Constant metadata has changed - save changes to disk

Mac OS Ventura

LRc - 12.0 (12.4 too buggy)

Not sure if this is a bug.

Just moved all my photo's to NAS (Synology 1621) , LRc catalog is on the local Mac drive. Everything seems to be operating as expected, other than the metadata warnings. The metadata status shows "changed on disk". All I do is edit in the develop module and the icon appears in the top right of the photos I have developed /edited. I don't do anything else with the photo outside of LRc. Automatically write changes into XMP is NOT checked. I do have "Write date or time changes into proprietary raw files", can't imagine that is causing this situation. Apparently I did have write to XMP because when I look at the file on the NAS every RAF has an XMP next to it. So I unchecked the XMP option and I am still getting the "has been changed" metadata status. It's mostly just annoying but I would like to understand what is going on here. I would hate to see all my edits disappear. When I exit LRc and restart the metadata "error" is still showing. Hope this makes sense and thanks for any suggestions. 

Fresh import today (from SD card) and when I develop any photo I still get the "has been changed" status and the icon to update the photo - "The metadata for this photo has been changed in Lightroom. Save changes to disk?" Also any keywords applied require a save as well. 

I have cross-posted this to another forum FYI.  Just desperate. Thanks.