"Edit In Photoshop" Workflow Failure

[Legasius]

Hi, Ailandas here.
I am reporting a critical bug affecting the core workflow between Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. This issue has persisted for over 9 months and on a completely fresh Windows installation.

The standard "Edit In" and "Save" workflow consistently fails, causing me to lose the link to my files and severely impacting my productivity.

Environment:
Operating System: Windows 11 Pro 22H2
Lightroom Classic Version: 14.5.1
Photoshop Version: 26.10
Problem Description: The core workflow of Edit In Photoshop from Lightroom Classic is failing. After a file is edited and saved in Photoshop, it is not automatically detected or imported back into the Lightroom catalog, leading to a File cannot be found error for the original file and requiring a manual re-import. This issue has persisted for over 9 months, across multiple software and operating system reinstalls.

Steps to Reproduce:
In Lightroom Classic, I select a RAW file and right-click, choosing Edit In > Adobe Photoshop.
I select Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments and the file opens in Photoshop.
I perform a simple edit and press Ctrl + S to save.
I return to Lightroom Classic.

Actual Result:
The newly created -Edit.tif file is not automatically detected. However it is located within the exact same folder. I do not change file locations.

It does not appear in the catalog, nor is it stacked with the original file, despite Stack with Original being enabled in my preferences.
Lightroom Classic displays an error for the original file, stating The file could not be found.

Expected Result:
After saving the file in Photoshop, the new -Edit.tif file should appear in the Lightroom Classic catalog, stacked with the original photo, without any manual intervention.

Additional Information:
My External Editing preferences are correctly configured as shown in the attached screenshot.
My File Handling preferences are also correctly configured.
The setting to Automatically write changes into XMP is enabled.
This issue has persisted after performing a clean uninstallation and reinstallation of both applications using the Creative Cloud uninstaller.
The issue also persists after manually resetting preferences in both applications.
The problem is not specific to one file or a single folder.
This workflow works flawlessly on my other desktop computer, which has the exact same software versions installed.

[Sameer K]

Hey, @Legasius. Welcome to the Lightroom Community. I've moved your post to discussions for now. I'll need more info to help you figure this out. Please share the system info from Lightroom Classic from Help > System info > Copy and paste into a text document > Upload and attach here. 

Where do you keep your Lightroom Catalog? Internal, or external drive? Try these suggestions:

1 - Create a new catalog by holding the ALT key at the launch of Lightroom Classic.

2 - Go to File > Import from catalog > target your old catalog. Proceed with merging the previous catalog into the newly made, internal storage-based catalog. For more help via video-based steps, check here. See https://adobe.ly/3NTC9Rv

Let me know how it goes. Thanks!
Sameer K

(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

[Legasius]

Hello, @Sameer K ,
thank you for your reply. I have tried creating catalog and importing from old one . Issue still exists. I am attaching system info here.

[Rob_Cullen]

A comment- An early step in your workflow is not typical behaviour of Lr-Classic-

"I select a RAW file and right-click, choosing Edit In > Adobe Photoshop. I select Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments"

With the [Edit-In] command: Any proprietary RAW file (CR3, NEF, RawDNG, etc) should open directly in a Photoshop document window. Only rendered RGB files (JPG, TIF, PSD, PNG, ) should show the options that include- "Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments".

So yes, something is amiss, but I do not know what.

CLASSIC to PHOTOSHOP

[Legasius]

@Rob_Cullen 

Sorry causing unnecessary confusion I usually edit DNG files, sometimes plain ARW files. But while testing how files are going back from Photoshop to Lightroom. I have picked TIF exported file from Photoshop to lightroom which I found via missing file function. Hence, I got a table to edit with lightroom adjustments which I mentioned "I select a RAW file and right-click, choosing Edit In > Adobe Photoshop. I select Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments". 

However, my issue is that after doing "edit in Photoshop" no matter what kind of file format DNG,ARW,CR.2, TIF etc. My file returns as a missing file from Photoshop to LrC.

