Missing folders on external hard drive

[hagateen]

Hello! 

I have searched this forum for answers as well as other websites and remain stumped.  I have an external hard drive, that I move a lot of my pictures to through lightroom (classic)  A few months ago, for reasons I don't know, I can no longer create new folders through lightroom.  I can create a new one within a folder that already exists, but I can't create a new one that isn't a "subfolder".  I can however create the folder in my finder (I uses a mac) .  I did this, and to try and figure out what was going on, I put a picture into that folder from my finder.  I then went into LR to import the picture into LR hoping the folder would show up.  When I imported the picture, I was able to see the folder and import the picture into lightroom, but now I can no longer see the folder in the library mode to view the picture.  I know the picture is there, but I'm unable to get access to it from LR.  I have folders that are visible and that I can work with but somewhere something happened and I can no longer see anything or do anything other than the folders that are already visible. I'm unable to add any new folders, or see them in LR. I hope this make sense.

Thank you!

[dj_paige]

Importing is 100% the wrong thing to do, as Lightroom will (by default) refuse to import the photo.

You want to point Lightroom to the photo or folder's new location. Follow these instructions: http://www.computer-darkroom.com/lr2_find_folder/find-folder.htm

[JohanElzenga]

Reading the original message, I don't think this has anything to do with 'missing folders' in the sense that you linked. This seems an entirely different problem.

To hagateen​: Can you show a screenshot of the window you'll get after you click on the disk icon once and then choose 'File - Get Info' in the Finder? Can you also show a screenshot of the contents of the disk?

[GoldingD]

In LR, move your mouse cursor over to the catalog panel, to All Photographs. Select All Photographs. Right click on All Photographs. Select Find All Missing Photos. A temporary collection will show up, and you can hunt them down For relinking

oh, and I suspect, do not have filters enabled. Oh, and include show photos in sub folders should be enabled.

[GoldingD]

Also, number 5 in this https://photofocus.com/2014/12/22/5-common-lightroom-lost-my-photos-mistakes/

[GoldingD]

By the way, correct catalog? In LR /File/Open Recent/

[hagateen]

Thank you everyone.  It's not a linking issue.  The issue started after I updated my LR classic.  I did some restarting and unplugging of the external hard drive and the folders are showing now.  Not sure what or why that happened but it seems to be back in working order.  Thanks again everybody!!!

[BenDavis]

Make sure the external drive is functioning properly. Sometimes, permission or connection issues can affect how Lightroom interacts with external storage.

[lex_8317]

Sometimes, resetting Lightroom preferences can resolve quirky issues. Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) while launching Lightroom and choose to reset preferences when prompted. This blog  has couple of other ideas why is that happening and how you can avoid it in the future

[JohanElzenga]

You guys are answering a five years old thread. I trust the OP has found a solution by now...