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Question

My collections in lightroom are missing hundreds of images.

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
February 5, 2025
2 replies
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My collections in lightroom are missing hundreds of images. I don't mean the previews are there but it's not connected to the original source. The images are literally just not there at all.

My collections which would have whole shoots in showing less images than they should - some vastly so. On one shoot, only the B&W images are missing - which I create by making a copy of the colour version.

My process is: Import images from my external HD to LR as smart preview. I'll edit off the smart preview and then export the whole lot to my external HD.

It doesn't make sense to me at all.

Rob_Cullen

Community Expert

Just questions-

Is that "Lightroom" or "Lightroom-Classic". The word "collections" would suggest Lr-Classic. Post a screen-clip of the report you get from MENU > HELP > SYSTEM INFO...

"Missing hundreds"- (again: Lr or LrC?) Do you mean that you see the preview thumbnails (in LrC) but they are marked with an exclamation mark [!], or folders with a [?]..?

"Images just not there." Where not there?

If you Import from an external HD- are the images files visible on the ext HD using a file browser?

Do you use Lightroom with the ext HD un-plugged? Is that the reason for creating Smart Previews?

And what is the purpose of "exporting" to the ext HD?

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .

C

clarer64577927Author

Participant

I'm using LR Classic.

It's got a bit messier since my last post. I contacted adobe - who were really not helpful.

Original problem - I'm sure images were missing from my collections. Right now, I've moved onto a new similar problem...

New problem - adobe tried opening and closing my catalog and back ups. Now depending on which backup I have open is a new problem.

If I open my catalog I can see images with the preview thumbnails - but there are 13414 missing images (see screenshot) when I go to the image it says the original file is missing - even though my external HD is plugged in and the file paths haven't changed. Additionaly - some images have the error message that comes up (see image.)

I've tried opening a back up of my catalog - if I do that the majority of images are missing image previews. (see screenshot).

When I'm editing away from my desk - fairly often, I unplug my HD for ease which is why I use smart previews.

Yes, I can see the images on my external HD.

I export to my external HD to deliver final edited images to my clients.

C

clarer64577927Author

Participant

A few comments-

1) For now you can ignore the "Metadata changed" notification- simply cancel.

2) Missing Files and Folders need to be relinked- see info on 'Missing' photos- Find FOLDERS first.

MISSING FILES & FOLDERS (Lightroom Queen)

MISSING FILES AND FOLDERS-(Computer Darkroom)

3) The Ext HD needs to be attached to allow LrC to relink and find the missing photos & folders, and to allow the (grey) standard previews to re-build.

4) I note the Catalog you screen-clipped is in a Backups sub-folder. It should not be there. If it becomes your master working catalog it should be moved out of a backups folder (eg. moved up to the {/Pictures/Lightroom} folder).

5) Catalog zip backups must not be on the same drive as your working catalog. Drive fails- you have lost the lot!

6) When your catalog is working correctly, consider Renaming it to something more appropriate from the LrC File Menu.

7) If support created several catalogs all from backups, I cannot tell you which one might be your 'best' or 'correct' catalog.

😎 I might also suggest you delete the {Lightroom Catalog -2-2-v13-5 Smart Previews.LRDATA} folder and after you have solved all missing photos- re-create your smart previews (with ext HD attached.) for away from desk.

Thank you Rob for so much help, it's been really useful, I really appreciate it.

I've gone through and re-connected hundreds of folders and it's back to working correctly now, I still don't understand whay it happened - most of them I just re-connected the file path it told me it was trying to link to anyway.

I've also followed all the other steps and advice in your reply & thank you for leading me to Lightroom Queen - I'm spending some time now really going through her guides and getting myself up to scratch with LR.

Thanks Again 🙂

kglad

Community Expert

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.

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