Folders missing from Library

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
April 19, 2025
2 replies
913 views

When I open lightroom I can only see folders from 2025. The older folders and photos are still there (ie visible on Explorer) and also there on the backups, but I can't find a way to get Lightroom to display the folders on the pc's hard drive (D:). Lightroom displays the folders of the backup hard drive. I have tried to produce a new catalogue but I am now afraid I may have done more harm than good as one of the backups is now only showing part of its content. I tried to find all missing files and it produced a list of 80,000 or so but these were just in a single slab without folders so that's not super useful. I don't know what to try next - any guidance please. Windows 11 with latest updates on LR.

Windows

Correct answer F. McLion

Lightroom only shows folders from which photos have been imported - It is not like a file explorer.

If you start with a new catalog, all your work done will not be there anymore - usually not a good plan.

I'd stick with the original catalog and synchronize folders, which will import missing folders and photos.

dj_paige

Legend

When I open lightroom I can only see folders from 2025. The older folders and photos are still there (ie visible on Explorer) and also there on the backups,

What does this mean? "...also there on the backups"? Backups of the catalog? Backups of the photos? Something else?

Are you talking about Lightroom (Lr icon) or Lightroom Classic (LrC icon)?

C

countrycasitaAuthor

Known Participant

Sorry if that's not clear....when I say that they are also visible on
the backups I simply mean that the backups are complete mirror copies of
the data on D:, and they include all the photos. Nothing has been
deleted - it's just not showing in Lightroom Classic.

Paul

[removed personal information - Mod.]

F. McLion

Community Expert

Sorry I missed this so didn't reply sooner. The backup program is
called Bvckup 2 Pro (yes bvckup). I only have it set to backup data,
but that should include the Lightroom catalogue. Unfortunately I have
got the lightroom stuff pretty confused by trying to create a new
catalogue before you helped me with the synchronise advice. I'd like to
delete all the half-baked attempts at creating a new catalogue but am
anxious about deleting something that I actually need! Thanks again for
your help. Paul

--

Please be aware that with a new catalog all the work done so far (developments, keywords ... all!) is gone, and you start from scratch.

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F. McLion

Correct answer

Community Expert

Lightroom only shows folders from which photos have been imported - It is not like a file explorer.

If you start with a new catalog, all your work done will not be there anymore - usually not a good plan.

I'd stick with the original catalog and synchronize folders, which will import missing folders and photos.

--- Got your issue resolved? Please label the response as 'Correct Answer' to help your fellow community members find a solution to similar problems. ---

C

countrycasitaAuthor

Known Participant

Thanks so much -my pc is now about 20 minutes into re-linking all the
images and it's got as far as 2011! What a relief. Now I can turn my
attention to something vaguely productive.....

Paul

[removed personal information - Mod.]

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