LR Classic Sync problems

[ChrisPhotoClimb]

I have read almost every post here on LR Classic Sync Issues - I have held down the option ket and attempted to rebuild the sync database but I cannot control how and when LR Classic syncs. Yesterday I set up a new folder and loaded 40 images. It synced fine. Today I set up a new folder and put an image in there and nothing happens. If I click the cloud symbol it has a check mark to say it synced. I see no sync activity listed, and online it has created the collection, but the image I put in the collection is missing. I have tried unchecking and rechecking sync with lightroom but nothing happens. I have wasted SOOO much time trying to get this to work reliably.

Help!

LR Classic 14.5.1

MacOS 15.6.1

[Aleke]

Hi @ChrisPhotoClimb, sorry to hear you're running into sync issues.

Just to help narrow things down, does this happen with any specific file types? Also, could you try logging in to Lightroom Web and check if you have a Sync Errors folder? You can follow the steps here: https://adobe.ly/3HYEOJI

Thanks so much!
Alek

[ChrisPhotoClimb]

All file types - note I did have an error two days ago with a .psb but I removed it and do not try and sync .psb

I cannot see sync errors under all photos in LR online - and the interface looks completely different from what is shown in the article.

I am MacOS and Safari.

Thx Chris

[cid:531473cd-7195-41ec-9674-cabd95e92096]

[ChrisPhotoClimb]

@Aleke - thanks for the reply - see my response in the threadDont see 'sync errors' here

[kyla598ellis]

I have read almost every post here on LR Classic Sync Issues - I have held down the option ket and attempted to rebuild the sync database but I cannot control how and when LR Classic syncs. Yesterday I set up a new folder and loaded 40 images. It synced fine. Today I set up a new folder and put an image in there and nothing happens. If I click the cloud symbol it has a check mark to say it synced. I see no sync activity listed, and online it has created the collection, but the image I put in the collection is missing. I have tried unchecking and rechecking sync with lightroom but nothing happens. I have wasted SOOO much time trying to get this to work reliably.

Help!

LR Classic 14.5.1

MacOS 15.6.1

By MyAARPMedicare @ChrisPhotoClimb

Hello @ChrisPhotoClimb,
You're not alone—Lightroom Classic sync can be frustratingly inconsistent. If the cloud icon shows a checkmark but the image isn’t syncing, try these steps:

- Confirm the image is in a synced collection (not just a folder).
- Check the “All Synced Photographs” collection to see if it appears there.
- Hold Option + click the cloud icon to access “View Sync Activity” and look for errors.
- Try removing the image from the collection and re-adding it.
- If issues persist, consider creating a new catalog and re-enabling sync—corrupted catalogs often cause silent failures.

Adobe’s sync engine has known quirks, especially after macOS updates. A clean reinstall of Lightroom Classic may help stabilize things.


Best Regards,
Kyla Ellis

[Srishti Bali]

Hi @ChrisPhotoClimb

Sorry for the delayed response. I agree with all the helpful suggestions shared by Kyla, and Kyla, I’m sorry to hear about your experience too. Sync issues in Lightroom Classic can involve multiple factors, and we do have a detailed article that explains how sync works here: https://adobe.ly/4gAG3LX;

I’d love to know if the steps shared above helped resolve the issue for you. Also, I’m sure you may have already tried this, but sometimes a simple sign-out/sign-in to the Creative Cloud app, or even switching networks, can help clear up these sync hiccups.

We’re here to help, so please let us know how things are going!

Regards,

Srishti

[ChrisPhotoClimb]

Things did resolve.

I have to say that performance is spotty. IT is often the case that if I am working on a group of images that group gets synced quite quickly, but then it is not unusual to have a smaller number that are just sitting - when I try and close LR after my work it does warn me about this. But they can sit there for a long time >1hr before they eventually sync.

It is more than a nuisance because if I have to leave my office and leave LRC open on my desktop - then do another job then use my laptop - I cant be sure I am not creating a conflict that will jam LR sync up again.

IT seems to be essential to only have one copy of LRC open at a time - largely because LR Sync only works with one catalog at a time. And each catalog is essentially confined to one machine.

Adobe really needs to create a cloud native catalog - maybe that uses caching for performance - but the current config is clunky.

Thanks

Chris

[Rob_Cullen]

" largely because LR Sync only works with one catalog at a time."

That should read- " largely because LR Sync only works with ONE (Lr-Classic) catalog......" fullstop!

You can swap LrC catalogs, but trying to sync Lightroom-Classic on two systems is prone to failure and corruptions. 

The accepted method now seems to be:  Lightroom-Classic 14.5.1 on the desktop, and Lightroom 8.5.1 on a laptop or 'secondary' desktop.

[ChrisPhotoClimb]

I have more than a laptop - I have a main desktop, a laptop and another desktop. I have to have LrC on all of them. LR just does not cut it. Yes it is a difficult process and you have to be super careful, but making sure you always use separate xmp, ensuring one machine is the master and always flushing and refilling the subsidiary catalogs seems to be the way to go. I actually try and rely on LRSync as little as possible. It is a pain but it gets me by. Again when is adobe going to create a true cloud native catalog?

Chris

[DdeGannes]

@ChrisPhotoClimb , Just some thoughts, you are using the latest version of of LrC and there are some things that can cause the sync process to complete.

I you are using the Dnoise AI or similar functions on multiple files the writing to the Catalog Data support  file can take a while to complete.

Also if you have the option to " Automatically write Metadata to XMP " selected will delay the process., best to deselect this option until the process has been rectified.

[ChrisPhotoClimb]

Doing all of those things - except not writing metadata to xmp.

Writing metadata to xmp is absolutely critical to my process - where I am always always always using 2 or more computers bexause I travel. Each computer has to have its own catalog. The only way I have reliably found with image files kept in the cloud to retain sanity is to always rely on separate xmp files.

Until Adobe creates a true cloud native catalog that can be used across all devices I will have to continue to do this.

Chris

[DdeGannes]

@ChrisPhotoClimb ,  looking at the addition posts today appears to me you are attempting to use LrC contrary to how it was designed to function.

Maybe you could check the Lr Cloud Based Ecosystem, which has the Catalog Data stored in Adobe Creative Cloud.

PS The annual upgrade of LrC to version 15 and Lr. to version 9 is due mid October 2025.

[ChrisPhotoClimb]

I have been using it but it is LR based not LrC based...
I still keep coming back to LrC for what I need.

[DdeGannes]

So Lr based is Lightroom Desktop, data is stored in Adobe Creative Cloud, original images in the cloud and also on your Computer. 
LrC based is Lightroom Classic with data in the Catalog file on your computer, and original images on your Computer, if you have sync enabled "smart previews " are. synced to the Adobe Creative Cloud storage.

[ChrisPhotoClimb]

I keep all my images in Backblaze in the cloud. It has a really nice caching system so I can edit in Photoshop or LrClassic with no obvious problems after 5 years of using Backblaze. The biggest issue is managing catalogs while retaining access to the functionality of LrC/PS

LR just is not good enough yet.


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