Lightroom Classic won't launch after I shut down my computer without closing it

[defaulthb9m42t3bbn2]

My Mac  was having issues with iCloud so I shut it down by holding the power button without closing programs. Lightroom was open. When I restarted, Lightroom would no longer launch. When I click on the icon, the lightroom loading box pops up for 1 second before disappearing. It crashes on the first loading step:
"Preferences" (screenshot attached of the box that pops up briefly). 

I've had Adobe CC for years and used Lightroom for years without issue. Lightroom Classic was up-to-date with the latest version (13.0.1) I've looked at other threads and tried everything:

- Uninstalled, re-installed (chose to delete preferences)

- Signed out of Adobe CC, signed back in

- Installed earlier versions

- Held down Option + Shift while launching and hit "Reset Preferences"

- Manually deleted all Lightroom catalog, backup, and photo files I could find on my hard drive

I don't know what to do at this point and I depend on Lightroom Classic for my job. All help is so appreciated!!!!!

[defaulthb9m42t3bbn2]

I forgot to add two things I also did:

- I tried to follow Adobes guide to deleting preferences manually by deleting the file "com.adobe.LightroomClassicCC7.plist" but it does not exist on my computer. I went to the preferences folder and it isn't there. I search it on Finder and nothing comes up. 

- I also tried updating my computer to the latest Mac os version, restarting my computer etc. 

THANKS

[KR Seals]

Use the Mac OS Finder to search the Lightroom folder for a file ending in .lock. Delete that and ONLY that file. Lightroom Classic will start up normally after that. 

The lock file exists to prevent multiple instances of Lightroom Classic from running at the same time on the same machine. It gets deleted every time Lightroom Classic shuts down normally. Since Lightroom Classic wasn't shut down normally on your Mac, it got left behind.

[defaulthb9m42t3bbn2]

I deleted two Lightroom files that ended in .lock and Lightroom Classic still won't open. Any other ideas? Thanks very much. 

[KR Seals]

I would try uninstalling and reinstalling through the Adobe Creative Cloud app. Unintall, restart your system, then reinstall Lightroom Classic. 

[defaulthb9m42t3bbn2]

I did this. It still won't launch. And now my Creative Cloud interface is acting up too (see attached screenshot). I'm so frustrated........

[defaulthb9m42t3bbn2]

Restarted again and now the creative cloud interface is fine but Lightroom Classic still won't open

[KR Seals]

Have you added many photos to your Lightroom Classic catalog since updating from V 12.x?

Try reverting LrC V 13.0.1 back to V 13.0. In the Creative Cloud App, on the Lightroom Classic line, click on the three dots at the right end. From there click on "Other Versions" and choose V 13.0.

Here is a link to resetting LrC Preferences.

[defaulthb9m42t3bbn2]

I already tried using three older versions of LR Classic. None of them worked. And the only thing I can do from the page you sent without LR opening is holding the option+shift keys to "reset preferences" which I've done about 100 times at this point.

[GoldingD]

A bit confused, you stated you deleted all the LrC catalog and related files, but then you looked for and deleted two lock files. Where those in a new catalog?

Please use your MACOS Finder, to navigate to where that catalog is or is not (as in would have been) and post a screenshot of that folder and contents.

[defaulthb9m42t3bbn2]

There are like 6 folders with LR classic files so I was going into all of them and deleting the ones I understood. I had to search ".lock" and scroll through to find the "lightroomclassic" ones because I didn't see them manually searching in all of those folders, and they didn't come up when I searched "Lightroom Classic" on finder. 

I don't know what containing folder the ".lock" fiiles were in. The catalog files were in Username--->Pictures-->Lightroom. That folder is now empty. I've attached a screenshot showing that. I've also attached screenshots of different places I've found Lightroom content. I've also attached a screenshot of the things I deleted (I didn't empty trash in case I deleted something important and needed it again). I tried moving all catalog files back into the pictures--lightroom folder to see if it would work then but it didn't.

I tried your suggestion below about holding down the option key while launching and nothing happens. So I can't force it to use a new catalog that way.

[GoldingD]

And something to try out, this as to prevent any confusion by LrC as to what catalog to open, and to force LrC to create a new catalog. On that MAC press and hold down the OPTION key, and click on the LrC startup icon. Hopefully this should bring up a Select Catalog screen, where you can select New Catalog.

Not sure if this occurs before or after LrC reads the preference file. (should the preference file still be corrupt)

[GoldingD]

Well, you have a fine mess. With the Adobe install, your Adobe uninstall, your File Structure.

At any rate, reading back, you have:

• Uninstalled, re-installed (chose to delete preferences)
• Signed out of Adobe CC, signed back in
• Installed earlier versions
• Held down Option + Shift while launching and hit "Reset Preferences"
• Manually deleted all Lightroom catalog, backup, and photo files I could find on my hard drive
• I tried to follow Adobes guide to deleting preferences manually by deleting the file "com.adobe.LightroomClassicCC7.plist" but it does not exist on my computer. I went to the preferences folder and it isn't there. I search it on Finder and nothing comes up.
• Tried updating my computer to the latest Mac OS  version, restarting my computer etc.
• Tried your suggestion below about holding down the option key while launching

I will hope that a knowledgeable MACOS user/member can help with your File structure. And with understanding the different MAC Root hard drive. But I am off issue with that.

At this time, it may be necessary to properly remove the Adobe programs. This involved a small app from Adobe, a procedure. Using the MACOS to uninstall is not sufficient. Using the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App yo simply uninstall is not sufficient when the Adobe Apps get so so fouled up. You may also need to uninstall the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App (separate procedure).

After you fully uninstall the apps and the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App. You would then reinstall a fresh new copy of the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App, and then the individual apps, starting with Photoshop (make sure you install PS first, before LrC, some odd issue on MACOS)

First the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool:

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

then the Adobe CC Desktop APP:

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-creative-cloud-desktop-app.html

Assuming United States Market, the Adobe CC Desktop App download/install:

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/desktop-app.html

[defaulthb9m42t3bbn2]

Thank you. I took all of the steps you shared at the links above to uninstall everything, then redownloaded the adobe creative cloud desktop app, then photoshop, then LRC and it still won't launch. Not sure where to go from here. 

[GoldingD]

And some links about Catalogs:

Adobe: Create and manage catalogs

Adobe: How Lightroom Classic catalogs work

Adobe: Lightroom Classic catalog FAQ

Adobe: Preference file and other file locations | Lightroom Classic

[GoldingD]

Reading through all the actions attempted. One action that is sometimes brought up, and occasionally helps. Does not immediately fix, but can indicate a cause and perhaps a solution. Has not been brought up.

Use your computers Administrative account to log into the computer, not your normal user account. This is not a normal recommended practice, but it might indicate a account issue on the computer. Does LrC start if you use the Admin account?

Some might call for you to log into the computer in Safe Mode, I have no idea how to do that on a MAC. Safe mode will start a computer with the bare bones minimum running, in case some bit of software, a driver, an applet, is hiding things up.

Some reference material:

https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/kb/lightroom-basic-troubleshooting-fix-most-issues.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/allow-permissions.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/allow-permissions.html