Inspiring

Answered

Lightroom Classic won't work after install

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
February 3, 2023
5 replies
2498 views

I just subscribed to Adobe Photography Plan (20GB) a couple of days ago. I only really wanted the subscription for Photoshop, as I use a different photo editor. However, I decided to install Lightroom Classic to see what has changed since the last time I used it (years ago).

Install seems to go fine, however when I launch it all I get is a grey window with black bars on top and bottom. Some of the menu items work like Page Setup and Printer but I can't open settings, watermarks, or create a new catalog. I don't even have an old catalog. I think there could be an issue with Camera Raw but I can't confirm that. I have downloaded it separately and installed it manually from finder (version 15.1.1).

Photoshop seems to mostly run fine except I cannot open a Sony RAW file (.arw), that's why I think it's a Camera Raw issue.

I have uninstalled each, rebooted, and reinstalled the same issues each time. I currently only have LrC installed. And CreetiveCloud is only showing LrC as installed and no Camera Raw. Whereas before when Photoshop was installed, Camera Raw was showing as installed but no option to "open" like Photoshop or LrC. Same issue with Lightroom (non LrC).

I'm running Mac OS Ventura 13.1 on a Mac Studio M1 Max 32GB Memory, 300GB SSD Free Space.

Attached is an image of Creative Cloud showing LrC installed and the left window is what have showing for LrC.

Any help would be appreciated.

macOS

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Correct answer Travis 20two19

After determining that I could launch with no issues, both Photoshop & Camera Raw (using a RAW file) and get into LrC while using another account, I tried the following:

Thought the issue was conflicting app related:

Disable or remove all Login items from startup and disable all items in the Allow in Background list. This did not help.

Uninstall everything. (Photoshop and LrC)

Reboot into Safe Mode (I can't remember who to credit for this idea, but thank you.)

Install Photoshop - which worked and I was immediately able to use Camera Raw, Open RAW files, and access the Camera Raw settings in the menu.

Install LrC - it opened with a splash screen for the first time but with an error. See Attached - "Lightroom encountered user permission issues. Click to repair - this tired but said it was not successful.

The Learn More link opens this page

I used the link in that article to download the script to restore Adobe Permissions. And this fixed the issue.

I tested and rebooted into normal mode, and turned back on all the items in the startup that I had disabled.

I have yet to reinstall BitDefender Antivirus which I had removed earlier, thinking it was blocked LrC somehow.

So in the end the issue was file/folder permissions.

This LightroomCorrectPermission.zip script file from adobe (link to file also in the article above) fixed the issue.

Travis 20two19AuthorCorrect answer

Inspiring

After determining that I could launch with no issues, both Photoshop & Camera Raw (using a RAW file) and get into LrC while using another account, I tried the following:

Thought the issue was conflicting app related:

Disable or remove all Login items from startup and disable all items in the Allow in Background list. This did not help.

Uninstall everything. (Photoshop and LrC)

Reboot into Safe Mode (I can't remember who to credit for this idea, but thank you.)

Install Photoshop - which worked and I was immediately able to use Camera Raw, Open RAW files, and access the Camera Raw settings in the menu.

Install LrC - it opened with a splash screen for the first time but with an error. See Attached - "Lightroom encountered user permission issues. Click to repair - this tired but said it was not successful.

The Learn More link opens this page

I used the link in that article to download the script to restore Adobe Permissions. And this fixed the issue.

I tested and rebooted into normal mode, and turned back on all the items in the startup that I had disabled.

I have yet to reinstall BitDefender Antivirus which I had removed earlier, thinking it was blocked LrC somehow.

So in the end the issue was file/folder permissions.

This LightroomCorrectPermission.zip script file from adobe (link to file also in the article above) fixed the issue.

yamato713108855

Community Expert

他にエラーメッセージなどが表示されませんか？

「CameraRAWの初期化に失敗しました」などのメッセージが出ている場合は、CameraRAWの再インストールが必要です。

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-ecosystem-cloud-based-discussions/p-lightroom-error-failed-to-initialize-camera-raw/td-p/13430118?profile.language=en

GoldingD

Legend

First up Adobe Camera RAW (ACR)

ACR is a plug-in for Photoshop (PS)only, not Lightroom Lr) or Lightroom Classic (LrC).The Camera RAW for LrC

In your copy of the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App (ACCDA), ACR should be included. However, if you were to first install PS from the ACCDA, the ACR would get installed along with PS.

Sounds like you went and manually installed ACR? And it is v15.1. current is v15.1.1.Probably Ok.

see down bellow a followup, a Oh =hmmm by the way, ACR 15.1 might not be compatable with your current PS.

Second up Lr vs LrC

On the app you are describing with all the missing buttons, etc, what app is it. Just to make sure. Your Adobe Photography Plan, came with both Lr and LrC, the latter being the app you are thinking of. So, could you post a screen capture of the app running, or if available, click om Help, then System Info, and post the first five lines?

Followup:

Looking at your screen capture, the ACCDA shows that you have not as of yet installed PS. That might be why ACR is not showing up under available apps.

Followup:

Have you actually opened LrC/ Based on your screen capture, I am wondering if that is as far as you have progressed. That you have not actual run LrC yet.

hmm, but that part in your screen capture to the right, Is that what you are seeing for LrC?

