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david48lindsay
Inspiring
January 25, 2026
Question

Lightroom 15.1.1

  • January 25, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 78 views

Was having this issue so tried updgrading but hasn't solved it.

 

I have 3 photos that were in DNG format that I exported to JPG, deleted the DNG and went to import them back into the Catalogue.

 

They will not import as Lightroom still has records of the 3 of them being in the database and therefore blocks my import. They appear shadowed out in the import window as already existing. My Screen Shot of the window will not load to this enquiry  - just says unable to complete the action you requested?

 

I have searched both the hard drives that my catalogue spans and other than the JPG files waiting to be imported they do not exist elsewhere.

 

How do I remove the records of there 3 files that don't show in the Catalogue so I can import the JPG copies?

2 replies

dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
January 25, 2026

I have searched both the hard drives that my catalogue spans and other than the JPG files waiting to be imported they do not exist elsewhere.

 

You don't need to search your hard drives, you need to search the LrC catalog.

 

Please follow all four of these steps in the Lightroom Classic Library Module, in order.

1. Click on All Photographs (its on the left under Catalog)
2. Turn off all filters (Ctrl-L once or twice)
3. Expand All Stacks (Photo->Stacking->Expand All Stacks)
4. In the Filter Bar, search for one of these photos by File name

 

PS: if possible, please give a meaningful subject line, one that briefly describes the problem. The version number of Lighroom Classic is not a description of the problem.

 

 

D
david48lindsayAuthor
Inspiring
January 26, 2026

Many Thanks

Couldn't find how to do step 4 so just scrolled to the right time in the
database. The photos were in Lightroom with no supporting files on the hard
drive.

--

Cheers

David

[Personal info removed by moderator]

dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
January 26, 2026
quote
Many ThanksCouldn't find how to do step 4 so just scrolled to the right time in thedatabase. The photos were in Lightroom with no supporting files on the harddrive.
By @david48lindsay

 

So let me make sure I understand this. You have a file on your hard disk which is not in LrC, so you want to import it but LrC wouldn't let you. When you did the search in LrC you found the file in LrC, but no file on disk in that location that LrC says it should be.

 

If my understanding is correct, then you just need to reconnect the file in LrC (not Import). In LrC when you found the file, it should have an exclamation point icon in the top right corner, as shown in Figure 2 here. So click on the exclamation point icon and then click on Locate and then navigate to the location of the file you were trying to import.

 

PS: It is strongly recommended that you do NOT post your phone number in any public forum, such as this.

    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 25, 2026

    Sounds like that adding to the catalog was already enabled when you exported these images, so now you are trying to import them a second time. As these are the same images to try to import, you won't find extra copies when you search your hard drives. Search for them in Lightroom 'All Photographs'.

     

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
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