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Participant
August 22, 2017
Answered

Importing from Aperture - import button greyed out

  • August 22, 2017
  • 7 replies
  • 9104 views

hi , I'm a late adopter i guess

just signed up for my lightroom cc package . When I use the plug in it analyses my aperture library fine. Determined size , number of images etc, yet import button remains grey out . I backed up catalogue as per warning even though it was empty ... nada

anyone actually know what the issue is ? Similar questions crop up in the forums but no one seems to ever answer them!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Rob_Cullen

For a detailed answer to your question- 

http://lightroomsolutions.com/articles/migrating-from-aperture-to-lightroom-where-do-i-begin/

(yes- your post was moved to the Lightroom discussions)

7 replies

Participant
January 2, 2023

I faced the same problem and paniced a bit when the advertised LR function didn't work. I know an article was flagged as the "correct answer" but the only correct answer I see (other than migrating manually) is the tip from @johnrellis to use the Avalanche tool. I did, and it worked like a champ! It cost me $45 (with holiday promo code) but that's a bargain compared to the time and stress associated with the manual approach (especially since I no longer had a running copy of Aperture). Of course we shouldn't have to do any of this if the advertising function worked but we can't change that, nor does Adobe seem interested.

Participant
November 28, 2022

I also need to migrate a huge Aperture library into Lightroom Classic - and the button in the plug-in is greyed-out. Still no solution to the problem?

 

johnrellis
Legend
November 28, 2022

The built-in Aperture/iPhoto Plugin has always been very buggy, and Adobe has never acknowledged the bugs, much less fixed them. You could use the manual ("old") migration method described here:

http://lightroomsolutions.com/articles/migrating-from-aperture-to-lightroom-where-do-i-begin/

 

or you could use the Avalanche program, which will preserve all your metadata and edits. Lots of posts in the LR forums from satisfied users, and their support appears very responsive. It costs $40, but how much do you value your time and your photos?

Participant
November 29, 2022

Thanks - yes, I'm now into the 'old' migration procedure. Then I wanted to migrate my photos in Apple's Photos App (the update substitution for iPhoto). In the threads above it appeared that at least the Adobe plug-in works seamless here - but no. I get the message that the library is 'no iPhoto' library. So in this instance, too, Adobe is of no help?

 

Participant
July 10, 2022

I'm also hitting this problem. I just moved to a new machine with Monterey, coming from a machine running Aperture on Mojave. I did the recommended prep (all referenced files, full-size previews, etc) prior to the move. Now I've installed Lightroom CC and I'm trying to run the Aperure import plugin. I point to my Aperture library and set the options I want, but the "Import" button remains greyed out. Very frustrating. 

Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 10, 2022

TBMK There is no functionality to Import a catalog from Aperture!  The Lightroom 'Import' function is only for the more recent Apple PHOTOS App (ie. NOT Aperture.).

Hopefully another 'Mac' person can help with advice for you. It may be that you can only Add/Import the files to Lightroom.

 

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
Participant
July 10, 2022

In Lightroom Classic, under File->Plug-in Extras, there is an "Import from Aperture Library..." choice. So, it may be broken, but it is clearly an intended capability.

Adobe even has a help document: "Migrate photos from Photos or Aperture to Lightroom Classic": https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/migrate-photos-aperture.html

Participating Frequently
June 26, 2022

Thanks to the comment from Rob Cullen about Adobe's chat support, I contacted their help service. The response was:

..."you need to do it manually, no plug ins will work on it. The only way is to save it to your computer and then import the files."

 

When I asked why Lightroom Classic is billed as being able to import Aperture files, why it ships with a specific plug-in module entitled "Import from Aperture Library...", and why the help pages for Lightroom Classic say that it's possible to import from Aperture using the plug-in, I was told they were going to escalate the question.

 

Fascinating responses!

Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 27, 2022

@NK25011300t75d  Well Chat wasn't much help for you!

