Edit a copy in PS with LR adjustments issues

The versions of everything all match up. No special file characters at all. This happened a long time ago on this machine and an update seemed to fix it (Cant remember which one). This started sometime last year again after an update but I got so frustrated I stopped using PS as a secondary editor. Never a Beta version installed. The removal tool is the newer one like the remove distractions or people ect. I went thru an AI help for almost 4 hours and determined this.  

Lightroom Classic 15.5 fails to transfer in-memory Develop settings to Photoshop via Edit in Photoshop. Saving metadata to XMP (Ctrl-S in LR) before Edit in Photoshop works around the issue. Camera Raw correctly reads the XMP. Same versions work on another Windows 11 computer. Also works if you save the metadata and then open the raw (XMP version) directly into PS. The only odd thing left after that is the image looks a bit muted still like its undersaturated or not fully using the color space as LR does. Both are set to ProPhoto.

I’m thinking my only last effort would be to totally remove anything Adobe from the computer using Revo uninstaller and clean it all fully and reinstall the CC App, LRC and PS. I have already exported my LR presets and PS actions. Just wondering if grabbing the catalog im currently using on a fresh install will pass along the issue. 

Hi ​@Steve Land Photography,

Thanks for reaching out and for the detailed description of what you've already tried. I can see you've been thorough with reinstalls and catalog testing. Before I move forward with some troubleshooting steps, could you confirm the Camera Raw, LrC & PS versions, and whether any beta or older versions are installed for any of them?

Here are some targeted things to check:

1. Check your file path for special characters. If any folder in the path to your RAW files contains an apostrophe ('), curly/typographic quotes, or other special characters (e.g., D:\Photos\Steve's Work\...), the handoff can fail silently, and the image opens in PS without the LR adjustments applied. If you find any, rename the offending folder(s) outside of Lightroom Classic, then right-click the folder in LRC's Library panel and choose Find Missing Folder to relink it.

2. When LRC and Photoshop use different Camera Raw versions, the adjustment handoff can break down. In Photoshop, go to Photoshop 2026 > About Plug-Ins > Camera Raw and compare the version to what LRC is using (shown in Lightroom Classic > About Lightroom Classic). They should be on the same major version. If they're mismatched, update Photoshop and its Camera Raw plug-in.

3. Test with a file that has never had Enhance/Super Resolution applied and see if that opens up in PS with other edits.
    

A few questions to help narrow this down further:

1. You mentioned a travel laptop that works correctly. On your main machine, do you currently have (or have you previously had) both Photoshop and Photoshop Beta installed?

2. When you say object removal transfers correctly, are you using the Remove tool or the older Spot Removal/Healing tool? This distinction helps us understand which part of the adjustment pipeline is failing.

3. Is this happening with all RAW file types (e.g., .CR3, .NEF, .ARW) or a specific camera's files?

Looking forward to helping you resolve this.

Best,

Anshul Saini