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arewenotmen
arewenotmen
Known Participant
October 15, 2021
Answered

LRC won't open - says Catalog being used by another app

  • October 15, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 1385 views

 

Not sure why this has suddenly started happening when I try to open Lightroom Classic. Even when all other apps/programmes have been shut down I keep getting this error message and it refuses to open.

 

Running latest version of LRC on Win 10 Pro

 

Any help gratefully received!

Correct answer JohanElzenga

Look in your catalog folder for a file called "Catalogname.lrcat.lock". Lightroom creates this .lock file to prevent other apps opening the catalog at the same time, and deletes it on a normal quit. If the quit was not normal, that file remains and then prevents Lightroom itself to open the catalog. Delete it and your problem should be gone.

 

2 replies

R
ritesh_8351
Participant
November 5, 2025

repeat show

 

JohanElzenga
Community Expert
JohanElzengaCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
October 15, 2021

Look in your catalog folder for a file called "Catalogname.lrcat.lock". Lightroom creates this .lock file to prevent other apps opening the catalog at the same time, and deletes it on a normal quit. If the quit was not normal, that file remains and then prevents Lightroom itself to open the catalog. Delete it and your problem should be gone.

 

-- Johan W. Elzenga
    arewenotmen
    arewenotmenAuthor
    Known Participant
    October 15, 2021

    Hi Johan,

     

    Thanks very much for your quick reply. That seems to have done the trick 👍

     

    Appreciate the help.

     

    All the best, Rob.

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