How to access the grayed out images on Lightroom Classic

[edd88494417]

This is something has been around for quite a while but, still, no right answer. I CANNOT seem to find a way in this green Earth to access images in Lightroom Classic (the latest version) in order to edit them!
I can see them in Adobe Bridge, I can see them in if I access them through Photoshop, I can see them in This PC but CANNOT get them on Lightroom!!!!! 

If I do a "Synchronize Folder" then they show but, they all are grayed out. Not the option at the top of the page, but the images themselves. (there's no pic tool that shows up, btw). I have tried everything suggested since this question was posted 4 years ago.  I've updated the monitor profile - nothing- Re installed LR- nothing- Imported, copied, added - nothing!

I've watched videos, read forums and talked to other LR users. They either do not understand the question or go on a historical rant of every single tool every created by Adobe. GRRRR.

Every time I Synchronize that folder, the images show- grayed out while on "All" images at the top of the page. If I click on "new" nothing really happens. BTW. the images in question are on the same drive as the main folder of catalog whatever.

I have wanted to like LR. I have been able to work some images and "organized" some folders, but what it should be an easy thing is turning out to be an unwinnable quest. 

I have no idea how many wasted hours I have spent on this program just trying to access images that supposedly are THERE! 

All I want/need to know is.... Is there a way to access those images that are grayed out and how do I do it?!?!

Thank you. 

[GoldingD]

Grayed out in the Import screen implies they were previously imported.

[chris38531166p1tr]

I understand that but where can i find them if ive already imported them? How can I open them

[dj_paige]

Already explained in this thread here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/how-to-access-the-grayed-out-images-on-...

[Rob_Cullen]

Greyed-out in the Import dialog - does mean: Already Imported.

Only one instance of a file can exist in the Catalog library. (unless you allow duplicates!)

Importing from the Hard-drive using the 'Copy' option creates a second copy of the files that the Catalog now references. So the images you "see" in Bridge or Photoshop may not be the same files that are indexed in the Catalog.

This is a mistake often reported when greyed-out images cannot be Imported.

Do a search in the Lightroom-Classic Library for the Filename of one of the files you see in Bridge. There is every chance that LrC is referencing the same file elsewhere, possibly on another of your several drives, or in a different Folder.

[dj_paige]

You don't want to import photos that have previously been imported. Do not launch the Import dialog box. Do not try to synchronize folders. Go straight to the Library module.

Perform a search in Lightroom Classic's Library Module for one of these photos, following all 4 steps in order:

1. In the Lightroom Library Module, on the left, under Catalog, click on All Photographs
2. Turn off all filters (Ctrl-L once or twice)
3. Turn off all stacking (Photo->Stacking->Expand All Stacks)
4. Search for at least one of these photos by file name using the Lightroom Filter Bar

[tgolota]

I had the same problem. They were there on my drive, I could see them in PS, but not LR. I did not think I had any filters on, but Ctrl-L brought all my images back! I've spent hours trying to figure this out. Thank you!

[josephlavine]

The grayed-out image means that the file has already been imported into Lightroom Classic. In the Library Module, do a search for the file name, and once found, right-click on the image and choose Show in Folder and/or Show in Finder to locate the file.

warmly/j

[JP Hess]

To edit images that are grayed out in the import dialog, all that is necessary is to locate them in the library module (NOT the import dialog) by searching for them by file name or other means and locating them in the catalog. Once you have located the image and highlighted it, all that is necessary is to  edit it.

[Mark33852170giib]

My issue was not exactly the same as yours, but since my search brought me here I'll go ahead and post the solution I found.  I've been creating collections after watching Scott Kelby's video ("Organizing in Lightroom with Scott Kelby", posted by B&H) and also experimenting with rating and rejecting.  Without realizing it, I selected a whole collection and pressed x to mark them as rejected.  When I went back to All Photographs, that collection was always greyed out, and I could not figure out why or get those pictures back to normal.

Fortunately I eventually discovered they had been marked as rejected.  The solution was to select all the photos in that collection again and press u to remove the rejected classification.  All better now!

[heathers60537944]

Thank you so mcuh for adding this as this worked for a fix for me!! I woud have never guessed thats what it was. 

[Robert23160428bbg3]

Finally found a solution. I hope you did too, because this reply is coming 3 years after your post.

