Lightroom Classic 14.5.1 not opening

Forum|Forum|3 months ago
October 13, 2025
2 replies
176 views

Lightroom 14.5.1.1 won't open for me on Windows 11. When I click the icon, it opens an invisible window named "mainwindowview" in the task switcher. Task manager also shows the programme as running, but it is not visible and does not show as open in the taskbar.

Steps already tried:

Completing all Windows updates
Updating graphics card driver
Uninstall & reinstall Lightroom Classic
Reinstalling & repairing all C++ add ins

Please can anyone advise any other remedies. Thank you

Windows

KR Seals

Community Expert

One thing that can cause that behavior is a corrupted catalog.

You can try creating a new catalog to test this. First be sure any .lock files have been deleted from the catalog folder.

Hold the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) when you start Lightroom Classic. That should give you a choice to create a new catalog.

If this works ok, use the most recent backup catalog to open Lightroom Classic. You would do that by first unzipping the backup, then double click on it.

Ken Seals - Nikon Z 9, Z 8, 14mm-800mm. Computer Win 11 Pro, I7-14700K, 64GB, RTX3070TI. Travel machine: 2021 MacBook Pro M1 MAX 64GB. All Adobe apps.

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Aleke

Community Manager

Hi @Phil65, welcome to the community!
Sorry to hear you're running into issues with Lightroom Classic. When you get a chance, try Force Quitting LrC using the Task Manager. Then, head to the folder where your catalog is saved and check if there are any .shm, .wal, or .lock files. These are temporary files that get created when the catalog is open and should be deleted automatically when the app closes. If Lightroom didn’t shut down properly, like after a crash or power outage, those files might still be there and could be preventing it from opening normally.
If you find any of those files, go ahead and delete them, then try launching Lightroom Classic again.
Let me know how it goes!
Alek

*(If you mention me with an @, like @Aleke, I’ll get a notification and can respond faster.)*

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Phil65Author

Participant

Hi Alek

Many thanks for looking at this problem, it's very much appreciated.

I have gone to the folder as you mentioned and there were 3 files as per
your mail, I quit LRC via the Task Manager then deleted the three files. I
tried to open LRC but its just the same, on clicking to open LRC the wheel
spins for 2-3 seconds as if it's going to open the program, then the wheel
just disappears, LRC is visible back in the Task Manager but the program
doesn't load. I've tried your suggestion twice but not working. Very odd.

Do you have any other solutions perhaps ? KR Phil

johnrellis

Genius

Try completely uninstalling the Creative Cloud desktop app and all Creative Cloud apps (LR, Photoshop, etc.) using Adobe's Creative Cloud Cleaner tool:

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/apps/troubleshoot/diagnostics-repair-tools/prepare-to-run-creative-cloud-cleaner-tool.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/apps/troubleshoot/diagnostics-repair-tools/run-creative-cloud-cleaner-tool.html

Then install the Creative Cloud desktop app:

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/apps/download-install-apps/creative-cloud-apps/download-creative-cloud-desktop-app-from-web.html

Then install just LR. (Your catalogs, photos, and presets won't be deleted.)