A quick, limited bit about ACCDA. It is used to:

Install the various apps in your Adobe Plan
Update/Upgrade the apps
Uninstall the various apps in your AdobePlan
Authenticate your subscription
Activate the apps
Deactivate the apps
Instll Adobe Fonts and various Adobe preesets
others

You can start an app from ACCDA, click on Open. But that is not the norm. Most of us just use the shortcut icons installed for that.

Running ACCDA is not running a particular app.

Oh, hmm, a what if inquiry:

"Photoshop seems to mostly run fine except I cannot open a Sony RAW file (.arw), that's why I think it's a Camera Raw issue."

So, if you do have a copy of PS installed and running, despite what ACCDA indicates. I am wondering, what version? And is that version compatable with ACR v15.1.1?

So, do you infoact have a running copy of PS? What version? (About PS) And in PS . under about Plug-ins, what comes up for ACR?

see:

https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/kb/camera-raw-compatible-applications.html

Travis 20two19Author

Inspiring

So, do you infoact have a running copy of PS? What version? (About PS) And in PS . under about Plug-ins, what comes up for ACR?
By @GoldingD

Its Photoshop version 24.1.1

When I click on about plug-ins - Camera Raw...Nothing happens.

To your question higher up in your post, I only manually installed Camera Raw 15.1.1 after having all these errors thinking a fresh install manually might fix it. It didn't seem to. If you saw my other comment about the latest steps, I have NOT manually installed Camera Raw 15.1.1. I just left it with came with Photoshop using CC install.

GoldingD

Legend

~~So, your ACCDA now shows PS as installed?~~

JohanElzenga

Community Expert

You screenshot shows that Lightroom Classic has started, but it looks like it is throwing up a dialog that is hidden underneath the Creative Cloud window. You just see an edge of it on the right side of the CC window. Click on it to bring Lightroom Classic to the front, or close the CC window by clicking on the left most dot in the upper left corner of its window. What do you see now?

-- Johan W. Elzenga

Travis 20two19Author

Inspiring

Nope. That was just the "about my Mac" window in the background.

Travis 20two19Author

Inspiring

"Camera Raw" is leading you 'off the path'. ACR is not needed for Lightroom-Classic to operate, so something else is amiss. (I have seen another post about the grey blank screen previously but cannot locate it just now,)

ACR is a Plugin for Photoshop, and will automatically be installed when you install Photoshop. (You cannot 'Open' a file in ACR- you 'Open' a file in Photoshop, and CR pops up if needed for a raw file to be rendered.

I suggest you-

1. Use the CC Desktop application to uninstall both Photoshop and Lightroom Classic and when asked, keep preferences.
2. Install Photoshop first, then Lightroom Classic.

See if the problem is fixed.

Thank you both yourself and @GoldingD for helping with suggestions. I start here first as this seems the simplest.

I have uninstalled all apps (Lightroom, LrC, Photoshop, and Creative Cloud) I have even used the CreativeCloudCleanerTool to remove everything and then rebooted.

Went to my account on the Creative Cloud website and verified that I indeed do have access to Photoshop, Lightroom and LrC. From here I clicked the button to install CreativeCloud, which I did.

From the installed CC app I clicked to install Photoshop, which currently shows as installed (v24.1.1) It open just fine and I can open and edit a TIFF file. If I try to open a RAW from a Sony A9i, the error message is "Could not complete your request because Photoshop does not recognize this type of file." It says the same thing when I try to open a downloaded Canon 5DII RAW File (.CR2).

In the CC app, it says both Photoshop and Camera Raw are installed and Up To Date. There is a button to open Photoshop but not Camera Raw. I also have the three dots (...) to open the menu in CC to show options for Photoshop including Uninstall, but nothing for Camera Raw (assuming it is supposed to have anything).

Also, assuming you can, clicking on the menu in Photoshop and selecting Settings - Camera Raw also results in nothing happening.

Next, I quit Photoshop and used the CC app installed LrC. All three apps now show installed in CC (Photoshop and LrC (both Up to Date and Camera Raw)

Now used the same app to Open it.

LrC opens as before with the main grey window with a black bar above and below. I can see the menu items but clicking on them result in nothing happening. I cannot even see which version of LrC is installed.

Going to finder and locating LrC shows version 12.1

Everything has been removed and is now freshly installed and in the same vote. LrC won't work at all, not given the option to set anything at all up. Like a first catalog. Photoshop works but won't open RAW files.

Attached screenshot of where I'm at now showing CC status and open LrC Window.

Thank you for all your help trying to figure this out with me.

TheDigitalDog

Inspiring

Can you get to preferences and disable GPU?

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

Travis 20two19Author

Inspiring

I cannot access the setting menu from within LrC.

TheDigitalDog

Inspiring

Try resetting your Lightroom preferences:
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/setting-preferences-lightroom.html
Also see: https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/important-steps-for-manually-resetting-preferences-omitted-from-help-article/td-p/12972518

Quit Lightroom Classic.
macOS: Press and hold the Shift + Option keys.
Windows: Press and hold the Shift + Alt keys.
While holding down the keys, launch Lightroom Classic.
When asked, select "Yes".

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"

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