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_Harry_R_Matthews_
New Participant
October 22, 2008
Answered

Lightroom catalog cannot be opened because another application already has it opened

  • October 22, 2008
  • 41 replies
  • 123199 views
    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer _DW_Harrison_
    Try looking into whatever directory your catalog is in and deleting the ".lock" file with the same name as your catalog.

    41 replies

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    A
    abbeym4537685
    New Participant
    January 6, 2018

    the .lock file is only there when I open my lightroom, but I can't open the lightroom without the problem happening, did this happen to anybody else?

    Rob_Cullen
    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    January 6, 2018

    What problem are you referring to?

    "the .lock file is only there when I open my lightroom"-  correct, that is how it is supposed to appear.

    Your Catalog is a file ending with the file-type suffix of  .LRCAT   Search yor computer folders to find your Catalog/s.

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.0, Photoshop 27.0, ACR 18.0, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0 .
    A
    Anonymous
    March 31, 2017

    Thank you so much!

    N
    neila12865118
    New Participant
    February 13, 2016

    Had this happen to my Lightroom 5 library.  This worked for me.

    Thanks so much!

    brettl53394284
    brettl53394284
    New Participant
    January 25, 2016

    This worked for me.  In addition to having the catalog issue, photoshop was crashing my entire computer to the blue screen of death.  After deleting this file it appears, so far I have no problems.  Thank you.

    W
    winnielim79
    New Participant
    December 25, 2015

    I tried to delete the .lock file but I am unable to delete. The .lock file reappears again.

    I'm working on a mac os el capitan, lightroom ver 6

    Several days ago, I was unable to close my lightroom and had to force shut my mac. After that, I wasn't able to open my catalog.

    I have tried searching my os for all the .lock files but i can't delete any of them. After I move them to trash, the .lock file appears again.

    I tried to open my catalog after trying to delete the .lock file. I encountered a message saying that the catalog is corrupted. I tried to run my backup catalog and the message "lightroom catalog cannot be opened because another application already has it opened" appears again.

    Please help!! I need my files urgently. Thanks.

    Just Shoot Me
    Just Shoot Me
    Brainiac
    December 25, 2015

    Make sure Lightroom is Shut Down. on OS X just closing a window you are working in does not close the program.

    A .lock file is always created when a catalog is opened. That is to stop other instances of LR from opening that same catalog.

    If you are unsuccessful in deleting the the .lock file them you have other problems with your Mac.

    W
    winnielim79
    New Participant
    December 25, 2015

    i have closed shutdown lightroom. It just doesn't work. I have no other issues with my Mac though so I really don't know what is wrong.

    N
    NannieG
    New Participant
    November 29, 2015

    mine worked too!!! Thanks for all the support!

    A
    aimeeh77475719
    New Participant
    August 9, 2015

    Hello all,

    llast night I was using Lightroom 5.5, Windows 7 and it just shut me off and turned my computer off. Restarted and once I tried opening photoshop it said "Lightoom cannot use the catalog named 'Lightroom 5 Catalog' because it is not writeable and cannot be opened". I read that yall said to delete the .lock but I have no idea what to do or where to go because when I search for .lock on my start menu nothing comes up.

    D
    dj_paige
    Brainiac
    August 9, 2015

    Go to the folder that contains your catalog file. The default location is given here: Preference file and other file locations | Lightroom 5‌

    If you're not using the default location, you need to have your operating system search all of your hard disks for files whose name ends with *.lock

    Delete the .lock file in that folder. Do not delete anything else.

    A
    aimeeh77475719
    New Participant
    August 9, 2015

    ‌will try thank you!

    M
    moonunit36
    New Participant
    July 30, 2015

    Hello All,

    I am having the same trouble but when searching I don't come up with any .lock files?  Any other suggestions?  I was just using lightroom this morning and it wouldn't close so I did a hard shutdown of the computer.  After that no luck : (

    D
    dj_paige
    Brainiac
    July 30, 2015

    Find the folder that contains your catalog file. If there is a .lock file in that folder, delete the .lock file.

    If that doesn't work, you probably found the wrong catalog file and the wrong folder. Have your operating system search for all files whose name ends with .LRCAT, make sure that you check each one's folder for .lock files and delete the .lock file in that folder, continue until you have checked every folder with a .LRCAT file.

    If that doesn't work, start from the beginning and describe your exact problem and provide lots of details.

      michaelj97105073
      michaelj97105073
      New Participant
      June 30, 2015

      This worked for me on Win81:

      1. Find files: *lrcat.lock

      2. Delete/rename files from step 1

      3. Restart Lr - life is good and the birds sing - collections and history are preserved

      Do not do this:

      1. goto: \Users\[userName]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\Preferences

      2. Delete/rename *.agprefs

      3. If you do this you will be able to restart Lr, but your existing collection and history will be gone

      M
      moonunit36
      New Participant
      July 30, 2015

      Hello All,

      I am having the same trouble but when searching I don't come up with any .lock files?  Any other suggestions?  I was just using lightroom this morning and it wouldn't close so I did a hard shutdown of the computer.  After that no luck : (

      G
      garyc23894946
      New Participant
      June 18, 2015

      Hi - I have been through the files and I also have files marked ".LightroomCatalog.ircat.lock.dcm"

      Do I delete these as well?

      Thanks

      Just Shoot Me
      Just Shoot Me
      Brainiac
      June 18, 2015

      Yes, Sure, Why Not.

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