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TDC3000
Inspiring
February 9, 2025
Question

Not syncing after "Copy as DNG" Import in LrC

  • February 9, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 1742 views

 

--- updated based on further testing, this is not related to import from SD card or Hard Drive, I can reproduce it from either source--

 

This problem started with the latest version of Lightroom Classic (14.1, but persists in 14.1.1) - MacOS 15.3, MacBook Pro M4Pro, Sony RAW files (*.ARW) extension

 

After importing RAW files using "Copy as DNG" vs "Copy" to a new collection specified to be sync'd:

 

Expected behavior:

1. Conversion of files to DNG

2. Indexing

3. Adding to specified collection

4. Syncing of photos to Adobe Cloud

 

Actual behavior:

1-3 happen normally

4. Syncing of photos doesn't happen - I DO see a new collection created on Lightroom Mobile ecosystem, but no photos are synced to it (photo count of zero), and there is no sync activity on Lightroom Classic. Pausing and restarting syncing does not solve the problem, unsyncing and syncing the new collection does not solve the problem, quitting and restarting Lightroom Classic does cause syncing to happen again normally.

 

Other tests / workarounds:

 

1. Quit and restart Lightroom Classic -> SUCCESS, files begin syncing as expected

2. Import using regular "Copy" instead of "Copy as DNG," allow files to syc, and then convert to DNG. -> SUCCESS, RAW files sync as expected, then when converted to DNG, the DNG files overwrite and sync as expected

3. Import RAW (*.ARW) files using "Copy as DNG" into an ALREADY CREATED synced collection -> FAILURE, files are converted to DNG on copy as expected, but will not sync. Quitting and restarting LrC causes the files to be picked up and sync normally

 

This behavior began with LrC 14.1. Images attached showing the points of failure

    1 reply

    A
    Community Manager
    AlekeCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    February 10, 2025

    Hi @TDC3000!

    Thanks so much for the detailed description of the issue.

    Have you tried resetting sync data? Head to the settings in Lightroom Classic, under the Synchronization section, and click on "Rebuild Sync Data." The option will appear if you hold down the Opt key.

    If that doesn't help, please also try resetting Lightroom preferences. Just hold Opt and Shift while you're opening Lightroom.

    Thanks a bunch!

    Cheers, Alek

    *(If you mention me with an @, like @Aleke, I’ll get a notification and can respond faster.)*
    T
    TDC3000Author
    Inspiring
    February 11, 2025

    Hi @Aleke!

     

    Thanks for the suggestions, before I do them (they are labor intensive, especially the preferences reset), have you been able to reproduce the problem?

     

    Thanks!

    A
    Community Manager
    AlekeCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    February 13, 2025

    Hey @Aleke ,

     

    No problem and I appreciate the question! I went back and did more testing and I have been able to reproduce / show the point of failure, which is not the SD card import, it's the "Copy as DNG" import workflow. When I use this to import RAW files from SD card OR my hard drive, I can reproduce the problem.

     

    If I use the "COPY" workflow, which imports the RAW (*.ARW) files without converting to DNG before sync, things work just fine, and I can convert to DNG after that, again, syncing works fine.

     

    Based on all of this, I updated and retitled  my original post above for clarity with the exact expected and demonstrated behavior, the workarounds, and tests to reproduce. So, you don't have to have an SD card to reproduce this, but you will need to have a RAW file to import. 

     

    Can you take a look with this new information and get back to me/us?

     

    At this point, I'd consider this an annoyance / thing I would not like to be be broken / hopefully to be fixed in an upcoming release vs a critical problem. I do enjoy the DNG format that Adobe so wonderfully integrates into our workflows!


    Hi @TDC3000! 

    Thank you so much for the testing you did and the extra information you provided. With your insights, I tried importing .ARW files with the "Copy as DNG" option on my machine, and for me, the files synced without any issues after a minute or two.

    Could you share a screenshot of the import settings you're using? Apologies for the insistence, but if you haven't already, you might want to try resetting the LrC preferences. It can often help with various issues. Here are detailed instructions on how to do that without losing any of your settings:

    https://adobe.ly/4jZiiPi

    Another thing to check out is You can review the Sync Errors/Issues Album in the upper right. Any unresolved syncs will show up as black thumbnails with text instructions inside that explain how to resolve the sync.

    Thanks a bunch for your patience! 😊
    Alek

    *(If you mention me with an @, like @Aleke, I’ll get a notification and can respond faster.)*
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