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Participant
November 30, 2016
Answered

Lightroom Destination Folder not Writable

  • November 30, 2016
  • 11 replies
  • 75648 views

I keep getting this issue when trying to import my images into Lightroom. The message comes up as "the following files were not imported because they could not be read or the destination folder is not writable. I moved my images from my memory card to my hard drive and it still will not work. Someone please help me!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Just Shoot Me

Please explain what is Not Working.

If you used the File Manager program for your OS to Copy the images from the memory card to a folder on your computer then you should use the Add Option at the top of the Import dialog window. The problem you are having is because the folder you have selected in the Destination area does not have Write permissions for your user name. Even if you copied the images from your memory card to a folder on your drive but then still selected Copy or Move in the Import dialog the Destination folder you have selected doesn't have Write permissions for your user name. Fix that and you will be fine. Or change the Destination to a folder that your user name does have write permissions for.

11 replies

Participating Frequently
May 2, 2023

I still have very eimilar (identical?) issue. I've reported is as new thread but then found this one ...
Details are here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/can-t-import-photos-to-nas-folder-no-write-permissions/m-p/13766077

Folder in NAS HAS CORRECT WRITE PERMISSIONS for Windows user and IS WRITABLE as I can freely copy files there, adn can delete them from that folder though Lightroom. Yet I am unab;le to import into that folder (no write access).
This is insane ...

Participant
May 22, 2022

I saw this issue as well but resolved it by giving Lightroom access to my external drive via System Preferences --> Security and Privacy (on Mac OS). Click on the Privacy tab, click the lock at the bottom left, and enter your admin password.  Select Full Disk Access from the list on the left, and scroll the list on the right until you find Lightroom (if it's not listed, click the "+" symbol and add the App from the finder Applications list).  Select the App and ensure its checked.  Close Preferences and restart Lightroom.  I was finally able to import RAW from my camera chip to my external disk.  I found this fix when I noticed that Adobe Bridge wasn't working with my drive. I Googled the issue for Bridge and saw that Adobe had suggested the above fix.

Stuart Beeby
Participant
March 1, 2022

Had the same issue right after a Windows 10 update (02/28/2022) so I deleted the last Windows update and I was able to import as normal.

Adobe please note this apparent bug with the latest version of Windows 10. 

Thanks

Participant
November 15, 2019

RESOLVED.  I had this problem on two computers the same day.  With the assistance of Adobe support we found that my problem was a corrupt catalog file.  We tested the issue with a NEW catalog file and the problem of failed Import did nor re-occur.  (Windows 10, LR Classic CC 9.0),  Then I imported into my new catalog the 'corrupt' catalog contents (File>Import From Another Catalog).  The result is that the import included much (maybe most) of the old catalog contents but some old photos are not connected.  (blank previews).  So I have some work yet to do.

martir68364484
Inspiring
November 2, 2019

I don't know what you are talking about.  What permission?  Where?  How do I not have permission? What changed.  The whole mess started when I realized I had to get off onedrive because all it did was download every file repeatedly.  I moved a subset to another folder, and now it is worse than ever before.  I wonder if I should uninstall the entire Creative cloud and start over.

Participant
April 29, 2018

I keep getting the "destination file not writeable" error when importing to LR from my iPhone. When I import from a disk to the same destination folder, photos import just fine. I just can't get photos off my iPhone. I used to be able to but something changed. I even created a new destination folder (again-importing from a DISK worked fine). What is preventing me from importing from my iPhone?

Akash Sharma
Legend
May 29, 2019

Hi All,

We are happy to announce that Lightroom Classic 8.3.1 was released today and contains a fix for this issue. Please update to 8.3.1 and verify that you are no longer seeing the issue. See Keep your Lightroom version up to date

Thanks,

Akash

Inspiring
July 2, 2019

I have the exact same issue with 8.3.1 now.

mtptostife
Participating Frequently
May 15, 2017

@cannywolf Hi! please please help me! Im having the same exact problem but i cant seem to fix it! ive searched everywhere online! Everytime i try to import photos it says "can not move a file to destination folder because it is not writeable" please help me fix this! I always import and never have had problems, ever since i got a new memory card its been doing this! please help asap

dj_paige
Legend
May 15, 2017

It means you don't have write permission to the destination folder (or it is somehow otherwise locked).

What is the Destination folder you are using in Lightroom? Please go to the Import dialog box and see what folder is chosen under Destination, and then also what the permissions are set at for this folder.

mtptostife
Participating Frequently
May 15, 2017

can u help me step by step pleasE?

Participant
February 14, 2017

I had the same problem.  Check the destination folder on the top right of your screen.  Mine was copying from a card, and trying to move it to the same card (doh).  As soon as I changed the destination to my user/pic folder, all went swimmingly.

Just Shoot Me
Just Shoot MeCorrect answer
Legend
November 30, 2016

Please explain what is Not Working.

If you used the File Manager program for your OS to Copy the images from the memory card to a folder on your computer then you should use the Add Option at the top of the Import dialog window. The problem you are having is because the folder you have selected in the Destination area does not have Write permissions for your user name. Even if you copied the images from your memory card to a folder on your drive but then still selected Copy or Move in the Import dialog the Destination folder you have selected doesn't have Write permissions for your user name. Fix that and you will be fine. Or change the Destination to a folder that your user name does have write permissions for.

mtptostife
Participating Frequently
May 15, 2017

i dont understand! please help. i keep getting this message when trying to import "Can not move a file to destination folder because it si not writable"

Just Shoot Me
Legend
May 15, 2017

Your Username does not have the proper permissions on the folder you have selected as the Destination. Either change the permissions on that folder to include your username, and give it full control and or Read & Write permissions (Windows Mac respectively), or select a different folder that your username can write to.

JP Hess
Inspiring
November 30, 2016

If you are trying to move those images to a different folder on your hard drive or another hard drive, you need to check the properties for that drive and folder to make sure you have both read and write capability.

Participant
April 30, 2022

I do have all the permissions and still same error