Skip to main content
A
annar32615934
Participant
September 26, 2019
Question

Lightroom doesn't import my .XMP files after changing computers.

  • September 26, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 552 views

Hi,

 

I've changed computers and had to reinstall the app. Now Lightroom CC doesn't read my .xmp files anymore. I (believe) I've tried everything. 

Could someone take over my screen and fix this? I really need these urgently. 

 

Kind regards,

 

A.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    4 replies

    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    September 27, 2019

    So some inquiry’s 

     

    1. When you copied files from your old computer to the new computer, did you include all those folders and files that are not the catalog or in the image folders,  or just the catalog and the images?

     

    https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/kb/preference-file-and-other-file-locations---lightroom-6.html

     

    2. The missing develop presets. Are these the default ones that come with Lightroom, third party ones you acquired, or ones you created?

     

     

     

     

     

    DdeGannes
    Community Expert
    DdeGannesCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 26, 2019

    Are you referring to Preset  files in xmp format?

    Have a look at the info available at the link below

    https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrJ6yhvm4xd1F4Ao8pXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=Copy+xmp+presets+into+Lightroom+Classic&fr=yfp-t

     

     

    Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5,; Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; (also Laptop Win 11, ver 24H2, LrC 15.0.1, PS 27.0; ) Camera Oly OM-D E-M1.
    A
    annar32615934Author
    Participant
    September 27, 2019
    Yes I am preferring to preset files in xmp format. Is it possible for someone to have a teamviewer session with me and fix this? You can send me an invoice for your work. There's just something i'm overseeing.
    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 27, 2019
    You got the answer already: Open Lightroom, go to the Develop module, look for the Presets pane on the left, click on the plus icon and choose 'Import Presets'.
    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    Per Berntsen
    Community Expert
    Per BerntsenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 26, 2019

    I don't have my old computer anymore.. now what?

     

    The normal procedure when changing computers is to copy the folder that contains the catalog file from the old computer to the new one. You also have to copy the folders containing image files from old to new, and preferably put them in the exact same location that they were on the old computer.

    Then double-click the catalog file on the new computer, and you can pick up where you left off.

    Note that there is no re-importing in this procedure. If you re-import, Lightroom will see the images as new files, and all your edits will be lost.

     

    So the question is, do you have the catalog file from the old computer, or a backup?

    If you don't have the old catalog file, but have XMP files, you might have to select all the images in Library, then go to Metadata > Read metadata from file for the edits to show.

     

    See also https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-move-lightroom-to-new-computer/

    A
    annar32615934Author
    Participant
    September 27, 2019
    I don't have a backup. And it's not necessary for me to recover this catalog. I just would like to edit my new photos with .xmp presets.. Is it possible for someone to have a teamviewer session with me and fix this? You can send me an invoice for your work. There's just something i'm overseeing.
    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 27, 2019

    You got the answer already: Open Lightroom, go to the Develop module, look for the Presets pane on the left, click on the plus icon and choose 'Import Presets'.

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 26, 2019

    Can you please explain what you are trying to do? XMP files are not images. They cannot be imported on their own. They are 'sidecar' files that contain metadata, so they accompany images. They must be in the same folder as their 'parent' image and have the exact same file name (except for the .xmp extension). Then when import the images, Lightroom reads what's in the XMP file and applies that to the imported image.

     

    Lightroom keeps all these metadata and edits in its catalog, so if you change computers and reinstall the app, you also need to copy the catalog to this new computer (https://www.lightroomqueen.com/how-move-lightroom-to-new-computer/). Did you do that? Could that be the problem?

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    A
    annar32615934Author
    Participant
    September 26, 2019

    Hi Johan,

     

    Thanks for you feedback. 

     

    I'm trying to import these xmp files as presets on CR2 pictures. 

     

    So you are saying I need to import the xmp files as pictures first? 

     

    Or change my CR2 picture under the same name as the xmp file?

     

    Kind regards

    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    JohanElzengaCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 26, 2019

    No, I'm saying the opposite. You can only import pictures, you can't import XMP files on their own. However, I said a lot more. I said that the edits you made on your previous computer are in the Lightroom catalog. The are only (also) in the XMP files if you either had this set in the Lightroom preferences, or if you used the menu 'Save Metadata to Files'. I suspect you did not do either, and so the XMP files are not up-to-date. Don't import the pictures again. Copy the Lightroom catalog from the old computer to the new computer and continue to use that catalog. It's all in the link I gave you...

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices