a combination of both answers worked for me: first importing the excisting file from the October 19th export and after that selecting the keywords from the folders I edited since then. Took a little while, but worked. Thank you both again!

Translate
Erik Bloodaxe
Erik Bloodaxe
Legend
Nov 11, 2025 3:33 PM UTC

It is also a wise idea to export your keywords list on a regular basis so that, in the event of losing them, they can be imported again. I do this every day without fail!

Translate
    CHD31571240bqwvAuthor
    Inspiring
    Nov 11, 2025 7:56 PM UTC

    Thank you Erik. The latest export I made was on October 19th. So this could be the solution, although I will have to re-assign all edited keywords since then. But I fear this is the way to restore my keywords. Thanks again

    Translate
    ExUSA
    Legend
    Nov 11, 2025 2:10 PM UTC

    Find image files that contain keywords, select them all, then you can add everything as persistent keywords.

    Translate
    CHD31571240bqwvAuthor
    Inspiring
    Nov 11, 2025 7:53 PM UTC

    Thanks for the suggestion, but unless I am mistaken it would mean I loose my hierarchy and the keywords will be treated as external keywords (given the fact they are in Italic font). Or do I miss something?

    Translate
    CHD31571240bqwvAuthor
    Inspiring
    Nov 11, 2025 8:00 PM UTC

    Sorry, I missed the possibility to change external to persistent. Please skip that part of the question

    Translate
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices