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laurafitch
Participant
July 11, 2017
Answered

Lightroom 6 .lrcat file "too new to be used"?

  • July 11, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 2032 views

I'm trying to upgrade Lightroom 5 to Lightroom 6 stand alone version. All seemed fine until I tried to reopen after the initial install. Lightroom cannot open my newly created Lightroom 6 catalog and says it "cannot be opened because it is too new to be used by this version of Lightroom."

Any idea why this would happen and how to fix?

I'm on Mac Mini running OS 10.12.5. I backed everything up before beginning the install. Had Lightroom 6 open successfully right after installation but then quit to rename from generic "lightroom catalog" to my usual naming format "L6 Master Catalog" leaving the ".lrcat" intact, of course.

I appreciate any help. Thank you.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Mohit Goyal

Hi laurafitch,

You have upgraded to Lightroom CC/6 on your system and that has converted the Lightroom 5 catalog to a Lightroom CC/6 catalog. Which can only be opened, accessed, from Lightroom CC/6. It is not backwards compatible.

Also, refer: Catalog "Too New" to be opened by 5.7.1 error - HELP!

Regards,

Mohit

2 replies

Mohit Goyal
Community Manager
Mohit GoyalCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
Community Manager
July 11, 2017

Hi laurafitch,

You have upgraded to Lightroom CC/6 on your system and that has converted the Lightroom 5 catalog to a Lightroom CC/6 catalog. Which can only be opened, accessed, from Lightroom CC/6. It is not backwards compatible.

Also, refer: Catalog "Too New" to be opened by 5.7.1 error - HELP!

Regards,

Mohit

L
laurafitchAuthor
Participant
July 11, 2017

I understand that. I'm trying to open via my newly installed Lightroom 6 application. I, also, attempted to open by clicking on the new Lightroom 6 catalog file itself. Same error message.

I'm not clicking on Lightroom 5. I backed up that catalog and left the application on my Mac for now, but I am not attempting to use it.

Per Berntsen
Community Expert
Per BerntsenCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 11, 2017

If you open Lightroom 6, and then go to Help > About Lightroom, which version does it say?

JP Hess
JP Hess
Inspiring
July 11, 2017

Lightroom 6 catalogs are not backward compatible with previous versions of Lightroom. The database engine is upgraded every time there is a major upgrade of Lightroom. The catalog is automatically upgraded to the new version, but the new version cannot be downgraded back to the previous older version.

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