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U
unknown camera guy
Inspiring
September 26, 2017
Question

Lightroom not showing files on an external drive, was in the catalog

  • September 26, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 9128 views

1st the basics, Lightroom CC and macOS Sierra, all at the latest version.

I was running LR and had pictures stored on an external drive as well as the internal drive. They were all showing in the catalog and I was able to access the pictures on the external drive from within LR. The external drive was ejected properly but when I reconnected the drive LR is seeing the drive and the folders but not the files in the folders. All the folders are showing zero as the size. The bar that has the drives name is shoring that space is occupied.

I am also able to go to the drive in Finder and see all the pictures. If I select Synchronize on the folder LR says no photos in previous import. I'm able to open the files in photoshop. Ejected the drive and reconnect it and the photos are still not shown.

I am seeing a folder called Lightroom1 with the files and folder listed but they all have a ? and the LED is grayed out while I'm seeing a folder called Lightroom with the LED green. If I right click on the folders in Lightroom 1, with the ? and select find missing folders it will import them to the Lightroom folder.

Confused, and please help.

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

cmgap
Community Expert
cmgapCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 3, 2017

Do you have this checked? Right-click on the + and down arrow icon and turn this on. It will show all of the images in their respective folders and subfolders.

Also Turn On Show Parent Folder by righ-clicking on the folders. This will identify the full path showing where your images are located.

    J
    jonathandade
    Participant
    August 31, 2018

    THANK YOU!  This answered something I have been trying to google-fix for HOURS! 

    99jon
    99jon
    Genius
    September 26, 2017

    You should not use synchronize folder. That is only for images not previously imported into the Lightroom catalog.

    Try right-clicking (control-click) on a folder in the LR Library with a question mark and choose update folder location. Then navigate to the corresponding folder on you Lightroom external disk and choose it.

    dj_paige
    dj_paige
    Legend
    September 26, 2017

    Right click on a folder with a question mark and select Find Missing Folder. Then select the corresponding folder on your disk.

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