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dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
May 26, 2025
Answered

Automatically write to XMP does not write anything

  • May 26, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 718 views

Lightroom Classic 14.3.1; Windows 11; NEF photos from Nikon Z6ii

 

I have the box in Catalog settings "Automatically write changes into XMP" checked. I have confirmed this by checking and double-checking. I have also turned it off, shut down LrC, and then re-opened LrC and checked the box. The .xmp files are not updated "automatically". None of this helped.

 

Whatever changes I make to the .NEF files, the .xmp files are not updated. How do I know? At the same time I am editing in LrC or adding metadata in LrC, I have a Windows Explorer window on my screen showing the folder with the .xmp file in question. I make changes in LrC, the modified date on the .xmp file does not change, and the size of the .xmp file does not change. If I add a keyword to the file, such as "Barn", I can search the .xmp file with a text editor, and that keyword is not in the .xmp file. Even if I wait 5 minutes and shut down LrC and come back later, the size and modified date of the .xmp file has not changed.

 

If I use the command Metadata->Save Metadata to File, and observe the size of the .xmp file and the modified date of the .xmp file, these change within 2-3 seconds as expected.

 

I have reset the preference file, this did not help.

 

What should I try next?

2 replies

dj_paige
dj_paigeAuthorCorrect answer
Legend
May 27, 2025

I will try this solution when I get home. https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/lr-classic-14-1-doesn-t-automatically-save-xmp-metadata/m-p/15117879#M394549

dj_paige
dj_paigeAuthor
Legend
May 27, 2025
quote

I will try this solution when I get home. https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/lr-classic-14-1-doesn-t-automatically-save-xmp-metadata/m-p/15117879#M394549


By @dj_paige

 

This is the solution. I had to turn on the auto save to XMP in both places, as shown at the link. Maybe it only required to be changed in one place, I don't know.

    johnrellis
    johnrellis
    Legend
    May 27, 2025

    [This post contains formatting and embedded images that don't appear in email. View the post in your Web browser.]

     

    Did it show up initally as Paused in the identity-plate menu?

     

    johnrellis
    johnrellis
    Legend
    May 27, 2025

    I think there have been a fair number of reports about Automatically Write Changes the last couple of years -- not a flood, but more than a few.

     

    Do the metadata status icons in the upper-right corner of thumbnails get updated properly?

    dj_paige
    dj_paigeAuthor
    Legend
    May 27, 2025

    No icon is shown in the upper-right corner of thumbnails. So the metadata in the catalog after edits and the metadata in the catalog after adding keywords does not match the .xmp file, but no icon appears.

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