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Lindsey271270385fgr
Participant
May 9, 2025
Answered

Remove Tool AI Edits Keep Reverting — Constant ‘Update AI Settings’ in v14.3.1

  • May 9, 2025
  • 6 replies
  • 1593 views

Hi there, I’ve been struggling with a recurring bug in Lightroom Classic (v14.3.1) related to the AI-based Remove tool and the “Update AI Settings” prompt.

 

Here’s what’s happening:

 

  • I’ll use the Remove tool on an image and allow it to finish processing.
  • I’ll then move to another image and continue editing.
  • When I return to the original image a few minutes later, the removed object has reappeared.
  • A triangle with an exclamation point shows up, prompting me to “Update AI Settings” — even though I’ve already done this previously.
  • This cycle keeps repeating, and edits don’t stick.

 

 

 

 

 

What I’ve tried (and confirmed):

 

 

  • I’m running Lightroom Classic v14.3.1 on Windows 11.
  • GPU settings are set to “Auto”, but I also tried manually enabling full GPU acceleration.
  • I’ve restarted Lightroom, reinstalled Lightroom, and even paused cloud syncing.
  • I’ve waited for the AI edit to finish before moving to another image.
  • I cleared the masking cache by deleting the Helper.lrdata file in the catalog folder.
  • My catalog is optimized and functioning normally otherwise.
  • This issue happens with multiple catalogs and image types (RAW and JPEG).
  • I’m not using any third-party plugins during this process.

 

 

 

 

 

System Details:

 

 

  • OS: Windows 11
  • Lightroom Classic version: 14.3.1
  • GPU: [Insert your GPU model if you know it; optional]
  • Catalog size: ~[Insert estimate if you want; optional]

 

 

 

 

I’d really appreciate help resolving this—especially if there’s a fix or known workaround. It’s impacting my ability to complete editing projects efficiently. Happy to provide more logs or run tests if needed.

 

Thank you!

    Correct answer Aleke

    Hi @kristin_6303! Welcome to the community!

    If you're running into the same issue as @Lindsey271270385fgr, we can definitely try the solution I shared earlier.

     

    Lightroom Classic stores AI masks and Generative Remove edits in a file called .lrcat-data, which lives in the same folder as your catalog file. To find that folder, go to Edit > Catalog Settings (on Windows) or Lightroom > Catalog Settings (on macOS), then click the “Show” button next to the catalog location.

     

    If that .lrcat-data file has become corrupted — which can happen if you're constantly being asked to recompute masks — a good troubleshooting step is to move it out of the folder. Lightroom only reads that file from the catalog folder, so when you reopen the app, it’ll prompt you to recreate it.

    Once that’s done, try clicking the button to recompute the masks again. If everything works as expected, you’ll just need to update your masks one last time — and then you should be good to go!

    Hope this helps, and let me know how it goes!
    Alek

    6 replies

    G
    GW Photography
    Participating Frequently
    August 13, 2026

    Hi Anshul,

    Thank you for the reply.

     

    1. I’m on version 15.5 and I’ve LR set to auto updates
    2. I’ll try this next suggestion when I bring in my LR from my editing Smartpreviews
    3. I currentlly and still after importing from from my LR edited smart previews have to goto
      1. Photo>Devlop Settings>Update AI Settings
      2. This process  took around 1 hour last time for a complete 1500 image gallery import from smart preview to my main set with the RAW images as it went one by one.

    Answers:

    1. Yes, I edit with smart previews while the orginal file are offline. I actually export the LR Cat to my desktop as the complete ie 5000 gallery Cat with the RAW are on my external drive. I then disconnect the drive and work on the complete LR Cat with smart previews on my desktop as it’s WAY faster this way due to how slow LR operates. After the edit, I import from the main cat after connecting the drive the LR smart previews and everything updates great but only around 10% of Ai edits populate. 
    2. No Update AI settings come up. 

    Thank you 
    Geoff

     


     

    G
    GW Photography
    Participating Frequently
    July 24, 2026

    I’m having the exact same issues and have ever since Ai removal was introduced. I’ve tried the tips/suggestions above and they don’t work. 

