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lisah92978143
Participating Frequently
March 18, 2023
Question

Lightroom Classic 12.1 does not launch on Windows 11.

  • March 18, 2023
  • 7 replies
  • 9624 views

I've been using Lightroom Classic for many years so am pretty familiar with how it works, but I am beside myself with frustration today. Though I do use LR mobile and desktop for much of my workflow, I depend upon many of the features in LR Classic that aren't available in the other apps. 

 

I'm using LR Classic version 12.2.1 on Windows 11.  Last week it stopped launching.  Task Manger shows it running as a background process, but the app doesn't launch.  After following suggustions found in other threads and trying them ALL, the only thing I've found to work consistenly is to open a new windows user account.  It works the first time, but it still refuses to open again after that initial launch.  This is obviously not a managable solution.  Any and all help is appreciated. 

 

Device Specs:

Device name LH-PersonalDellLaptop
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9750H CPU @ 2.60GHz 2.59 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)
Device ID EF33E430-072B-4F26-B6B7-C739470E18E0
Product ID 00325-82131-84812-AAOEM
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch Pen and touch support with 10 touch points

 

Windows Specs:

Edition Windows 11 Home
Version 22H2
Installed on ‎3/‎13/‎2023
OS build 22621.1413
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22639.1000.0

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    7 replies

    J
    Joseph381661638j4v
    Participating Frequently
    June 22, 2024

    Use the Creative Cloud Cleaner tool to solve installation problems (adobe.com)

    I tried all the suggestions in this thread and was about to start using another program when I came across this link.  I followed the instructions to completely remove Creative Cloud and Lightroom.  After a reinstall, I loaded a backup Lightroom catalog and was back in business.  

    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    March 24, 2023

    Update

     

    A specific CACHE file may be at fault:

     

    Mac: /Users/<username>/Library/Caches/Adobe/Lightroom/metrics.json

    Win: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Adobe\Lightroom\Caches\metrics.json 

     

    see : https://www.lightroomqueen.com/community/threads/lrc-cache-causing-crash-metrics-json-but-why.47409/

     

      Wurstkrapfen
      Wurstkrapfen
      Inspiring
      March 22, 2023

      Maybe similar issue here, it just took a really long while (double digits minutes) and then eventually opened.

      After 2 days it fixed itself.

      W
      wilhelmv64
      Participating Frequently
      March 20, 2023

      Same problem started on same date.

       

        S
        Steinilux2
        Participant
        March 20, 2023

        Same here. 

        I'm on the latest Windows 11 build.

        Was using it yesterday evening... finished what I was doing... and closed it.

        Remembered that I didn't export my last edit... wanted to open Lightroom... but since then... it won't open.

         

        I've tried everything... except reinstalling it.

        S
        Steinilux2
        Participant
        March 20, 2023

        Update.

        On my last try... I launched it. Kind of forgot about it while I was doing more research on what I could do.

        Found this thread... and added my comment above.

        More or less 10 minutes after I had launched Lightroom (without ending the task in the task manager) it came back.

        After several test now... closing and opening... Lightroom is back to behaving normaly.

         

        So... in my case at least... the solution was patience.

          sredline
          sredline
          Participating Frequently
          March 20, 2023

          Same issue here, LrC will not open.  Tried installing earlier version, no luck.  Still shows up running in Task Manager but nothing happens.  Tried removing prefrences as well.  Been working on this for a few hours and nothing is working.  Photoshop opens fine.

           

            GoldingD
            GoldingD
            Legend
            March 20, 2023
            quote

            Same issue here, LrC will not open.  Tried installing earlier version, no luck.  Still shows up running in Task Manager but nothing happens.  Tried removing prefrences as well.  Been working on this for a few hours and nothing is working.  Photoshop opens fine.

             


            By @sredline

            And, have you attempted logging on to your computer with a different user account, typically the Admin account, then seeing if LrC will work?

             

            if so, see:

            Troubleshoot unexpected behavior in specific user account | Adobe

             

              AxelMatt
              Community Expert
              AxelMattCommunity Expert
              Community Expert
              March 18, 2023

              In a first step you should try is to switch off the GPU support from the Lightroom preferences and check if that helps to fix the issue.

              Go to Lightroom > Preferences > Performance tab > Uncheck "Use Graphics Processor" > Restart Lightroom.

              https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/kb/troubleshoot-gpu.html

               

              If Lightroom doesn't start correctly the please see "Solution 2" in the document behind the link below.

              Troubleshoot GPU issues | Lightroom Classic (adobe.com)

               

              If this doesn't help I would suggest a complete and clean reinstallation.

              Please follow the steps below:

               

              if you're unable to install the cc desktop app at this stage, use an administrator account (solution 4 here, https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/creative-cloud-missing-damaged.html)

               

              My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 8 - PureRAW 5 - Topaz Photo
              L
              lisah92978143Author
              Participating Frequently
              March 18, 2023

              I've done every one of these steps and Lightroom Classic still does not open

               

              J
              JB_FFM
              Participating Frequently
              March 19, 2023

              Similar problem here. Lightroom Classic 12.2.1.1 does not start. I tried the GPU-Trouble shooting - nothing helped.

              Photoshop, Lightroom and other Adobe Programs do start. It is only Lightroom Classic that doesn't.

               

              In reinstalled, no change.

              I can see the lightroom Classic process in the task manager. However no application (window) is starting/running.

               

              Anybody any idea?

                S
                Steve21646439zg21
                Participating Frequently
                March 18, 2023

                Lightroom classic launched after first installing on new PC build. Now anytime I launch it, it will only open and a background process and no app opens.

                 

                I have tried the suggestion found online for setting the priority, but have seen no change. (after I set the background process of Lightroom Clasic to high and restart my system as per some fixes online, SHIFT+ALT clicking the app doesnt seem to "reset preferences" like the fixes suggest and I see no changes in Lightrooms behavior)

                 

                Specs:

                Windows 11 PC (ryzen 7600, 32g ram...)

                Lightroom classic 12.2.1 (issue persists if I intall older version too)

                  AxelMatt
                  Community Expert
                  AxelMattCommunity Expert
                  Community Expert
                  March 18, 2023

                  In a first step you should try is to switch off the GPU support from the Lightroom preferences and check if that helps to fix the issue.

                  Go to Lightroom > Preferences > Performance tab > Uncheck "Use Graphics Processor" > Restart Lightroom.

                  https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/kb/troubleshoot-gpu.html

                   

                  If Lightroom doesn't start correctly the please see "Solution 2" in the document behind the link below.

                  Troubleshoot GPU issues | Lightroom Classic (adobe.com)

                   

                  If this doesn't help I would suggest a complete and clean reinstallation.

                  Please follow the steps below:

                   

                  if you're unable to install the cc desktop app at this stage, use an administrator account (solution 4 here, https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/creative-cloud-missing-damaged.html)

                  My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 8 - PureRAW 5 - Topaz Photo
                  S
                  Steve21646439zg21
                  Participating Frequently
                  March 20, 2023

                  I appreciate this detailed response. I tried all the steps mentioned above and still could not get lightroom classic to launch. I did eventually get it to work after manually removing and deleting all adobe, lightroom, and associated files and apps and doing a fresh install.

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