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wguion
Known Participant
May 13, 2026
Question

I'm trying to pen a .tif file in Lightroom Classic but get the message that the file is not writable - Lightroom Classic has full disc access but it still won't import the files - Why?

  • May 13, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 12 views

Mac OS 13.7.8 - I am unable to import tif photo files into Lightroom Classic - I keep getting the error message that the files are “not writable.”  Lightroom Classic has full disc access and still my files won’t import whether they’re on my hard drive, external drive or desktop.  I have watched several videos and nothing seems to work. I’m stumped!  Any suggestions?  

    2 replies

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    May 13, 2026

    You may be trying to import the photo into folders that the operating system will not allow files to be written to. Since you say you don’t know how a screen capture of your import dialog will be helpful, and that it has always worked before, then obviously something has changed. If we can see the screen capture of the import dialog box, then perhaps we can figure out what has changed.

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    wguionAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 13, 2026
    This is the complete error message - “Could not copy a file to the destination folder because it is not writable.”  

     

    W
    wguionAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 13, 2026

    I have figured out a workaround for the print order I’m trying to fill - I can open the file(s) in standard Lightroom (though I’m unfamiliar with its features and workings) and do the necessary adjustments.  However, this is not my optimal solution.  I would much rather figure out the issues with Lightroom Classic.  

     

    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 13, 2026

    Full Disk Access is not magic that overrules everything else. Lightroom Classic has no permissions to write to certain folders, even if it has full disk access. The error message suggests you may have chosen a destination folder that is off limits to Lightroom Classic. Can you show a screenshot of your Import dialog?

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
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    wguionAuthor
    Known Participant
    May 13, 2026
    I don’t know how this will help fine the issue.  Lightroom Classic has worked fine until recently.  Only in the past week have I been getting this message for everything I try to import into LR Classic.  This file is in a folder on my desktop.  I moved it from a folder in an external hard drive prior to importing, but I also tried importing it directly from the hard drive with the same results.  ??

     

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