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ntkandl
Participant
May 10, 2026
Question

Lightroom and LrC Desktop Apps Stopped Opening

  • May 10, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 39 views

I have been using LrC on this (Windows 11) computer for over a year now with no issues, with the last time I used it about a week or 2 ago.  Now neither Lr or LrC will open when I try to launch them.  Both showed that they needed to update in the Creative Cloud Desktop, but the update didn’t fix either.  I uninstalled and reinstalled LrC with no change, as well as multiple restarts of computer, deleting the .lock, .shm, and .wal files, as well as ctrl clicking and alt + shift clicking to launch, and even resetting/deleting preferences.  Nothing has made a difference.  I click to open (both from desktop icon and from within Creative Cloud Desktop), and the Windows loading wheel icon shows briefly, but then nothing happens at all.  The apps show up as running in task manager, but nothing ever opens.  I have of course ended task and tried all of the above again.  Still no luck.

    3 replies

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 10, 2026

    Frustrating for you!  You have not mentioned the Adobe Cleaner Tool. This would be my next step with  a similar problem. Clean all CC apps from your system and begin again. Before doing so, backup important files like your LrC catalog, custom plugins and profiles. Re-installing the apps might be time consuming, but may be one way to get you started again.

    Download and run the Creative Cloud Cleaner tool

    If that fails then a chat with Adobe support might be your next step.

    Click the chat button in lower-right corner of- https://helpx.adobe.com/au/contact.html  Typing “Agent” should get you past the answer bot to chat with a human. (You need to be signed into the forum for Adobe to identify you.)

     

     

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.3, Photoshop 27.5, ACR 18.3, Lightroom 9.3, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .
    ntkandl
    ntkandlAuthor
    Participant
    May 10, 2026

    Thanks for the info.  I just gave the priority change a try, and alt-shift clicking, and even just reinstalled once again.  Still doesn’t open.  It seems like now the process only briefly appears in the task manager and ‘details’ tab before disappearing after clicking to open.

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 10, 2026

    Thinking back to when I was using Lr v5 there was a method to set ‘Priority’ to high in Windows. Might be worth trying (cannot harm.)-

     

    Do a computer reboot/re-start,

    Open Lightroom-Classic, (even if only visible in Task Manager)

    Open the Task Manager. (Windows Key+X > Task Manager)

    [Right-Click] on – “Adobe Lightroom Classic”-  Under Apps

    Select the option "Go to details"-

     

    Scroll down and [Right-Click] on "Lightroom.exe"

    Click on [Set Priority]

    Set the Priority to "High"

    Close Task Manager.

    Close all programs and Re-Boot the computer

    Also suggested- Reset the Preferences by holding down [SHIFT+ALT] as you restart Lightroom-Classic.

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.3, Photoshop 27.5, ACR 18.3, Lightroom 9.3, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .