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Participating Frequently
April 1, 2019
Question

Lightroom does not allow me to change filenames

  • April 1, 2019
  • 6 replies
  • 2952 views

Files with the same name are conflicting when I try to upload to SmugMug via the Lightroom plugin. I changed all the names I could, but some files display the error "File name could not be changed in Lightroom". Is there a workaround?

Also, some files with different names are conflicting. For example, two separate photos named sevenbrothers.png is conflicting with another named brothers3.jpg. This seems odd.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    6 replies

    Participant
    February 22, 2020

    Frank again. I just found a better fix to Lightroom not allowing renaming: Select the problematic image. Go to Library > rename (on the drop-down menu). Presto!

    Participant
    February 22, 2020

    Same problem here. I'm an amature at all this stuff, but here's what worked for me: I had two identical images and needed to rename them similarly. One was a print, the same image was a negative. 2.2-2 for the print, 2.2-2N for the negative (both digital now). It would not let me renname 2.2-2N. So I selected that and another random image, then renamed them both in a sequence. It accepted the rename 2.2-2N-1 (plus 2.2-N-2 for the randomly selected other). Now delete the -1 suffix and properly rename the other without conflict. A cheat, or work-around, but it works. Good luck!

    GoldingD
    Legend
    April 6, 2019
    GoldingD
    Legend
    April 6, 2019

    in my smugmug, occasionally odd things happen, probably something I did by mistake. images in smugmug might link back to the wrong image on my hard drive. I cannot absolutely remember the how, I think I tried a sync in the smugmug publish section, and conflicts to resolve came up.

    But, I found that when I want to rework smugmug publishing, sometimes if I am noticing something odd I just go into smugmug, to the folder or gallery as appropriate and delete the images involved, then back in LR to republish.

    Not everything, just the problem images.

    GoldingD
    Legend
    April 6, 2019

    inability to rename an image in LR probably due to a duplicate file name referenced somewhere in your catalog . Note what you want the image, and look for it under all images. Tweet any naming as required.

    Also, the catalog can get missed up, consider an optimize.

    Robert Mack
    Participating Frequently
    August 17, 2021

    This worked on my system.

    Sahil.Chawla
    Adobe Employee
    Adobe Employee
    April 1, 2019

    Hi Beemerson,

    Sorry to hear that, could you please let us know the operating system you're working on?
    Also, where are the images stored outside of Lightroom?
    Please state the version of Lightroom you're using.

    Regards,
    Sahil

    beemersonAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    April 1, 2019

    Ah, sorry about that. I'm usually pretty careful to give those details. Windows 10 64bit. Files stored on external hdd connected via usb.

    Lightroom Classic CC updated through Adobe Creative Cloud App 8.2 Release Build 1204643. Running latest version of SmugMug plugin.

    Thanks,

    b