Can't open NEF files in lightroom if I open them in bridge first

Report · Apr 11, 2022

I've been having an issue only for the last two months opening NEF raw files in lightroom and bridge. Through trial an error I find that I can import the NEF files into Lightroom Classic but only if I DON'T try to open the folder in Bridge first. If I try to open the files in bridge first (which I usually do to sort my images into subfolders to make them easier to organize) then lightroom doesn't recognize the files.

Anyone having this problem? I'm running Version 9.2 on Bridge & Lightroom and have the latest Camera RAW, I can't upgrade any further because my computer isn't compatible to upgrade my OS past High Sierra 10.13.6. Please help! The only temporary fix I have atm requires me converting everything to DNG and that takes hours.

Report · Apr 11, 2022

Hi PrettyNerdyPhoto,

I've done things like that occasionally, and even though I'm using Canon files and converting them to DNG, I cannot see why "looking" at the images in Bridge could cause an issue.

If you are opening the files in Adobe Camera Raw to make ANY adjustments should also not cause any issue. What would happen is that LRC would import the .xmp data into LR.

Can you share a screenshot of any message that you get? Can you please provide the EXACT series of steps that you are doing when importing the images into LRC? What happens if you take images that you've looked at and images that you haven't looked at and try to import them at the same time? When you import these images, are you Copying, Moving, or Adding the images to your catalog?

Thanks!