Lightroom classic just lost ALL my data??? :(

[default2fu75f5q0mzf]

I was editing pictures as normal, presets on the side my folder was imported etc. Lightroom started acting slow so I closed it (and backed it up as usual) but when I re opened it lightroom opened up as if its a brand new software.. tip window's popped up, none of my photos were in previous imports and all my presets are gone. It's literally as if i've never used lightroom before. Everything is gone and reset. Please help me

[johnrellis]

Sounds like LR "forgot" which catalog you were editing. 

1. Start LR, and do File > Open Recent. Try opening each of the .lrcat files listed.

2. If that doesn't help, use Windows File Explorer to search your entire computer for ".lrcat" files.  The catalog with your photos should be one of those files.  Double-click a .lrcat file to open it in LR.

[KR Seals]

Are you using Lightroom Classic? This is a symptom of having opened the wrong or a new catalog. Exit Lightroom Classic, then...

Use the search funcion of you operating system (finder in Mac or File Explorer in Windows) to search for all files that end with .lrcat. That will be the Lightroom Classic catalog files. Check the dates on the files you find and double click on the one with the next to the latest date and time to open it in Lightroom Classic. That should be your main catalog.

[richardplondon]

Another similar issue can arise: when more than one version of Lightroom Classic is installed at the same time. And then the other version may be accidentally started up, different from the version last used. Mystifying, until you realise what is going on!! 😄

Another issue may be, if a different computer user login has been used. Lightroom Classic's settings and (at least by default, though I then change this) its Catalog etc, live within the user data area for a given particular login.

[GoldingD]

Another cause would be if the catalog was moved outside of LrC. You should get an error, but sometimes LrC error messages go missing.