flag icons not visible

[twmeyer]

This is a chronic but itermittant issue for me. No matter how often I reboot the computer (Mac Sequoia 15.2) or cycle through "J", or reset the LR preferences the Flag icon is repeatedly disappearing. After cycling through all the recommended fixes,  the flag icon may start to show for a few days, but then it reverts to no icon. I know the images are flagged, because when I ask it to select flagged images, they are properly selected. But in Grid, Filmstrip, Loupe... it doesn't matter. The flag icon is constantly disappearing.

Been happening for a couple months (It's now Jan 15, 2025)

[Rob_Cullen]

In the Library View Options  [Ctrl+J]  do you have both [Show Grid Extras] and [Flags] checked?

For the filmstrip- is it large enough to show badges? They disappear if the fimlstrip is reduced in height below a certain point.

Have you tried the often suggested Reset of the Preferences File that can fix these weird problems.

PREFERENCES RESET (Lr Queen)

[twmeyer]

I have done all of these things multiple times. Flags box is checked, Preferences reset, Filmstrip checked at any size, including ridiculously large.

The Flag shows as a slightly darker gray in upper left corner when "filters off" is selected and the mouse pointer is hovered over the thumbnail image, but not as the usual white at all times when the image is definitely Flagged. A Flag icon in white and also one with X shows above Film Strip in the tool bar in both Loupe and Grid view. 

Currently, some older images are showing the Flag icon, but recent imports do not show the flag, even when "Go To Folder In Library" is requested. This is with "Filters Off" and/or "Flagged" is selected.  See screen shot attached

[Rob_Cullen]

Your problem is certainly obvious in your screen-clip. This is something I have never seen before in the forums. It may indicate Catalog corruption of some kind but I don't have sufficient knowledge to be of more help.

Hopefully there are others more capable than I  will read and offer advice.

Keep your thread going by posting.

[Kate297890971ors]

Having the exact same issue as OP

[lttlphotomiss]

I've been having the same problems since the last update.
Flag not showing. But also colorlabel and star rating does not show up initialy. After restarting the catalog they will appear. So I have a fix but it is very annoying in the selection process.

[rbils]

I'm having the same problem as well. LRC on Windows 11 in my case.

[drtonyb]

@twmeyer 

I have also seen this many times. It's not just the Flag icon missing, it's the small badges, like Edit and Crop, that are also missing. Sometimes the thumbnail image is blank too. Am I right?

I'm assuming that you are Importing with the option Build Previews set to Embedded & Sidecar. Don't. This is the source of the problem. There's a bug somewhere when photos are imported with this option.

Quite often after Editing in Develop, the Film Strip Thumbnail for the edited photo doesn't update; it has the three dots Loading icon in the top right corner, but it never goes away until you select another photo in the Film Strip. Also, when this happens, going to Library Grid view shows missing icons and badges.

LrC has been like this for some years now. It's been reported, never fixed.

[twmeyer]

I import as DNG. It seems to effect the "previous import" and self corrects even those after a restart. Yes to Edited and Cropped small badges, but those too return after a restart. These sorting tools are extremely valuable on recent imports, especially when a client is present. Super annoying and unprofessional to make them sit through a restart. This is a recent problem for me, like just the last few months.

[drtonyb]

@twmeyer 

Your screenshot shows that at least some, including the selected photo, have been Imported with Embedded & Sidecar Previews. I also don't see any Filenames on the thumbnails in the Grid, unless you have them turned off.

[twmeyer]

two things: I do have that (Embedded & Sidecar Previews) turned on, and possibly always have. And where is that indicated, once done? 

I just turned it off, and will wonder about and watch for the wider, practical implications of that decision.

I have file names in grid view turned off, since hovering over them in the strip at the bottom shows them.

I have Extras, Badges and Cells turned on in Grid View and Expanded Cells is unchecked.

Thanks for your attention to this issue... t

[drtonyb]

@twmeyer 

The double arrow icon means Embedded & Sidecar preview

[bijie]

I have been having this same issue as well - only for the last month or so, but it is very frustrating that I can't seem to find a fix for it.

[twmeyer]

a relaunch of LR does it for me

[twmeyer]

thanks Dr... I've just had this occur on a recent import that do not have the double arrow icon. Had to relaunch LR to make the flags show up. Keep thinking!

[Moments In Light]

Ok so for me I have finally fixed this after hours of head scratching and web searching

Right click an item in th fim strip (easier if its a picked / flagged images so you can see the fix work)

then from View Options | Choose Show Ratings and Picks

I'm not aware of changing that setting but maybe an update reset this option or maybe its a new option. All I know is I can now get some work done 🙂

[drtonyb]

@Moments In Light 

Not the problem being raised here.

[rbils]

I've tried all of the suggestions being made here, but none of them have solved the issue. The only thing that works for me, and it's only temporary, is to optomize the catalog, close and then reopen Lightroom.

[Ablet]

So happy. Someone here suggested deleting the Helper file in the catalogue folder. I did that. (With LR closed). When I opened LR again I could flag images and the white flags showed immediately.  Thank you so much everyone.

[Ablet]

I'm having same problem. I wish someone from Adobe would address this issue. I often try to show flags on hundreds of picked photos per import, in order to export, but they don't show up. I am seriously looking to see what other programs I could use. Adobe has just doubled the cost of  their PS and LR per month too. 

[twmeyer]

Now it only opccurs when in the import panel, try "Go To Folder In Library" to see if the flags become visible

[Bob Somrak · Accepted solution]

In the catalog folder there is a file that ends with "helper.lrdata".    While LrC is NOT running you can delete this file and it will rebuild when you reload LrC.  This file helps the faster loading of folder info, flags etc.  It sometimes gets corrupted.

[Ablet]

Fantastic Bob - that worked!  Thank you very much.

[Blondl]

Great! That worked for me as well; thanks a lot, Bob!

[garya44167506]

worked perfect,thanks