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Dennis Leister
Dennis Leister
Participant
January 29, 2026
Answered

How do I force LrC to update my outdated catalog?

I am using LRC v 15.11 with a V13.3 lrcat.  How do I force LRC to upgrade the catalog?

      JohanElzenga
      JohanElzengaCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      January 29, 2026

      You are probably confused, because Lightroom no longer renames the catalog when it upgrades it. That is why you think you are using an older version catalog, but that is technically not even possible. If a catalog opens in Lightroom Classic 15, then it has already been upgraded to version 15, even if the name is still ‘catalog V13.3’.

      -- Johan W. Elzenga
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      6 replies

      Dennis Leister
      Dennis LeisterAuthor
      Participant
      January 29, 2026

      Well, LrC 15.11 opens the catalog named v13-3 just fine.  Thx.

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      john beardsworth
      Community Expert
      john beardsworthCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      January 29, 2026

      As others have said, the filename isn’t changing but the upgrade is still happening. Lightroom is now behaving like most other programs so that when you use a new version of the program, the catalogue file keeps its name even though you can’t open it in older versions. 

      There is a new File > Rename Catalog command, and I recommend you rename the catalogue to something that make sense to you - My Catalogue.lrcat, or Master Catalog.lrcat etc.

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

        You are probably confused, because Lightroom no longer renames the catalog when it upgrades it. That is why you think you are using an older version catalog, but that is technically not even possible. If a catalog opens in Lightroom Classic 15, then it has already been upgraded to version 15, even if the name is still ‘catalog V13.3’.

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        -- Johan W. Elzenga
        Jill_C
        Community Expert
        Jill_CCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 29, 2026

        Just open it with your latest version of LRC.

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        Jill C., Forum Volunteer
        Per Berntsen
        Community Expert
        Per BerntsenCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 29, 2026

        If you are using the catalog, it has already been upgraded.
        LrC cannot use an older version catalog without upgrading it.

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          dj_paige
          dj_paige
          Legend
          January 29, 2026

          Force? No need for such strong a word. You just launch LrC 15.1.1 and then open the old catalog and it will upgrade the catalog. (Are you sure the catalog of interest is really a V13.3 catalog? How do you know? Whatever version is in the file name doesn’t indicate anything)

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