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J
JimFeet
Participant
June 24, 2026
Answered

DNG Converter are converted files intact with keywords, etc. in the LR Catalog?

  • June 24, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 10 views

Now that Adobe has moved the DNG converter out of LR Classic… 

In my LR Classic catalog containing over 100,000 images I have thousands of CR3 images that now apparently may need to be converted to DNG’s.

If I run the DNG Converter app on CR3 images already in my LR catalog, do the converted files replace the original CR3’s in LR and retain the keywords and LR processing history, etc. as it used to when the DNG conversion was integrated in LR?

Or… Does the DNG Converter just blithely convert the CR3’s to DNG’s obliterating the keywords and history and requiring them to be re-imported as new files?

I’ve been unable to find an explanation.

    Correct answer Rob_Cullen

    What makes you think that Converting to DNG is not possible in Lightroom-Classic?

    I still see it in the [Library] menu for photos already in the catalog-

    You can also still Import photos by [Copy as DNG]

     

    “ If I run the DNG Converter app on CR3 images already in my LR catalog, do the converted files replace the original CR3’s in LR and retain the keywords and LR processing history, etc.”

    NO.  Use the DNG Converter app and the catalog will not identify the change of file-type, and so then show the CR3s as ‘Missing’ and not linkable: BIG problem!. Keywords and editing will be lost if you re-import the DNG versions.

    If you want your files as DNG- run the menu command in LrC. Consider, there are many users that no longer bother to change to DNG as proprietary files are compatible for the foreseeable future. Further- space saving is not as important with large drives, and some cameras record proprietary specific info in their files that may not be accessible in a converted DNG.

     

     

    3 replies

    J
    JimFeetAuthor
    Participant
    June 25, 2026

    Agreed! I’ve been a LR user since it was introduced and I used the DNG convert menu item all the time but it seemed to have been removed (or moved) recently. But was prominent in the latest LR update so I’m happy and we can ignore this.

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 25, 2026

    “ it seemed to have been removed (or moved) recently”-  No. Has always been in Lightroom-Classic.

    “ in the latest LR update”-  Lr (Lightroom) is a different app entirely.

    Are you fully aware of the difference between the two apps?  https://www.lightroomqueen.com/lightroom-cc-vs-classic-features/

     

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.4.1, Photoshop 27.8, ACR 18.4, Lightroom 9.4, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .
    Jim Wilde
    Community Expert
    Jim WildeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 24, 2026

    Rob’s given you the correct answer for Lightroom Classic. However, you’ve posted your question in the Lightroom Ecosystem forum which excludes Lightroom Classic but does include the Lightroom Desktop (cloud) app. Lightroom Desktop does NOT include an option to convert raw files to DNG. Which app are you referring to? 

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    June 24, 2026

    What makes you think that Converting to DNG is not possible in Lightroom-Classic?

    I still see it in the [Library] menu for photos already in the catalog-

    You can also still Import photos by [Copy as DNG]

     

    “ If I run the DNG Converter app on CR3 images already in my LR catalog, do the converted files replace the original CR3’s in LR and retain the keywords and LR processing history, etc.”

    NO.  Use the DNG Converter app and the catalog will not identify the change of file-type, and so then show the CR3s as ‘Missing’ and not linkable: BIG problem!. Keywords and editing will be lost if you re-import the DNG versions.

    If you want your files as DNG- run the menu command in LrC. Consider, there are many users that no longer bother to change to DNG as proprietary files are compatible for the foreseeable future. Further- space saving is not as important with large drives, and some cameras record proprietary specific info in their files that may not be accessible in a converted DNG.

     

     

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.4.1, Photoshop 27.8, ACR 18.4, Lightroom 9.4, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .
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