Metadata conflicts

[alanber]

Lightroom Classic Metadata conflict errors appeared on thousands of images overnight.  Tried overriding on several hundred.  I do use xmp sidecar files on newer images.  Conflicts happens on both, with and without sidecar files.  Looking for advice.

[Aleke]

Hi @alanber, thanks so much for reaching out!
Could you share a few more details about the issue? For example, which version of Lightroom Classic you’re using and a screenshot of what you’re seeing. The metadata conflict message usually means some files in Lightroom Classic have information on disk that doesn’t match what’s in the catalog. When migrating, Lightroom will use the data from the catalog.

Just to clarify, this is a warning rather than an error. It typically appears if you’ve used the Save Metadata to File command in Lightroom Classic (via Metadata > Save Metadata to File or Ctrl+S). That command saves a copy of all metadata, like develop settings, ratings, and keywords, from Lightroom’s database into a file next to the photo so other apps can access it.

If Lightroom Classic has been your main photo editor, you can safely ignore this warning. If you’ve also been using Adobe Bridge for edits, you might want to sync metadata between Lightroom Classic and Bridge. Here’s a helpful guide for that:
https://adobe.ly/48kPZFW

Thanks again!
Alek

[alanber]

@Aleke

Lightroom Classic  15.0.1

The concern stems from no issue when shutting down last night to having this problem this morning.  I checked a few images with this warning in Explorer and there was no metadata file next to it.  I do not edit in Bridge, but use PS and some plugins to return images back to lightroom.  Have seen this before over the years, never really know for each case which option to select.  I have had database issues in the past and have lost images, so changes like this always a concern.  Is there a way to turn off the warning icon?  I have over 61000 images in the database.

[alanber]

@Aleke,

More files with metadata conflicts, today was getting numerous read only access issues which I never seen before.  Started changing permissions in explorer but something systemic is going on.  Possibly updates in windows security or Windows 11 impacting Lightroom Classic.  Any ideas?  

[Noel Orridge]

Hi @alanber! Thank you for sharing those details. Since you weren't editing, it could have stemmed from Cloud Backup/Antivirus interference, DST/Time Zone Glitch, or Windows 11 impacting LrC, as you've suspected.

Here's something you can do to mitigate this: 

1) Make a backup of your catalog.

2) From Library (at the top) > Filter by Metadata > Enable Metadata Filter.

3) In the Library Filter bar (top), click Metadata. Look for a column labeled "Metadata Status." Select "Has Metadata Conflict". This will show only the affected images.

4) Test a small batch: Select 5–10 images. Go to the menu Metadata > Save Metadata to File. 

5) The icons should disappear for those 10 images, and your edits should remain intact.

6) If the test worked, select the rest of the conflict images (do this in batches of ~1000 to avoid freezing the app) and repeat step (4). 

Hope this helps!

[alanber]

Under the metadata filter tab there is no column for metadata status.  The dropdown menu for creating a new filter does not have a metadata status choice either.  However, finding a small group of metadata confict images, the save metadata to file first asked to select override, then cleared the small group.

[alanber · Accepted solution]

update, found the metadata status.  It was in a sub menu under Develop in the drop down list.