    This is obviously a bug and I wondered why it’s not being fixed as it’s taking me around 1 hour after importing to go image by image to update the romoval ai that was made in my LR edied Cat with smart previews. 
    Thank you 

    Anshul_Saini
    Community Manager
    Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    August 12, 2026

    Hi ​@GW Photography,

    Thank you for reaching out. I understand how disruptive it is to spend an hour re-updating AI edits image by image after every import.
     

    Here are some targeted troubleshooting steps to try:

    1. Since you mentioned you've been experiencing this "ever since AI removal was introduced," can you confirm which version of Lightroom Classic you're currently running? Could you check whether the issue persists in the latest version, 15.5?

    2. The AI edits (Remove tool, Generative Remove, AI masks) are stored in a separate .lrcat-data file alongside your catalog. If this file becomes inconsistent, especially during import or sync, it can cause the repeated "Update AI Settings" prompt. Rather than just deleting the file (which you may have already tried based on the earlier suggestions in this thread), try this approach:

    • Close Lightroom Classic

    • Navigate to your catalog folder (Edit > Catalog Settings > Show)

    • Check the file size of your .lrcat-data file. If it's unexpectedly small relative to the number of AI edits you've made, it may have been partially corrupted

    • Rename it (e.g., append .backup) rather than deleting it

    • Reopen Lightroom Classic; it will recreate the file.

    • Then select all images at once (Ctrl+A in Grid view), and use the Library Filter > Metadata > AI Edit Status (if available in your version) to find images that need updating, and batch-update them in one go rather than one-by-one

    3. A known issue (fixed in 15.4) caused Auto Sync to fail to propagate edits when working with smart previews due to a regression in background AI operations. If you were using Auto Sync while editing smart previews on a version earlier than 15.4, those edits may not have been written correctly. Updating to 15.5 and re-applying the AI edits once should resolve this going forward.

     

    A few questions to help narrow down your situation:

    • Are you editing with smart previews while the original files are offline (e.g., on an external drive that isn't always connected), and then reconnecting later? Or are originals always available?

    • Does the "Update AI Settings" prompt appear immediately after import, or only after you navigate away from an image and come back?

    • How large is your catalog (approximately how many images), and are you syncing or moving it between locations/drives?

    • Are you using any folder-sync or cloud-sync utilities (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) on the folder containing your catalog files?

     

    If you're already on 15.5 and still experiencing this, I'd like to get more specific details about your workflow so I can escalate further.

     

    Let me know the answers to the above, and we'll get this sorted out.

    Best,

    Anshul Saini

    A
    Community Manager
    AlekeCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    May 9, 2025

    Hi @Lindsey271270385fgr! Welcome to the community!

    Thanks for the thorough description on your issue. Lightroom Classic stores AI masks and Generative Remove patches in the 'Catalogname.lrcat-data' file. Sometimes, this file can get corrupted or have incorrect preferences, causing masks to need constant updates.

    To test this, move the file out of your catalog folder and start Lightroom Classic. You'll see a dialog about the missing data; just click 'Continue'. Lightroom Classic will recreate the file. Now, try updating one of the masks and see if it sticks this time. If it does, you'll need to update all your masks, but hopefully only this one last time.

    Let me know if this helps. 😊

    Alek

    *(If you mention me with an @, like @Aleke, I’ll get a notification and can respond faster.)*
      K
      kristin_6303
      Participant
      June 23, 2025

      @Aleke Can you walk me through this process? Mine is doing the same thing 😞

      A
      Community Manager
      AlekeCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
      Community Manager
      June 23, 2025

      Hi @kristin_6303! Welcome to the community!

      If you're running into the same issue as @Lindsey271270385fgr, we can definitely try the solution I shared earlier.

       

      Lightroom Classic stores AI masks and Generative Remove edits in a file called .lrcat-data, which lives in the same folder as your catalog file. To find that folder, go to Edit > Catalog Settings (on Windows) or Lightroom > Catalog Settings (on macOS), then click the “Show” button next to the catalog location.

       

      If that .lrcat-data file has become corrupted — which can happen if you're constantly being asked to recompute masks — a good troubleshooting step is to move it out of the folder. Lightroom only reads that file from the catalog folder, so when you reopen the app, it’ll prompt you to recreate it.

      Once that’s done, try clicking the button to recompute the masks again. If everything works as expected, you’ll just need to update your masks one last time — and then you should be good to go!

      Hope this helps, and let me know how it goes!
      Alek

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