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A
Amanda23063354t6pb
Inspiring
December 17, 2025
Question

Why can't I see and change existing tags on a photo?

  • December 17, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 147 views

I have some photos that i mistaged and need to change. 

I imported photos-processed and tagged them, then exported them.

I moved the original photos afterward so it is not as easy as just opening back up that folder which I also deleted. 

I imported into lightroom the exported tagged photos but I can't even see anywhere in lightroom where I can view the existing tags let alone delete them. 

I'm trying to avoid bringing in the unprocessed images and starting over.  Is that my only option??  THanks

2 replies

dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
December 17, 2025

Are you talking about Lightroom Classic?

 

The tags (which are called keywords in Lightroom Classic) are in the catalog file, and the default operation of LrC is to not store the keywords anywhere else. Keywords are written to the exported file if certain options are turned on.

 

Importing the exported photos may not result in the keywords being seen on the re-imported photos. Regardless of whether you moved the photos, you find the keywords in the catalog file. Importing the photos again should not be necessary (and is in fact the wrong thing to do), however re-linking LrC to the actual new location of the original photos is now necessary. Instructions: https://www.computer-darkroom.com/lr2_find_folder/find-folder.htm

 

In general, I would not recommend a workflow that involves moving original photos after editing or applying metadata, or a workflow that involves deleting folders. While you can recover from the problems caused by a move (if you do it properly) it is simply an unnecessary step. Put the original photos in whatever final folder you want them to be in, and then don't move them again (Exception: move them to a new disk if you are running out of space on a disk or you think the disk is failing or you get a new computer)

A
Amanda23063354t6pbAuthor
Inspiring
December 17, 2025

Lightroom and I don't agree on workflow.  For my process it is sometimes way more work to sort them first then bring in everything in seperate folders rather than just bringing in the current photos that need processed in one folder all at once then sorting them after into the appropriate folders because they will mix with photos that are already processed and uploaded.  It is rare I have to go back so yes it screws me this time and I will have to bring in the originals again and reprocess to start over it sounds like.  Luckily there aren't too many. Thank you for the info though.

dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
December 17, 2025

Maybe you should use Bridge. It sounds like it would better match your workflow.

JohanElzenga
Community Expert
JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
December 17, 2025

What kind of tagging are you talking about? Keywords? They are visible in the keywords panel and can be changed or deleted.

 

-- Johan W. Elzenga
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