In the Import dialogue, go to the "File Handling" tab on the right.

Uncheck "Don't Import Suspected Previews."

[dj_paige]

Finally found a solution. I hope you did too, because this reply is coming 3 years after your post.

In the Import dialogue, go to the "File Handling" tab on the right.

Uncheck "Don't Import Suspected Previews."

By @Robert23160428bbg3

A "solution" that actually makes the problem worse. I gave an explanation above of how to find the files in LrC without importing them again.

[frankw3126212]

It worked for me, unlike the other posts in this thread.   thank you so much.  

[jamesb55659072]

I had the same problem. The solution was to uncheck the tick box next to "Dont Import Suspected Duplicates" in the import section. Once I did that the images I was trying to access were selectable.  

[dj_paige]

@jamesb55659072 

And this makes the problem worse, because you now have the same image twice (or more than twice) in your LrC catalog with different edits and different user-created metadata.

[jamesb55659072]

I followed the instructions in your link - none of it worked. They're called 'suspected duplicates' they're not actual dulpicates. It hasn't made the situation worst, in fact it totally resolved the issue. I was unable to edit the required images previously and now I can and have delivered to my client!

[dj_paige]

Its better in some ways temporarily, but the better solution would be to find the first copy in LrC's data base.

Now, you might wind up searching for this photo a year from now, find the first copy and your brain is going to say: That's not the edit I remember! Hey, Adobe is changing my photos!

[jamesb55659072]

Agree, however LRC doesn't offer a solution to locate it. I imported the image into a specific catalog however it wasn't showing in that catalog. I tried to find it showing all photos with no filters or stacking but it still didn't show it. As this image hadn't been edited, there isn't conflicting edited versions in the system. I think LRC glitches sometimes and puts images where they cant be accessed. Unchecking the 'Don't Import Suspected Duplicates' is literally the only way to get the image to appear so we can get on with our work and deliver for our clients. 

[Meibro]

I've the same grayed out preview boxes...
R n I'm using the 14.1.1ver. , I installed 13.ver - X
I deleted all preview folders + caches... - X
Created a new catalog, imported all my images from the start - X

Uninstalled Lr, restarted computer, re-installed Lr - X
I tried to build smart previews - X
I tried to disable & enable GPU - X
I've tried all the ways that are recommended in this thread - X

Btw I'm using Win10 pro x64 as OS.
Does anyone have any other suggestions?

[drtonyb]

@Meibro 

Your issue is a different problem to that of this old topic.

What happens in Library Loupe view? What happens when you Zoom to 100%? What happens when you switch to Develop.

The Histogram indicates theat LrC is reading the selected photo.

[weekleyba]

I have the same issue, although I know why I have it.  I was using two different external hard drives (drive 1 & drive 2) but want to move all photos to one hard drive (drive 2).  I used the same catalog for both, so the catalog is regonizing that I've loaded them before.  So how do I get Lr to load the photos that were on drive 1 but now are on drive 2?

[drtonyb]

@weekleyba 

Close LrC.

Use the OS to copy (yes copy, not move) from Drive 1 to Drive 2.

Disconnect Drive 1

Start LrC; your catalog should now show all photos that were on Drive 1 as missing.

Please provide a full screen shot of the expanded Library folders showing missing folders for Drive 1 before proceeding.

[weekleyba]

I may need to more help on this as I'm sure I complicated this bit more.  Since the photos on Drive 1 where not in the same folder structure as Drive 2, I first copied them to Drive 2 and then I moved them to into the Drive 2 folder structure.  I probably should have first opened LrC, letting LrC identify them pior to moving them around in Drive 2.  Then I should have moved them within LrC to the folder structure in Drive 2.

Does that sound right?

[weekleyba]

I'll add this.  I was using LrC on my Mac.  So my external hard drive (Drive 1) was formatted to Mac OS Extended (Journaled).  I then choose to switch to PC, so I had to find a way to copy the files on Drive 1 onto the Drive 2 which is formatted to exFAT.  I used HFSExplorer.  See screenshot below.

I started over and placed the photos from Drive 1 into Drive 2 as they were in Drive 1.  You can see they are in My Photo Library.  These are the original files.  Mostly RAW files.

So how do I proceed from here?

After copying them to my new external hard drive, I opened LrC but they did not recognize them.