P: Sync settings, Auto WB keyboard shortcuts keep changing to export images

Report · May 22, 2019

For many versions of Lightroom, the sync settings keyboard shortcut (ctrl-shift-S) will randomly change exporting images. This first started many versions ago and is still happening in Version 8.3. I'm running Windows 10 Pro.

Trashing preferences temporarily fixes the issue, but of course, I then have to spend hours/days rebuilding all of my preferences since Adobe still doesn't have a preferences backup.

Adobe Support has tried to fix this on numerous occasions but has yet to solve it.

Corporate photographer based in Calgary, Canada and Oviedo, Spain. Making portraits, architectural, industrial and advertising photography for national and global brands.

Report · Jun 17, 2022

I'm still having this problem...

Report · Oct 11, 2022

I'm having this issue from time to time, it just seems random. Sometimes ctrl+u auto tunes, sometimes it exports.... Very annoying....

Report · Nov 19, 2022

Anyone else have this Ctrl-U bug kick in again recently? It happened several times over the past few days and the one most reliable means of fixing it seems to be shutting the program down and booting it back up. And hoping my next backup isn't due to be performed on my next shut down. 🙂 It takes a bit longer to reboot it in that case.

Report · Nov 19, 2022

Try resetting LR's preferences:
https://www.lightroomqueen.com/articles-page/how-do-i-reset-lightrooms-preferences/

This has helped some (but not all) who have experienced this bug in the past. LR sometimes soils its preferences file, and resetting it can fix all sorts of wonky behavior. That article explains how to restore the old preferences if resetting doesn't help.

As for backups, you can disable them via Catalog Settings > General. Be sure to re-enable them when you've restarted LR!

Report · Nov 19, 2022

Moderators, @Deleted User Flohr, please merge with this report of the same bug:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/some-reason-ctrl-u-shortcut-tries-to-export-photos-instead-of-auto-toning-them-now/td-p/10624912

Report · Nov 19, 2022

Moderators, @Deleted User Flohr, please merge with this report of the same bug:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/some-reason-ctrl-u-shortcut-tries-to-export-photos-instead-of-auto-toning-them-now/td-p/10624912

Report · Nov 19, 2022

Moderators, @Deleted User Flohr, please merge with this report of the same bug:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/some-reason-ctrl-u-shortcut-tries-to-export-photos-instead-of-auto-toning-them-now/td-p/10624912

Report · Nov 20, 2022

More than two years after I also reported this issue and received advice from @johnrellis I finally had enough frustration with Ctrl+U. I found the courage to move the existing preferences file (thank you John and LightroomQueen). But this is a cockamamie fix. So far, it works (one test).
The main benefit I got in doing this was to re-explore the Lightroom interface. I found some new UI features that may help me. Nonetheless, I'll say again, this is a cockamamie fix.

Report · Nov 21, 2022

"this is a cockamamie fix."

I agree. LR has a core design flaw in its implementation of the preferences file, which stores a lot more than just your explicit settings in Preferences. LR sometimes corrupts the file, and when it does so, all sorts of screwy things can happen.

Over the years, Adobe has indicated here that they've spent some time investigating the problem, but they haven't fixed it. Given how often users are told here to "reset preferences" for such a wide range of problems, I'm sure Adobe understands the impact on users, but they've made a hard-headed calculation that it's not worth the presumably very large engineering cost to fix the flaw.

See here for some gory technical details:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-ideas/p-avoid-preferences-quot-corruption-quot-by-c...

Report · Jan 31, 2023

I've had this problem for years and reported it to Adobe many times, including today. No fix in sight.

For me, Shift/Ctrl S, often switches from it's default of Sync, to Export Image. Again, I've reported it to Adobe many times over the years and still no fix.

The work around is to reboot the computer and pray but I'm an aethiest so it doesn't always work.

Corporate photographer based in Calgary, Canada and Oviedo, Spain. Making portraits, architectural, industrial and advertising photography for national and global brands.

Report · Feb 04, 2023

I've been running into this on and off for a while too. I've been avoiding trying this out or resetting my preferences. They at least need to make Lightroom easier to move and restore. Not to mention all of the TSR's (background programs) they have just for licensing. Unfortunately Lightroom fits my workflow better than any other program, and ever two years I try the competition so I can switch. This forum even blocks my browser's built-in spellcheck.

https://johnrellis.com/lightroom/anyshortcut.htm

Report · Feb 05, 2023

"This forum even blocks my browser's built-in spellcheck."

Isn't that silly? The Khoros forum platform rented by Adobe explicitly disables browser spell checking -- who knows what the product manager was thinking, but it shows their effective disregard for their customers' users. Lots of people have complained about it in the Using The Community forum.

If you use these forums a lot you can re-enable browser spell checking with a simple user script:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/using-the-community-discussions/re-enable-your-browser-s-spell-checki...

