Filter information disappears after reopening a library

Report · Jul 12, 2025

I've a tech background and simple user on and Lightroom Classic (win10 with 16 RAM)
LR sometimes crashes but not every session or version.

The Problem:
after I added a RAW image library, I went through 800 images and added a star-based and color-based rating and processed a few images as leading protype or template for othe images.
After closing Lightroom, it asked to back up (crashed before or hanged so many time so i ignored that most of the time) I tried to point it to a new catalog location but it got stuck in the process (again).

after long night I open it, Lightroom shows me the new library but from of all the images it only shows only 5 with the rating and color marking.

Additionally, after restarting LR, I am unable to mark images with a rating or color. LR seems to ignore the color markin AND rating and not display image according any filtering.
EDIT: On the third restart of LR I can mark and see the filtering.
but I REALY want to understand why it's happen.

In a side note - whoever designed Adobe's software interfaces and infrasstrcture, including the information regarding the location and moving of the catalog, the amount data picess, the volume of information stored (out of your control), and hiding it from the users should be imprisoned. I don't know where the software decided to save the cataluge, if the backup failed or wich cataluge I'm working with (Information that the corporation decided to hide from it's users).

As far as I understand, LR classic consists from the user image folders (with RAW files) a DB file, organization of the DB called a catalog and the engine that combine all parts and processing.
-Is this corrrect?
Is there any short video on YouTube that simply explains how to configure one catalog for all images without all these crashes or 3 houres explnations?
Yes, it is frustrating. it's Adobe.

Report · Jul 15, 2025

Hey, @Takeone.Digital. Welcome to the Lightroom Community. I can understand you're upset. I'll need more info to help you figure this out.

I couldn't find any crash reports in your account for the community. Is there a crash report pop-up when Lightroom Classic crashes? Please submit the crash reports to us: https://adobe.ly/4cE76mn

In addition to Lightroom crashing, check the Task Manager (Windows) Processes for unexpected read/write operations.

To begin troubleshooting, test some variables like:

Unplug any external peripherals & use wired input devices.
Unplug external drives.
Temporarily, unplug extra displays & only keep one active at a time.

Lightroom Classic uses a catalog database on your machine to do its operations. Please head here to learn more: https://adobe.ly/4lSFBKz

Please follow the content here to consolidate your catalogs into one master catalog: https://adobe.ly/3NTC9Rv

Let me know how it goes.

Thanks!
Sameer K

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

Report · Jul 16, 2025

.... Is there a crash report pop-up when Lightroom Classic crashes? Please submit the crash reports to us: https://adobe.ly/4cE76mn

It crashes and freezes Windows. Apparently, whoever designed this terrible software didn't think about limiting the allocation of system resources - and therefore it is not possible to send a report.

In addition to Lightroom crashing, check the Task Manager (Windows) Processes for unexpected read/write operations.
To begin troubleshooting, test some variables like:
Unplug any external peripherals & use wired input devices.
Unplug external drives.
Temporarily, unplug extra displays & only keep one active at a time.
-All my photos are on external drives, one SSD and one regular.
Lightroom Classic uses a catalog database on your machine to do its operations. Please head here to learn more: https://adobe.ly/4lSFBKz

I know - I understand, but why doesn't the LR designers let me understand what the volume is and where it stores the files? What user doesn't want to know how much space Adobe programs are taking up, without transparency - from the existing storage? This includes Premiere and everything else. This is not a mistake but a conscious decision by Adobe. It's terrible.

Please follow the content here to consolidate your catalogs into one master catalog: https://adobe.ly/3NTC9Rv

Let me know how it goes.
Do you have a link to a short- "to the point" tutorial video on managing the LR catalog?
Thanks!
Sameer K
(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

By @Sameer K
- Thanks

Report · Jul 16, 2025

In a side note - whoever designed Adobe's software interfaces and infrasstrcture, including the information regarding the location and moving of the catalog, the amount data picess, the volume of information stored (out of your control), and hiding it from the users should be imprisoned. I don't know where the software decided to save the cataluge, if the backup failed or wich cataluge I'm working with (Information that the corporation decided to hide from it's users).

By @Takeone.Digital

The default location for the catalog folder is inside the Pictures folder in your user account.

The catalog folder can be anywhere on your computer, but preferably on your fastest drive. You can move it to a different location with the File Explorer (close LrC first), then double-click the catalog file (which has the extension .lrcat) to launch LrC from the new location.

For easy access, you can for instance move the catalog folder to the root of the C: drive – C:\Lightroom catalog.

To find the location of the catalog while in LrC, go to Edit > Catalog settings > General, where you can also see the size of the catalog file. You will find the size of the Preview cache (Library previews) in the Previews tab of the catalog settings, where there are also options for limiting the size of the preview cache and for how long to keep 1:1 previews.

Then there is the Camera Raw Cache, which holds the Develop previews.

You can view its location and set a maximum size by going to Edit > Preferences > Performance.

As for your issues with ratings and crashing, try resetting the preferences. A corrupted preferences file can cause all sorts of weird behavior.

See https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/reset-preferences.html

Method 3 is the easiest.

If that doesn't help, please go to Help > System info in LrC, click the Copy button and paste in a new reply.

Report · Aug 20, 2025

thanks for the detailed answer -I'll look for it