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GALA34538660n9ll
GALA34538660n9ll
Known Participant
April 23, 2026
Answered

Lightroom Classic does not detect or import exported JPEGs (even when dragging files)

  • April 23, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 108 views

Since the latest Lightroom Classic update, I’m experiencing a serious issue with importing exported JPEG files.

Workflow:

  1. I work with DNG files in a shared workflow (catalog opened locally after being edited remotely).

  2. I export JPEG files (same filename as the DNG, e.g. IMG_1234.DNG → IMG_1234.jpg) into the same folder.

  3. I try to import or synchronize that folder to include the JPEGs in the catalog.

Issue:

  • Lightroom does NOT detect the JPEG files when synchronizing the folder.

  • In the Import dialog, even when selecting “All Photographs”, the JPEGs do NOT appear.

  • The option “Don’t import suspected duplicates” is disabled.

  • Dragging the JPEG files directly into Lightroom also does NOT import them.

  • The files are visible in Finder and are valid JPEGs.

Additional observations:

  • This did NOT happen in previous versions of Lightroom Classic.

  • It happens consistently across multiple folders.

  • Renaming the JPEG files (e.g. adding a suffix) makes them importable again.

  • Exporting JPEGs with a different filename also avoids the issue.

This suggests Lightroom is incorrectly treating these JPEGs as non-importable duplicates or related files. I don’t want to change the name, because I need it being the same that DNG.

System:

  • Lightroom Classic version: 15.3

  • OS: macOS

    Correct answer Rikk Flohr_Photography

    How do you have the option “Treat JPEG files next to raw files as separate photos” marked? 

     

     

    4 replies

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 25, 2026

    ​@GALA34538660n9ll  If the correct answer is still not working for you, then perhaps you could try this-

    -1) Turn ON the option in preferences to [Treat JPG files next to raw files as separate photos]

    -2) Run an IMPORT process again on the same folder of DNGs and IMPORT the ‘sidecar’ JPGs that will only then appear in the library as separate photos. 

    This would preferably need to be done BEFORE you export any derivative JPGs to the same folder otherwise you have the problem of duplicates existing.


    Now when EXPORTING any edited version of a photo  to the same folder you can set ‘on’ the Export option to [Add to this Catalog] in the Export dialog. You will receive a error message to say the filenames already exist but you can choose to [Use unique names]. 
    You should then see, in the same folder -three images:   

    Photo.DNG, 

    Photo.JPG,  the original sidecar JPG now imported,

    Photo-2.JPG  as exported.   (as there cannot be two files with same names in the one folder).


     

    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 .
    GALA34538660n9ll
    GALA34538660n9llAuthor
    Known Participant
    April 27, 2026

    Thanks for the suggestion — I did try that approach, but it actually breaks my workflow.

    I enabled the option “Treat JPG files next to raw files as separate photos” and re-imported, but this caused several issues:

    • JPEG files were not consistently detected

    • In some cases they disappeared from the catalog or were merged back as DNG+JPEG

    • Importing and synchronizing became unreliable

    My workflow is not based on RAW+JPEG from camera. I only work with DNG files and export JPEGs from Lightroom after editing.

    So treating JPEGs as independent files in the same folder creates conflicts in my case, especially with files sharing the same name.

    Also, this does not address the original issue:
    Lightroom is still randomly generating .acr sidecar files when exporting/copying JPEGs using “Format: Original”.

    This behavior is inconsistent (only some files are affected), and it started after the latest update.

    So I believe the issue is not related to how JPEGs are imported, but rather how Lightroom is handling metadata or sidecars during export.

    Let me know if you need any additional details or tests.

    GALA34538660n9ll
    GALA34538660n9llAuthor
    Known Participant
    April 23, 2026

    ooh yes! it works! thank you :)

    GALA34538660n9ll
    GALA34538660n9llAuthor
    Known Participant
    April 23, 2026

    ooh yes! it works! thank you :)

    Rikk Flohr_Photography
    Community Manager
    Rikk Flohr_PhotographyCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
    April 23, 2026

    How do you have the option “Treat JPEG files next to raw files as separate photos” marked? 

     

     

    Rikk Flohr: Adobe Photography Org
    GALA34538660n9ll
    GALA34538660n9llAuthor
    Known Participant
    April 23, 2026

    thank you! it worked :)

    GALA34538660n9ll
    GALA34538660n9llAuthor
    Known Participant
    April 24, 2026

    No, finally doesn’t worked. Create this strange file with DNG+JPG and now when I try to separate them in the filter doesn’t work :..)

    For my workflow I need them separated in the catalogue.

     

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