Known Participant

Question

One photo that is syncing forever and multiple attempts to fix not working - help!

Forum|Forum|3 months ago
November 7, 2025
2 replies
140 views

I have several collections set to sync on LrC. All additional photos I add and edits to existing sync'd photos transfer between LrC desktop and the Lr Mobile app. Except one photo. This photo has been syncing for over 6 months across several updates of LrC desktop and the mobile app. I'm including the sync error messsage from my iPhone Lr Mobile app and the sync screen in Preferences on LrC desktop.

I also did "Rebuild Sync Data" which I know newer versions of LrC now recommend you do NOT do but that has previously solved sync issues in the past. I also made minor edits to the photo on both LrC desktop and Lr Mobile as that has often "kick started" the sync process to work when photo syncing wasn't working in previous versions of LrC over the years. Neither has impacted this issue in any way that I can see.

Why is this one photo not syncing and how to fix it?

macOS

Conrad_C

Community Expert

This may or may not be helpful, but I had the same problem last week with one photo that wouldn’t stop syncing. I decided to try to “jiggle” it by changing some metadata in the hope that would make it sort of start over the sync. I think it took a few tries but eventually it did clear up. The different attempts had something to do with trying changes to annotation metadata (for example, changing something in the Metadata panel) and image edit metadata (Develop module), but unfortunately I can’t remember which kind eventually did it.

J

jmorg65Author

Known Participant

@Conrad_C Thanks very much. That technique has been very helpful with other photos in the past. I discovered it a few years ago when some photos wouldn't sync. If I just moved any edit slider even +1 or -1 from where it was, it would be sufficient to push the sync to start happening again.

Unfortunately, that isn't helping with this particular photo. What is strange to me is that I previously had the .dng file version sync'd but then deleted it and set the .ORF file to sync... which it did along with what appeared to be all the edits at the time I put the .ORF file in the syncing folder.

BUT, it isn't continuing to sync changes between the LrC desktop app and other devices. So, the file as it was when I sync'd it went over but no subsequent changes are showing up.

I am wondering if the number of edits I've made to this file may have anything to do with this problem. Attached is the file when I in Develop with the Remove tool active and showing all the specks I have removed from the water, along with a clear image of the edited version. This was an autumn photo and there were many tiny (but visible enough to be distracting in various ways) elements in the water (which is everything other than the heron). It's a bit unusual to have that level of debris in the water at the place I made this photo and just chose to clean it up. As you can see, there's a LOT of specks that I removed. I like how the photo turned out, but it took quite some time to do and once you clean up one section of the photo, it sort of commits you to the whole thing 🙂 Otherwise, it looks weird to have a very clean area and then the rest with specks. For clarity, I'm not interested in anyone's feedback on my editing choices. But, the fact is that in the end, there's a lot of Remove edits.

The .dng version was previously syncing for months and months with all these same edits. It seems highly unlikely it's just a matter of waiting for the changes to sync over because there's a lot of them. There cannot be that much data in the file that stores edits that it would take months to sync it over.

But, I am wondering if there is something about the volume +/- type of edits that may be causing this photo to be in a perpetual "sync" state??

A

Aleke

Community Manager

Hi @jmorg65! Thanks for reaching out!
It looks like the sync might be stuck. Could you try going to Lightroom Web and check if there’s a Sync Issues folder? If you see one, clear that folder and then try syncing the image again.
You can follow the steps outlined here: https://adobe.ly/4p3boKC
Hope this helps, let us know how it goes!
Alek

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

J

jmorg65Author

Known Participant

@Aleke, thanks. None of these options help, unfortunately. At the Adobe link you sent...

Solution 1: There is no "Sync Error" folder under All Photos

Solution 2: The filter icon does not list "Sync Status" as an option for filtering (see attached)

Solution 3: Says to look for "My Photos" icon which I do not have on my web version of Lightroom, only All Photos. In All photos there is a "Deleted" with a trash can icon. That folder is empty.

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

Josh

A

Aleke

Community Manager

Hi @jmorg65,

You should be able to use the Sync status filter in the desktop version of Lightroom (Lr icon).

I don't think that filter is available in Lightroom Web.

Alek

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

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