Export Slideshow to video fails to finish.

Report · May 31, 2025

Description of Issue
- After preparing a slideshow in Lightroom with audio, I can successfully preview/play the entire slideshow. When I ask it to export the Slideshow as a video (MP4) it starts the process but then seems to hang without generating an error message. I have tried different video resolutions and removing the audio files but the result is the same. I have left the export process for hours and even overnight, however, the progress bar is always at the same point as I left it.
- This export was working in second quarter of 2024 however noticed this behaviour after using this feature following the December 2024 update.
Lightroom Classic Version Number
- V14.3.1
OS Version Number
- MacOS Sequoia 15.5
- Mac Studio Apple M1 Max, 32GB RAM
Camera Model (sometimes necessary)
- Cameras - Canon R6 MkII, iPhone 15 Pro Max, Insta360 X3
Step-by-step Reproduction Instructions (in precise terms please)
- Import images and/or videos into Lightroom
- Sort and post-process the photos
- Select the photos and/or videos to be used in the Slideshow and create a new slideshow
- Review and update slideshow settings, adding audio files (slide length, crossfades, Audio balance, Pan and zoom, etc)
- Preview/Play the slideshow in Draft, Standard and High quality
- If plays correctly, export the slideshow to video at 1080p or 720p specifying a filename and folder location (typically on the local Hard Disk Drive but sometimes to a external HDD or USB stick.
The Expected Result
- After 15 - 45 minutes the slideshow is exported to a video file which is an MP4 file, depending on the number of images/videoes included in the slideshow.
- This feature worked numerous times in April 2024.
The Actual Result
- The export process starts and seems to be progressing but then stalls. See attached file for screen capture of progress bar status when stalled. No error message is displayed.

Is anyone else experiencing this issue?

Is there a work-a-round that I can try to successfully complete this task?

Thanks,

Andrew

Report · Jun 01, 2025

There was an API update to the Slideshow module late last year or early this year, which may explain why it worked for you in 2024.

Have you tried exporting the slideshow to video with the music disabled?

Are you combining still photos and videos into a single slideshow?

Have you tried resetting the LrC preferences? If not, then try Methos 1 as set out in https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/reset-preferences.html

Can you provide any information on how others can try to reproduce the issue. For example, no mention of how many photos are in slideshow, the template used, the settings used in the Playback panel, etc.

Report · Jun 01, 2025

Thanks for your reply Ian.

Is there any way of identifying the API version/build that I am currently using?

"Have you tried exporting the slideshow to video with the music disabled?"

I initially tried removing the music files - no change
After your suggestion I disabled the music with the slider/switch - no change

"Are you combining still photos and videos into a single slideshow?"

Yes.
I have two main slideshows that I am tried to export atm. the one I am using for testing has 6 x videos and 195 x still photos. The slideshow duration is 19m 31s

"Have you tried resetting the LrC preferences?"

I had not but folloing your suggestion, I followed your suggestion and used Method 1 in the link provided to reset the preferences - no change

"Can you provide any information on how others can try to reproduce the issue. For example, no mention of how many photos are in the slideshow, the template used, the settings used in the playback panel, etc."

As stated above, the first slideshow I am trying to export has 6 x videos, 195 x still photos and a duration of 19m 31s
I have another version of the first slideshow which was trimmed to a duration of 14m 46s
The second slideshow is longer with a duration of 55m 01s
Previously, I had successfully used the same methodology to export slideshows of similar durations
No specific template used, just selected the initial photos in Library, switched to Slideshow and adjusted the options on the panel on the right hand side.
On the 14m 46s slideshow are
- Options - Zoom to Fill Frame --> not checked
- Cast Shadow --> checked
  - Opacity 55%
  - Offset 40 px
  - Radius 30 px
  - Angle -45 degrees
- Layout - Show Guides --> Checked
  - Left - 75 px
  - Right - 75 px
  - Top - 75 px
  - Bottom - 125 px
  - Aspect Preview = Screen
- Overlays - Identity Plate --> Checked
  - Opacity - 100%
  - Scale - 15%
  - Render behind image --> Not checked
  - Watermarking --> Checked
  - Rating Stars --> Not checked
  - Text Overlays --> Checked
- Backdrop - Color Wash
  - Opacity - 49%
  - Angle - 45 degrees
  - Background image --> Checked
  - Opacity - 100%
  - Background Color --> Checked
- Titles - Intro Screen --> Checked
  - Add Identity Plate --> Checked
  - Override color - Not checked
  - Scale - 45%
  - Ending Screen --> Checked
  - Add Identity Plate --> Checked
  - Override color --> Checked
  - Scale - 30%
- Music - Five (5) MP3 files added
- Playback - Automatic Checked
  - Sync Slides to Music --> Not checked
  - Slide Length - 3.9s
  - Crossfades - 0.6s
  - Audio balance - slider closer to video just left of the heading 'Audio Balance' above it
  - Pan and Zoom --> Checked
  - Slider - very low, aligned between the n and d in the 'Pan and Zoom' heading above it
  - Repeat Slideshow --> Not checked
  - Random Order --> Not checked
  - Quality - High but have tried Draft and Standard too.
- Text Overlays
  - Top centre - replaceable text from photo metadata - <Title>
  - Bottom left - replaceable text from photo metadata - <Caption>
  - Bottom Centre - Fixed text - Name and year of slideshow

Does this provide sufficient information for others to try to reproduce the issue?

Thanks.

Report · Jun 09, 2025

I am having the same issue. I have tried all the published workarounds, including uninstalling and reinstalling, resetting cache, disabling graphics processor, and exporting JPEGs only to a new Cat.???

MacBook Pro M3 Max, Sequoia 15.5, LRC 14.3.1, 342 GB available of 1TB.

HELP, urgent work project.