Answered

Backup Lightroom Classic

Forum|Forum|7 months ago
November 28, 2025
3 replies
572 views

I’m experiencing a persistent issue with the Lightroom Classic catalog backup process.
Even though the catalog works normally during editing, every time I try to back it up, Lightroom fails to complete the backup and shows an error. I’ve already tried:

Creating a new destination folder and selecting it manually
Moving the catalog to a different drive (internal SSD and external SSD)
Ensuring there is enough free space on both the catalog and backup drives
Running Lightroom as Administrator
Resetting Lightroom preferences

Despite these attempts, the backup still fails. No backup files are generated, and Lightroom keeps prompting me to back up again. There are no clear error codes inside Lightroom, just a generic backup failure message.

It seems to be related to the catalog writing permissions, file locking, or possibly a bug introduced in the latest Lightroom Classic update. I need support to investigate the catalog integrity and diagnose why the backup cannot be completed even though the catalog opens and works normally.

Experiment

Correct answer it1foggy

For now, I've solved the problem by creating a new catalog and importing only the latest jobs I needed.
I didn't import the older ones, however. Now everything works, even the backup. Try this. 
There's probably a problem with some folder or file in the old catalog that's preventing the backup.

Y

yPelle

I'm having a similar issue with V15.0.1 catalogue on MacOS (Tahoe). The error message stated that I don't have sufficient disk space.

I

it1foggyAuthorCorrect answer

For now, I've solved the problem by creating a new catalog and importing only the latest jobs I needed.
I didn't import the older ones, however. Now everything works, even the backup. Try this. 
There's probably a problem with some folder or file in the old catalog that's preventing the backup.

JohanElzenga

Community Expert

Remember that you can always use a separate backup utility to backup your old catalog. Lightroom Classic also verifies and optimizes the catalog when it makes a backup, but it has a separate menu for optimizing as well.

-- Johan W. Elzenga

JohanElzenga

Community Expert

This is a known problem that is caused catalog corruption. What you could try is this: Create a brand new catalog and choose 'File - Import from Another Catalog'. Select your old catalog to import. In the import dialog choose to import all photos, but do not move them. This will create an exact copy of your old catalog, but usually without the corruption. The only thing that won't come across is any publishing services you may have. You will have to recreate those. If you synced your catalog then you will have to enable sync for the new catalog. There are some reports that this could cause a problem. Here’s how to solve that: https://www.danhartfordphoto.com/blog/2025/1/lr026-fixing-sync-problems-caused-by-switching-the-sync-catalog

-- Johan W. Elzenga

I

it1foggyAuthor

I've already tried this but it didn't work. What other solutions do you recommend? thanks

GoldingD

Legend

Two things

1. Can you copy and paste the text in that pop up window as to allow members to translate. I suspect that message suggests checking folder permissions and ensuring sufficient space on both the backup drive and the main catalog drive ( and you appear to have attempted to fix exactly that)

2. Have you considered creating a new catalog, then backing that catalog up to see if the error repeats? In case a existing catalog has a problem. ( see the reply from JohanElzenga below)

I

it1foggyAuthor

With a new catalog, backup works anywhere on the disk. Is there a way to fix this with the old catalog? Thanks a lot.

JohanElzenga

Community Expert

You said the fix I gave you doesn't work. What does not work? Can you not import your old catalog? Can you import it but does the new copy have the same problem that it does not want to backup?

-- Johan W. Elzenga

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.