Issue: "Add folder" always opens import if folder is not empty and folder cannot be added without importing anythingLightroom Version Number: Classic 11.5 (but the issue is present at least from LR6)OS Version Number: Win 10, Win 11Steps to reproduce:Open library, navigate to "Folders" panelClick "+" and select "Add folder..."Try to add folder, that is not empty Expected result: Folder is added to the libraryActual result: Import dialog is opened and unless I import anything, I cannot add the folder to the library.The problem gets worse if the folder contains empty subfolder. The import dialog is still opened (because the folder is not empty), yet there is nothing to import. So it is impossible to add such folder into the library.

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lukasradek

Inspiring

Question

Library - Add folder - Always opens import if folder is not empty

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Issue: "Add folder" always opens import if folder is not empty and folder cannot be added without importing anything

Lightroom Version Number: Classic 11.5 (but the issue is present at least from LR6)

OS Version Number: Win 10, Win 11

Steps to reproduce:

Open library, navigate to "Folders" panel
Click "+" and select "Add folder..."
Try to add folder, that is not empty

Expected result: Folder is added to the library
Actual result:

Import dialog is opened and unless I import anything, I cannot add the folder to the library.

The problem gets worse if the folder contains empty subfolder. The import dialog is still opened (because the folder is not empty), yet there is nothing to import. So it is impossible to add such folder into the library.

Windows

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lukasradekAuthor

Inspiring

Even in the half of 2025, Lightroom is still incapable of adding a folder into it's library, that is not empty. 🤦‍♂

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lukasradekAuthor

Inspiring

One year later... I am still unable to add folders using the "Add folder..." button.

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GoldingD

Legend

Where are the photographs? What drive or media?

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lukasradekAuthor

Inspiring

Just read through the post. Nothing has changed.

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Bob Somrak

Legend

I will agree this is a pretty bad design.

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M4 Pro Mac Mini. 48GB

JohanElzenga

Community Expert

In the dialog you can also create a new folder and add it. I believe this was designed to do only that. Why would you want to add a folder that only contains a file that isn't supported? It was added to enable ceating an empty folder and adding it to the catalog, so you can move images or subfolders to that folder. Especially handy if you want to add a drive to the catalog that has not been catalogued yet. In the past, the only way to do that was to import a folder with a temporary image inside it, and then delete that image again. But I agree it could be better than this.

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-- Johan W. Elzenga

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lukasradekAuthor

Inspiring

Why would I want to add such folder... well... workflows are many. And even though this is pointless to discuss... lets say you have an "export" folder with some pdf guidelines for the client and you want to add that folder so that you could move files there 😉.

So what should I do if I want to add a folder that already exists? 😉

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JohanElzenga

Community Expert

The problem gets worse if the folder contains empty subfolder. The import dialog is still opened (because the folder is not empty), yet there is nothing to import. So it is impossible to add such folder into the library.

By @lukasradek

No, it's not impossible. Just add the subfolder in that case. If you add a subfolder, the parent folder is automatically also added. If you do not see it in the folder panel and you do want to see it, then right-click on the subfolder and choose 'Show Parent Folder'. And if you do not want the subfolder for some reason, then remove it again after the parent folder was made visible.

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-- Johan W. Elzenga

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lukasradekAuthor

Inspiring

Alright, impossible might have been a strong word, but it is impractical.

Anyway that was not the point of the issue, it is just one edgecase and you won't have to go far for the other one.

Just create a folder with a file, that cannot be imported by Lightroom... boom... there is the (most likely now) impossible to "Add folder..." folder 😉.

This simply just should be fixed... it cannot be that hard.

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lukasradekAuthor

Inspiring

I would suggest separating the "Add folder" and "Import" completely.

"Add folder" should just add folder no matter its content.

"Import dialog" should import.

Potentially, there could be another menu item next to "Add folder..." along the lines of "Import from folder"

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