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jeffd75042741
jeffd75042741
Participating Frequently
March 6, 2016
Question

Lightroom Can't See New Folders or Files After Import

  • March 6, 2016
  • 3 replies
  • 15183 views

I have successfully used Lightroom for years with no issues.  Upgraded to Lightroom 6 last year and installed and used it for several months without any issues.  Installed new HDD in my Mac, upgraded from Yosemite to El Capitan, and copied over all my old data from the old drive.    I downloaded Lightroom 6 and it recognized my LRCAT catalog I had copied to my drive.  At first everything seemed to be there and functioning correctly.

Now when I import photos to an existing folder I can see the newly imported files.  I can adjust them and export as before.  However, when I move away from that folder and move back again to it, the photos disappear.  If I import files to a new folder and move away from that folder and then move back to it, the folder is lost in Lightroom.  In Finder I can see that all the files are still where I imported them.  If I try and re-import them, I can see them in the Lightroom Import screen but they are grayed out and won't let me re-import them.  If I search for them with Library Filter Meta Data, Lightroom does not show any files since I installed my new drive.

I have uninstalled Lightroom and reinstalled it several times to no avail.  I installed the new drive 4 months ago and have not been able to use Lightroom since.  I am to the point of dumping Lightroom and buy Capture One Pro if I can't find any answers.

Any help you can give me will be appreciated.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    jeffd75042741
    jeffd75042741Author
    Participating Frequently
    June 14, 2016

    After 7 months of no resolution, I was finally helped by Adobe Support who fixed the issue.  The directory structure of my photos was not what Lightroom was expecting so the tech synchronized my photos which copied everything to where Lightroom expected them to be which doubled my photos.  When completed the original folders were deleted.  Now everything works fine.

    joshuab59512821
    joshuab59512821
    Participant
    December 22, 2019

    I'm experiencing what appears to be a similar issue. Im importing my folder, of images, coming back to them after my computer being turned off, and the have been copied to a new location. Can you please describe how you fixed this issue.

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    March 6, 2016

    Are you 100% sure you are importing using the ADD option? It sounds like you are importing using the COPY option, and so Lightroom thinks the photos are in some other folder, not the folder you think they are in.

    jeffd75042741
    jeffd75042741Author
    Participating Frequently
    March 6, 2016

    I am using the COPY function as I am copying the files from my SD card to Lightroom.  At the time of import I am specifying the folder I want them to go into and Finder confirms later they have gone to that location but Lightroom can't find them if I move to a different folder immediately after import.  I have imported my files successfully for years in Lightroom this way until now.

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    March 23, 2016

    Could you explain this further?

    t the time of import I am specifying the folder I want them to go into and Finder confirms later they have gone to that location but Lightroom can't find them if I move to a different folder immediately after import.

    In particular, if you move the files to a different folder immediately after import, then this will cause the photos to become disconnected in Lightroom and Lightroom will tell you it can't find the photos. In addition, why are you doing this move immediately after import?

    kglad
    Community Expert
    kgladCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 6, 2016

    [ moved from Downloading, Installing, Setting Up to Photoshop Lightroom]


    reset your preferences - https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/help/setting-preferences-lightroom.html

    jeffd75042741
    jeffd75042741Author
    Participating Frequently
    March 23, 2016

    I deleted my com.adobe.Lightroom6.plist file and restarted Lightroom.  Lightroom still cannot see the new folders or files within them that I created when importing recent photos.

    Any other ideas?  I am really getting desperate.  I haven't been able to import new files for the last 5 months.

    Z
    zoladd
    Participant
    March 23, 2016

    Can you please clarify some points.

    1. Exactly which version of Lr are you running?

    2. Exactly what have you specified in the Destination panel (right hand side on the import window) when you import the photos?

    Specifically, is "Into Subfolder" ticked?  Which option have you chosen for "Organize"?

    3.  Can you please post an image of the folder structure shown in Destination.

    4. Do your imported images show up in gried view when you click "Previous Import" under Catalog in the left hand panel (under Navigator).  If they do, right click on one and choose "Show in Finder".  Does the Finder show the photo in the folder you were expecting?  And is it the same as the folder structure shown in Destination?

    5.  Repeat step 4 but this time choose "Go to folder in Library".  What happens?

    Please report back here to let us know.

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