Lightroom encountered user permission Error message = %@

[jlwolff]

I have a macbookAir M3 Sonoma 14.4.1. I have tried everything including the "Adobe Cleaner tool". I have given accessibility to the software In the "safety and security", added permissions to me in the finder to "read and write" and included all the files in the little "...". Nothing works. Any Idea?

[JohanElzenga]

When do you encounter this error? On import? Export? Sync? Can you show a screenshot of what you do when you get the error? Giving Lightroom 'Full Disk Access' is required to make it run properly, but that does not mean Lightroom can now override every permission it does not have. It can still to not write to certain folders, like system folders or folders from other users, just to name two examples. It can also not follow aliasses, so if you try to write to a folder that is actually an alias of that folder, then you'll also get this error.

[jlwolff]

It just quit before opening. I just try to open it from creative cloud app, or finder.

[JohanElzenga]

The first screenshot tells you what the problem is. Lightroom Classic needs to create a new folder inside /User/YourUserName/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom, but it can't. It does not say what that new folder is, but there are two possibilities:

1: Lightroom Classic does not have permissions to write to /User/YourUserName/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom.

2: Lightroom can't create anything inside this folder because this isn't a normal folder but a file with that name or an alias with that name, or because the folder it wants to create already exists as a file or an alias.

You need to check /User/YourUserName/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom for these possibilities. Be aware that the User/Library folder is hidden by default. You may need to unhide it first: https://iohk.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011496773-Unhiding-the-Library-folder-on-macOS

[jlwolff]

Thank you Johan for your help. I appreciate.

The problem is that there is no Lightroom file in Application Support/Adobe

If you look after LR Classic, you find the app in a folder (same name) beneath the uninstall alias.

[JohanElzenga]

Are you sure you are looking inside the User/Username/Library folder as instructed, and not the Macintosh HD/Library folder or the Macintosh HD/System/Library folder? During installation the 'Lightroom' folder (with lots of subfolders) should have been created here, so if this is the correct Library folder then I do not understand why the Lightroom folder is missing completely. How did you install Lightroom Classic?

[jlwolff]

I think it's the right Libray ( see the path in the attachment). I installed LR Classic from the CC app.

However, after having read your first message, I have made some verifications. I was surprised to find an old LR catalog that should have been erased with the Adobe Cleaning Tool. This catalog is in a LR folder, not a LR Classic folder. I have not used this computer for a while and not for a lot of editing. I copy my pictures from the memory cards and verify the focus, make small adjustments. I will also tether my pictures in my next project.

To make a long story short, I have used "Lightroom" probably when it was not "Lightroom Classic" and never updated the software because I had not used it for a while.

I do not want to mix different catalogs, etc...

This laptop is a new one. To make things more complicated, the old one has a nonfunctioning "search". On Apple's advice, to avoid recopying a corrupted file in a standard procedure from Time Machine, I installed this MAC ( the new) manually, copying all folders. The "search" is back, and all the softwares are working except LR Classic. I was able to reinstall Creative Cloud and PS. I have probably copied a mix of "Desktop Lightroom", "Cloud Lightroom", and perhaps "Lightroom Classic" from the Application Folder and the Utilities Folder. I got what I was afraid of: a dangerous mixture. Because I do not have used LR for a while, I did not update LR on my old laptop.

I will again use the Adobe Cleaning Tool, check all the Adobe files ( including Acrobat) to erase everything from Adobe, and reinstall Adobe Creative Cloud, etc... I hope it will work... My screenshots contain perhaps a clear explanation. As you understand, I am not a computer guy. Thank you again for your kind help.

[JohanElzenga]

It's normal that your catalog is stored in a folder called 'Lightroom'. That is a relic from the past. Adobe never changed this, so Lightroom Classic still uses a folder called 'Lightroom' as default for its catalog. Not having a 'Lightroom's folder inside the username/Library/Application Support/Adobe folder is not normal however. It points to an incomplete installation, and is clearly the problem here.

By the way, if you include screenshots, then do not attach them but embed them in the message. That makes it a lot easier for others to see them. Use this button to do so. 

[jlwolff]

I understand, but LR classic installation goes independently until "open" is written. I click that, and I obtain my very first screenshot

[JohanElzenga]

Try the following. In the User/Library/Application Support/Adobe folder, create a 'Lightroom' folder yourself. Set read & write permissions for this folder not only to yourself, but also to 'Staf' and 'Everyone'. Then try launching Lightroom Classic again.

[jlwolff]

The App is present ( 4.4GB). See the app folder. I have created the LR file with access for everybody. LR opens, but gets stuck on the first screen. A little progress.

[JohanElzenga]

I'm not asking if the app is present. I know it is. The problem is that folder inside the Library/Application Support folder, but it is unclear why Lightroom still can't write to it. I'm out of ideas. I would advise you to contact Adobe support by phone. They may have to remotely take over your computer to see what is going on. I can't and won't do that, because I am not working for Adobe.

[jlwolff]

Thank you for your pieces of advice.

In the time machine, I see that my Macbook is encrypted. It's perhaps something that explains the problem. Anyway, I will erase my Computer, restore it manually without any Adobe app, and log in to CC, etc... Will see what happens

Thank you again.

[JohanElzenga]

No, encryption has nothing to do with this.

[jlwolff]

erased my computer, reinstalled manually each component, downloaded every app from the net and not from the B/up, and reinitialized the modem before doing anything. And now........it works

Theory is when you know everything and nothing works. Practice is when everything works and nobody knows why. Here, we've combined theory and practice: nothing works... and nobody knows why! Albert Einstein

I was in the "combined theory situation", but now, I am in a practical solution.: everything works, and I do not know why.