But I am beginning to think that the Chat answer (Manually Import) is the only way., painfull I agree!.

Several links to "Migrating" indicate you need Aperture running to "verify" the Library, and set options for "Managed" or "Referenced".  As you are on Monterey OS you cannot install Aperture. Do you still have Aperture App active and running in your system? Without Aperture the migration may not be possible.

 

Apologies that I mentioned "Apple PHOTOS App" earlier- I was then under the assumption that your reference to "Lightroom CC" indicated you were using the 'Cloud' version of Lightroom (and not Lr-Classic.)

 

I note also you only have 42870MB of available space- this may not be sufficient to migrate with the Plugin- your "hundreds of thousands" of photos.

 

I would be pleased if you can eventually report a satisfactory result from your efforts.

 

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
Participating Frequently
July 10, 2022

"I note also you only have 42870MB of available space".

 

I don't. I have an 8TB drive available. That number is not correct, and another way in which Lightroom Classic is not functioning.

Participating Frequently
June 25, 2022

I'm not sure why the answer below is listed as a "correct answer" when it doesn't address the question at all! It points to an article that someone wrote which doesn't touch upon your question.

 

I, too, have the same problem. New installation fresh out of the cloud of Lightroom CC on a Monterey iMac. I try to import an Aperture library (even a tiny 150MB one) using the plug in, and the "Import" button remains greyed out. Fiddling with all the options does nothing.

 

Apparently Adobe doesn't actually operate a help service anymore - you're just supposed to post here and hope someone in the "community" answers?

Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 25, 2022

The 'Correct answer' was given in 2017- That is FIVE years ago! Things have changed.

I do NOT know that you CAN migrate an Aperture Library directly to Lightroom.

The Helpx article only mentions Apple PHOTOS- ie. NOT Aperture.

https://helpx.adobe.com/au/lightroom-cc/using/migrate-apple-photos-library.html

99% of online videos are for migrating Aperture to Lightroom-CLASSIC (or its earlier versions when called "Lightroom" or "Lightroom CC"- Not the 'Cloud' version.)

Hopefully a Mac user may provide an answer, but I suspect you may need to Export your images from the Aperture library and then Add/Import these exported files into Lightroom.

Adobe DOES operate a help service- It is by a Chat. Be Signed in to this forum, allow cookies in your browser and use this link to chat-

! Contact Customer Care

 

 

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
Participating Frequently
June 26, 2022

Lightroom Classic is advertised as having Aperture import capabilities. I'm not talking about Apple Photos at all here.

There's a plugin for it, as shown here. And, as the original poster said, the "Import" button is permanently greyed out, no matter what you do for the various options. And, as I noted, the "correct answer" does not address the original poster's actual question.

As for the help service - they've done a fantastic job of concealing that fact! Thanks for the link. I had a look around and eventually went through the "virtual assistant". Hopefully someone can help.

Participant
August 22, 2017

Ps . I am using iMac with latest OS X . shoukd have been most recent version of aperture also

Rob_Cullen
Community Expert
Rob_CullenCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 23, 2017

For a detailed answer to your question- 

http://lightroomsolutions.com/articles/migrating-from-aperture-to-lightroom-where-do-i-begin/

(yes- your post was moved to the Lightroom discussions)

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
MKAP10
Inspiring
June 8, 2022

The problem is, the import button remains greyed out.  I am having a similar problem - in Plug-in Extras, the Aperture/iPhoto Importer Plugin button that the "where do I begin" tutorial directs us to use is greyed out.  According to the plugin manager, it is installed.  I've tried this on my new MBP running 12.4, and on my old MBP which is running 10.14 mainly to keep Aperture running.  On both machines, the button is unavailable. Clues would be much appreciated.

Kanikas
Community Manager
Community Manager
August 22, 2017

Moving to Photoshop Lightroom

Participant
August 22, 2017

Thanks ... I think . New to forum . Were you directing me to right place or moving my post to right place ?;)