Lightroom 6.14 not able to read Nikon D6 NEF files

[lon29321321emfy]

I had a Nikon D4S and Lightroom 6.14 was able to read the files on the camera or on my computer after using File Explorer and a card reader to copy them from the card to the computer.

I upgraded to a Nikon D6 and LR can’t view the NEF files on the D6 or from the D6 via file transferring to a computer.

I tried both plugging in the camera to the laptop via USB and I tried plugging in the card reader to the laptop.  With the D6 plugged in, I opened LR to import the files, and LR can see the file on the D6 in the Import Window, but when I Import it, I get this error, “The files cannot be opened by Lightroom.”

I used a card reader and File Explorer to copy the files to my computer, but now LR says “Preview unavailable for this file”.  I have tried using Nikon Transfer to move the files from the card to the laptop, and LR says the same thing.

The weird thing is that LR 6.14 read the files from the D4 just fine on the D4 and on my computer after being transferred using File Explorer.

[Bob Somrak · Accepted solution]

You have to have Lightroom Classic 9.2.1 or newer to import D6 files.  

[Bob Somrak · Accepted solution]

Or use the Adobe DNG comverter to convert the NEF files to DNG.  Your OS may not support the DNG converter.

[F. McLion]

Lightroom 6 is from 2015. The Nikon D6 is from 2020.

How should LrC know how to work with these files?

As Bob already mentioned, you need to have a later version, released after the market release of the D6, or use the free DNG converter.
Since perpetual licenses like your LR6 are not available anymore be Adobe, I suggest you look at the Photograpy Plan.

[lon29321321emfy]

Thanks for all the information-

"You have to have Lightroom Classic 9.2.1 or newer to import D6 files"

 "Adobe DNG converter to convert the NEF files to DNG"

"Lightroom 6 is from 2015. The Nikon D6 is from 2020"

I ended up downloading and using the DNG Convertor.  I wanted to edit RAW files, so I didn't want to convert my NEF files to JPG, as you loose some of the data.  

I converted the files, and LR 6.14 will now read the files.

Thanks so much!

[Rob_Cullen · Accepted solution]

"I wanted to edit RAW files, so I didn't want to convert my NEF files to JPG."

Have no fear. The DNGs you get by using the DNG Converter are also RAW (Not JPG.)

As I understand the conversion- only the metadata is re-arranged in the file to be compatible with Lr, while the raw data is untouched and identical to the original NEF.