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A
Argonaut59
Participant
January 29, 2026
Question

Every image generates a "read only" message

  • January 29, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 9 views

For the last week or so, every image I try to work with in Lightroom generates a blue pop-up box with a message “this image is read -only. Change permissions or import to cloud to edit” there is a button to import to cloud. The pop up is displayed for about 5 seconds, and the image is locked while the box is there. This image clearly ISN’T read only, as once the pop-up is gone I can delete, edit or whatever. Even on images I’ve edited and saved previously, the box appears. It slows down my workflow waiting for the box to vanish each time I select an image. 

 

This has only happened recently, and only in Lightroom (not in Bridge, Lightroom Classic or Photoshop) The images are on an external drive to my Windows 11 PC, and there are no restrictions on access to the drive. 

Any suggestions?

    2 replies

    A
    Argonaut59Author
    Participant
    February 1, 2026

    Adobe moves in mysterious ways… Just as suddenly as this message started to appear…. it has now completely stopped. The only change I’m aware of around the time it stopped was a routine windows 11 update…

     

    Ours is not to reason why…..

    Sameer K
    Community Manager
    Sameer KCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    January 29, 2026

    Hey, ​@Argonaut59. Welcome to the Lightroom Community. I'll help you figure this out. 

     

    Does this happen with a specific set of images imported recently? Is the external drive a mechanical hard drive connected via a USB hub, or is it plugged directly into the PC? 

     

    A mechanical hard drive might be slower for Lightroom to access, which is why you’re seeing this behavior. If you have any other external hard drive, please use that and check if that helps.

    Also, just head to the Lightroom’s installation folder (Default - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Lightroom CC)

    Find Lightroom.exe > right-click > use 'Run as Administrator'.

     

    Let me know how it goes. Thanks!
    Sameer K

    (Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

    A
    Argonaut59Author
    Participant
    January 29, 2026

    Hi ​@Sameer K 

    Thanks for the reply and the welcome.

    Firstly, running as admin has no effect. Secondly, opening older files on the drive which didn’t previously show the pop-up, now show the pop up. My external hard drive is a mechanical drive connected directly to the PC. I also used Lr to access the back up files on a NAS, and that also shows the same effect. Interestingly, I copied a folder of recent images onto my desktop (a SSD) and there was no popup. 

    If it is connected to access speed, any idea why it’s only just happening? Can I prevent it? The drive has 30% free space and is not fragmented. I’ve made no changes to  my system.

     

     

    Thanks for your help!

     

    John

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