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Participant
June 29, 2026
Answered

AI Denoise fails with "An unexpected error occurred while processing" on every RAW file in Lightroom Classic 15.3.1 on macOS 26.5.1 (M1 Max, 64 GB RAM). Reinstalling Lightroom did not resolve the issue.

  • June 29, 2026
  • 7 replies
  • 219 views

Lightroom Classic version: 15.3.1

Operating System: macOS 26.5.1

Computer: MacBook Pro M1 Max, 64 GB RAM

Cameras affected:

  • Canon R5 Mark II

  • Canon R6 Mark II

Description:

AI Denoise suddenly stopped working during an editing session. It had been working earlier the same day and then began failing on every RAW file.

The issue affects RAW files from both Canon cameras and occurs across different folders and catalogs.

When I select Photo → Enhance → Denoise → Enhance, Lightroom either displays:

"An unexpected error occurred while processing."

or no Enhanced DNG is created.

Troubleshooting already completed:

  • Restarted Mac.

  • Reinstalled Lightroom Classic.

  • Cleared Camera Raw cache.

  • Verified over 600 GB of free disk space.

  • Tested multiple RAW files from different folders.

  • Tested files from two different cameras.

  • Catalog and RAW files are on an external drive.

  • Lightroom edits, exports, and all other functions work normally.

  • AI Denoise is the only feature that consistently fails.

This appears to be a regression because Denoise was working earlier in the same editing session before it suddenly stopped.

    Correct answer JohanElzenga

    This forum is full of threads about this problem. Update to Lightroom Classic 15.4.1 and it’s solved.

    7 replies

    Hazlip Creative
    Inspiring
    July 28, 2026

    Updating or LrC 15.4.1 is not an option for me. I’m on a 2017 iMac maxed out at OS Ventura 13.7.8, Radeon Pro 580 8GB, Intel 4.2GHz Quad-Core i7. LrC 15.4.1 will not run on Ventura. What am I supposed to do?

    dj_paige
    Legend
    July 28, 2026

    Updating or LrC 15.4.1 is not an option for me. I’m on a 2017 iMac maxed out at OS Ventura 13.7.8, Radeon Pro 580 8GB, Intel 4.2GHz Quad-Core i7. LrC 15.4.1 will not run on Ventura. What am I supposed to do?

    Get a new Mac?

    Hazlip Creative
    Inspiring
    July 28, 2026

    Not an option with current pricing. Believe me, I’ve gone around and around looking at new hardware options, but everything out there in the market right now is less than what I have for more money than what I paid.

    I have a 27” 5K monitor and 3TB internal hard drive that I paid around $2,000 for in 2018. Now I would have to pay $2,000 just for a new Mac with that amount of storage, and it wouldn’t include a monitor, keyboard, or mouse. That’s just the box itself. I have three external 8TB drives also, but I’m not factoring those into the price.

    Today, the 27” 5k monitor alone would be another $1,600 or more from Apple, and $1,000 or more from BenQ. I really like my current hardware setup, other than the fact that the CPU is outdated and the storage is maxed out. lol. There just isn’t anything else on the market right now that matches it for the price. And I really don’t want to go back to Windows either.

    Adobe and Apple both charging a premium is killing small businesses like mine. Ironically, at the same time AI is reducing the value of the creative services I’ve been providing for 30 years. It’s unsustainable. 

    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    June 29, 2026

    This forum is full of threads about this problem. Update to Lightroom Classic 15.4.1 and it’s solved.

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    Participant
    June 29, 2026

    Thank you for the reply! I’ll give that a try right now- really appreciate it!