Participant

Question

LR not finding missing photos

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 27, 2018
6 replies
2459 views

Hi all,

Ive been using Lightroom for years, I recently upgraded to a newer Mac and updated to Lightroom Classic CC. Since moving over, predictably Lightroom cant find some images (around 21000 or 85000). I have tried all the obvious ways, (cmd click on folder - find missing folder / library - locate missing files etc...) though this doesn't seem to work and I'm sat waiting for hours waiting for nothing (even when plugged directly into server).
I know where all the files are, so i thought I'd do it manually, but when i click on the exclamation mark on each image, nothing happens, no box to locate missing image or anything. Has anyone ever had this before? Very frustrating as I have a ton of editing to do....booo!

restoring missing files

This topic has been closed for replies.

GoldingD

Legend

I am about to point you to an experiment with one image. be aware this will eliminate any edits you accomplished. Be aware it might nit work. Be aware this is not a solution to more than one image. Be aware this is not efficient.

For the one image you are experimenting with, in Library module, accomplish the following

1) Right click, and select to show it in Finder, verify it’s location.

2) In LR, in the library module, remove it from the catalog (do NOT delete).

3) As a result of step 2 any (library) previews that might be corrupt for the one image are gone.

4) Collateral damage is any develop edits are gone

5) As it was removed from the catalog, it can now be imported.

6) Try to import it.

You might want to wait until Dj_paige remarks on the above.

I have questions about alternatively using the sync option for the folder, was that tried, should that be tried.

T

tiffanyh10668968

Participant

When I am in my Library module my folder is fine and the images have no exclamation point on them. But when I go into Develop mode it says "file cannot be found" still no exclamation points on the thumbnails. I edited and exported one image and it seemed to be fine, but I'm not sure why is says "file cannot be found"? Also I did try to reimport the images, as they are still on my desktop, but since they were already imported they wouldn't re-import. There was also no "locate" option as there was no exclamation point.

D

dj_paige

Legend

Can you tell us the full complete unedited file name of this photo? Also please tell us the full complete unedited folder path of this photo.

T

tiffanyh10668968

Participant

The file name is TH2_5040.NEF The original file is on my desktop and was imported to LF from there. It has not been moved or altered in anyway. It won't allow me to "locate" file because in Library it's not showing as missing. Only when I move into develop mode. When I try to reimport it won't because it shows they've already been imported (grayed out images).

GoldingD

Legend

You showed us screenshots of your filmstrip and your grid view. What would probably be more helpfull is a screenshot if your folders panel. Make sure it is expanded as mugh as possible, and that it shows the true parent folder that the catalog is in.

when you share this with us, include a description of what folder shown the actual missing

images should be in.

A

annemettekuhl

Participating Frequently

I have a similar problem except that on my missing 4500 files - LR doesn't show the exclamation point - how do I get LR to find my missing files?
My Catalog was corrupted and restored with the help from Adobe and the restored catalog is the one that is missing a great number of files.
I tried to import the missing photos from my backup - by importing from another catalog - but LR can't open the catalog - it just tells me an error occured - so I can't import the photos that way.
Any suggestions?

JohanElzenga

Community Expert

annemettekuhl wrote
I have a similar problem except that on my missing 4500 files - LR doesn't show the exclamation point - how do I get LR to find my missing files?
My Catalog was corrupted and restored with the help from Adobe and the restored catalog is the one that is missing a great number of files.
I tried to import the missing photos from my backup - by importing from another catalog - but LR can't open the catalog - it just tells me an error occured - so I can't import the photos that way.
Any suggestions?

Lightroom has no option to find missing photos by itself, you have to tell it where the photos are. You say that Lightroom does not show an exclamation point. If you mean that the missing photos aren’t anywhere in the restored catalog at all, then you probably have to import them again as new. You will lose the edits, but that’s the way it is. If the missing photos are shown in the catalog, but without an exclamation point, then that probably means that you do have smart previews for them. In that case check for missings folders first. Reconnecting a folder is much faster and more reliable than reconnecting images. https://www.lightroomqueen.com/lightroom-photos-missing-fix/

-- Johan W. Elzenga

A

annemettekuhl

Participating Frequently

There are no image files IN LR. LR is a Database program that References your images into the Database. the images are stored someplace on the hard drives connected to your computer.

The blank boxes, where the images normally would be displayed, are because there are no Previews of all those images. And none can be created because LR can't find the originals to use to create a preview file from.

There is exclamation marks on most all of your images which is saying those images are not on the same drive and not in the same folder they were in when they were imported into the LR catalog file, IE the LR Database file.

So you have more problems than just some of them NOT displaying the missing file exclamation mark.

First thing to check is that the option to use the GPU is turned off. Restart your computer and then open LR.

Search your drives for the image files. I suspect they are no longer on your computer. If you had a hard drive failure then not only was the catalog lost but all of your images. Hopefully you have backups of them on some other drive, internal or external.

Please!!

My GPU is turned off and has been since the last LR-update.
I know where ALL my RAW-image files are - I'm missing my LR-files!!

(- the catalog of LR is holding ALL my edits - ALL my keywording - ALL my Metadata in .xmp-files)
LR is not allowing me to see the Previews in my restored catalog OR to refind the path to remake them - by not showing the exclamation point ....as I wrote I don't really expect that failure can be helped - BUT I would like some help from somebody who knows about this problem - on how to reestablish my catalog or to transfer the LR-files from a backup....

Rob_Cullen

Community Expert

find missing folder / library - locate missing files etc...

You probably know this, but for benefit of others-This is not an automatic function.

Lightroom does not "Find" your files/folders by itself. You will wait for years if you expect LR to find them.

YOU have to browse to the folder where you "know where all the files are" and choose.

when i click on the exclamation mark on each image, nothing happens, no box to locate missing image or anything

OK so- There is a problem. You should be seeing a first dialog to [Locate] which then opens a Finder window.

Is it possible the window is opening behind another window and is not readily visible?

Curious also to see "System Info".

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.0, Photoshop 27.0, ACR 18.0, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0 .

JohanElzenga

Community Expert

Could you post a screenshot of the ‘Help - System Info’ dialog?

-- Johan W. Elzenga

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