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Scott Borel
Participant
January 19, 2024
Answered

Lightroom Classic Crashing on Open

  • January 19, 2024
  • 3 replies
  • 1414 views

Hi there! Recently my Lightroom Classic app has stopped working. I can't get it to open past the splash screen. I've tried reinstalling it, installing older versions (13.0.2, 13.0, 12.5.1), comletely uninstalling/removing all adobe products and files from my computer, reinstalling MacOS, deleting preferences, changing permissions of different folders and files, a clean Lightroom Install as detailed by Rikk Flohr in other community posts I read, etc. and the issue remains. I spoke with Adobe support and they had me see if I could open Lightroom Classic using another user account on the same computer, which did work successfully, and I was even able to open my catalog on that other user account so I know the catalog is fine, but I of course want to get it working on my normal admin user account. I can't seem to get in touch with any Adobe support anymore (long wait times for chat, and when someone does join, they immeditely leave the conversation without a word being said between us.) I've seen a lot of people online with the same problem but cannot find a solution that works. Can anybody help me out?

 

Lightroom Version: 13.1

Platform/OS Version: MacOS 13.6.3

Basic steps to reproduce the problem: Open Lightroom Classic

Expected result: Lightroom Classic Opens to Main Window

Actual result: Splash screen appears and then the Lightroom Classic app crashes, sometimes offering to report the crash to Adobe, sometimes not.

 

    Correct answer Scott Borel

    Fixed!! I realize after updating to MacOs 13.6.3, my Documents folder just vanished somehow, even after reinstalling the OS. I looked for my documents folder in a time machine backup and restore it on my mac and not lightroom opens!

    3 replies

    G
    glenn_2032
    Participant
    November 6, 2024

    I am having the same problem since today. LrC crashes upon startup every single time. Things I've tried so far:

     

    - Updated LrC to the latest version

    - restart computer

    - log out and back in to Adobe account

    - checked my documents folder is there

     

    I'm on the latest OS version (Sequoia 15.1), updated about a week ago. I have used Lightroom without problems since updating the OS. In fact, I've been using it without problems just a few hours ago. Now it crashes upon every startup attempt. I have tried the Adobe live chat, but the agent I've been connected with was not responsive. Can anyone help me out here?

    F
    fionab93243421
    Participant
    July 5, 2025

    Did you ever get a response? I have the same problem and it's driving me crazy! But I think you may not have got a response because you've added your problem to an 'already solved' thread

     

     

     

    G
    glenn_2032
    Participant
    July 6, 2025

    Not really. Customer service ran me through it twice. The issue seems to be that my catalogue file is corrupted - however this keeps happening over and over again, eiher after fixing the catalogue file, or launching from an older,  backupped version. Customer service could not find the cause of this behaviour. In the end I have just created a new catalogue and accepted the fact that I have lost a lot of edits 😕😕

    S
    Scott BorelAuthorCorrect answer
    Participant
    January 19, 2024

    Fixed!! I realize after updating to MacOs 13.6.3, my Documents folder just vanished somehow, even after reinstalling the OS. I looked for my documents folder in a time machine backup and restore it on my mac and not lightroom opens!

    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    January 19, 2024
    quote

    Fixed!! I realize after updating to MacOs 13.6.3, my Documents folder just vanished somehow, even after reinstalling the OS. I looked for my documents folder in a time machine backup and restore it on my mac and not lightroom opens!


    By @Scott Borel

    Interesting, using Google, it appears that is not uncommon, perhaps Apple had a bug

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255348848?sortBy=best

     

    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    January 19, 2024

    To summarize

     

    • Using your existing MACOS user account, LrC will not start
    • Your existing MACOS user account is an ADMIN account.
    • Creating a new MACOS ADMIN account, and trying again, LrC will start
    • So you either need to fix whatever is wrong in your existing, old, MACOS User account, or use the new one.
    • And you prefer to fix it, not to go with a new account.

     

    And this is much like as discussed in:

     

    https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/kb/lightroom-basic-troubleshooting-fix-most-issues.html

     

    Have you looked at that document?

     

    Also

    Splash screen appears and then the Lightroom Classic app crashes, sometimes offering to report the crash to Adobe, sometimes not.

    Did you send one of those crash reports to Adobe. And if you have one, can you place it in a reply (preferably as an attachment, they get way too long)

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