Report · Feb 05, 2023

The Khoros forum platform rented by Adobe explicitly disables browser spell checking

Probably because if it didn't, it wouldn't be able to force cringeworthy made-up words like "kudoed" on us...

I mean - do people really think that "kudos" are more than one "kudo"? Some sort of African antelope, or something? It is not a legitimate back-formation stemming from a mistaken belief that kudos is a plural, it's just plain wrong. You "give kudos" - you do not "kudo", and you have not "kudoed".

It's like nails down a blackboard, seeing that bloody "word" in my notifications. Someone, somewhere (and I'm looking at Adobe as well as Khoros), should be deeply embarrassed by that level of pure ignorance.

(There. Feeling better now..! And the irony is not lost on me that I may well get kudoed all over again for this little rant! 😀)

Report · Feb 05, 2023

So I tried their ABC icon that I just noticed in their drab grey toolbar. Even word 95 had color icons, btw. And it just tells you what is spelled wrong BTW is spelled wrong. LOL The tool distracts us from the real issue, the product. At least this thread is indenting a little. 😉

Report · Mar 31, 2023

After updating to 12.2.1 of Lightroom Classic, the shortcut CTRL + SHIFT + S that before was used to open Sync dialog, is now exporting files. Why, Adobe? In every single update there is an irritating bug? We do pay for you to deliver high-quality software and you deliver bugs and more bugs...

Report · Apr 03, 2023

Welcome to the Lightroom Community @Junior2917866535tp. I'll help you figure this out.

What language is your Lightroom Classic & the operating system working with?

Lightroom has some keyboard shortcuts that are related to the module you're in. CTRL + S can change in the Web Module & Book module.

CTRL + SHIFT + S is used for Sync settings & CTRL + ALT + S is used to Sync settings bypassing Synchronize Settings dialog box. Check this to learn more: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/keyboard-shortcuts.html

As a test, use the On-screen keyboard on Windows to check if the key press is being recorded as expected. Let me know how it goes.

Thanks!
Sameer K

Report · Apr 05, 2023

There have been more than a few reports about this over the past many years. But Adobe has never been able to reproduce it, and until they can, it's not likely to be fixed.

Try resetting LR's preferences:
https://www.lightroomqueen.com/articles-page/how-do-i-reset-lightrooms-preferences/

LR sometimes soils its preferences file, and resetting it can fix all sorts of wonky behavior. That article explains how to restore the old preferences if resetting doesn't help.

Report · Apr 05, 2023

Moderators, @Rikk Flohr: Photography, please merge with the existing bug:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-sync-settings-auto-wb-keyboard-shortcuts-kee...

Report · Apr 05, 2023

Moderators, @Rikk Flohr: Photography, please merge with this existing bug:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-sync-settings-auto-wb-keyboard-shortcuts-kee...

Report · Apr 05, 2023

Moderators, @Rikk Flohr: Photography, please merge with this existing bug:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-sync-settings-auto-wb-keyboard-shortcuts-kee...

Report · Apr 05, 2023

Also, another person reported that uninstalling/reinstalling fixed the problem. Try using the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner tool to completely uninstall all Adobe apps and then reinstall them with the Creative Cloud App.

Report · Apr 06, 2023

This bug, and other shortcut randomness, have been around for years. I've personally reported them to Adobe many times they don't have a clue how to fix it.

The easiest solution it to reboot LR, then try rebooting your computer. If those don't fix it then try deleting preferences then try uninstall and reinstall.

Report back what happens.

Corporate photographer based in Calgary, Canada and Oviedo, Spain. Making portraits, architectural, industrial and advertising photography for national and global brands.

Report · Apr 06, 2023

Rebooting, reinstalling, resettings preferences is NOT an acceptable solution. It takes me several hours to redo my settings, plug-ins, options, etc. They place these files all over the place and keep moving them (PC.) IMO, Adobe needs to redo their entire approach to keyboard input. It prevents using USB devices and controllers to improve work flow. They even have keyboard remapping capability in Photoshop. I had programs that did this in the 90's and it is 2023 afterall! 😉

Report · Apr 06, 2023

Totally agree with you.

Corporate photographer based in Calgary, Canada and Oviedo, Spain. Making portraits, architectural, industrial and advertising photography for national and global brands.

Report · Sep 22, 2024

Hello!

I have been using Lightroom Classic for years. Only today I came across this bug. Hitting ctrl + shift + s to sync settings to several photos, it started to prepare photos for ....... disc burning! I don't even have a dvd burner plugged in...

So one more random mix to the list. After years of using LrC, its the first time I see it mixing shortcuts up. Version 13.5.1 through Creative Cloud...

I guess I could reset preferences and see how it goes, but considering its the very first time this is happening, I will look the other way this time and restart the program.

Adobe, you have a ton of users waiting for this fix...