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Ben Thornley
Participant
August 31, 2024
Answered

"This file appears unsupported or damaged" – Corrupt or Lightroom Error?

  • August 31, 2024
  • 3 replies
  • 3556 views

I’ve had this error message appear over a couple of images today in the Develop module. When I switch over to Library and back into Develop the error is no longer there, edits can be applied and the photos export with no issues.

 

Has anyone else experienced this error being only temporary? It might lead you to believe the file is corrupt when it is actually fine.

 

If a simple restart or module switch is all Lightroom needs to correct the issue then it should present some options alongside this error message to the user such as “reload”, “attempt to reread file” – if this doesn’t work then perhaps “reimport and replace.”

 

Over the last year I've had this error message pop up from time to time, using different SD cards, but never had it before so it seems to be a recent issue.

 

Lightroom Classic 13.5. MacOS Ventura 13.0.1

Correct answer GoldingD

If that occurs again, consider purging the Camera RAW CACHE (in /preferences/performance/)

 

Speaking of CACHE, what is your setting? can you share a screenshot of /preferences/performance/

 

3 replies

M
Matt3127852681ju
Participant
February 26, 2025

Hi. I recently started having this error pop up after a hard drive failure and recovery. The files were restored to the same location on the new drive and only a portion of the files display the error.

 

Questions: Has anyone experienced this issue?

What does clearing the cache do?

 

Thanks.

 

dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
February 27, 2025

I think the problem is that the file is corrupted. When files get repeatedly corrupted, the cause is almost always a malfunctioning hard disk.

GoldingD
GoldingD
Legend
September 1, 2024

Where (what drive) do you keep your photos on? Is that drive damaged? Is that drive disconnecting?

B
Ben ThornleyAuthor
Participant
September 1, 2024

Always in desktop folders on the Mac until editing is complete to avoid issues with external drives disconnecting 

GoldingD
GoldingDCorrect answer
Legend
September 1, 2024

If that occurs again, consider purging the Camera RAW CACHE (in /preferences/performance/)

 

Speaking of CACHE, what is your setting? can you share a screenshot of /preferences/performance/

 

    B
    Ben ThornleyAuthor
    Participant
    September 1, 2024

    Thanks, I've hit Purge Cache now and will do this more often. In Performance the only thing I've modified is enabling "Use GPU for Export"

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