[drtonyb]

@Legasius 

@Rob_Cullen is correct. It defintely appears that you are not editing a RAW file. You don't show what type of file you are editing, making it difficult for anyone to help you. XMP has nothing to do with opening a file from LrC into Ps.

What type of file are you editing in LrC?

[Legasius]

@drtonyb @Rob_Cullen

I usually work with ARW file converted to DNG. Which I believe is the right way, or I am I missing something here?

Even if I don't convert ARW to DNG and add file as ARW it has exact same problem. Where on my other workstation it works in both cases. 

[drtonyb]

@Legasius 

Since both ARW and DNG are RAW files, Edit In.. Adobe Photoshop 2025 should open directly into Ps. You should not see this:

Have you tried resetting your Preferences? If not, then locate your Preferences file and rename it to preserve it if the reset does not work.

[Legasius]

@drtonyb Sorry causing unnecessary confusion I usually edit DNG files, sometimes plain ARW files. But while testing how files are going back from Photoshop to Lightroom. I have picked TIF exported file from Photoshop to lightroom which I found via missing file function. Hence, I got a table to edit with lightroom adjustments which I mentioned "I select a RAW file and right-click, choosing Edit In > Adobe Photoshop. I select Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments". 

However, my issue is that after doing "edit in Photoshop" no matter what kind of file format DNG,ARW,CR.2, TIF etc. My file returns as a missing file from Photoshop to LrC.

[drtonyb]

@Legasius 

I just saw your comment to @Rob_Cullen 

Editing a TIF explains the non-raw dialog request  'Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments'.

When you select the returned PS edited file, which LrC finds is missing, can you try and find the file location where LrC 'thinks' it is?

Also, in Develop, click on the first Edit in Photoshop History step. There is a bug here that doesn't link the edited file properly to the History, but that shouldn't prevent it from being found. The first History step is not highlighted properly, which I can see in your screenshot in the pdf, indicating it's not selected correctly.

[Legasius]

Translator

When you select the returned PS edited file, which LrC finds is missing, can you try and find the file location where LrC 'thinks' it is?

By @drtonyb

@drtonyb You might be onto something here , when I start searching for missing file, I get a table that lightroom cannot find D:\Pictures folder. When I try to locate folder itself I get an error I will attach 2 photos of what I get here.

I am thinking maybe I can try to create a catalog that is not within the D:\Pictures folder might help?

Also, in Develop, click on the first Edit in Photoshop History step. There is a bug here that doesn't link the edited file properly to the History, but that shouldn't prevent it from being found. The first History step is not highlighted properly, which I can see in your screenshot in the pdf, indicating it's not selected correctly.

By @drtonyb

Unfortunately That doesn't change anything in this case

[drtonyb]

@Legasius 

Is the path shown in your pdf "Desktop > Pictures > 2025 > 2025-08-16" on the C: drive?

[Legasius]

No due to small C: drive I have everything on D: drive. Path is D:/dekstop/pictures/2025/2025-08-16

I have a hunch that LrC tries to check C:/Pictures drive by default? 

I thinking of:

1. Maybe I get some conflict due to Adobe programs being installed on C: drive? I will try reinstalling them to D: drive and check if the problem remains.
2. Trying to change my catalog folder that it would not be within D:/Pictures?

Your help leads me to believe it might be the problem. 

[DdeGannes]

@Legasius , You indicated the following, 

" Environment:
Operating System: Windows 11 Pro 22H2
Lightroom Classic Version: 14.5.1
Photoshop Version: 26.10 ".

Just some thoughts,

1. your Win 11 system is not up to date.

2. Is it possible you have more than one Installation of Photoshop on your system?

3. If so it may be possible that an earlier version of PS is beating when you use the " Edit in option" from LrC.

[Legasius]

Hello @DdeGannes , thank you for reaching out

1. Windows up to date, I will try doing an extra scan if there might be something missing.
2. I only use one version of Photoshop, I don't even have Photoshop beta in my system. 

[DdeGannes]

My Win 11 is showing 24H2, yours is showing 22H2 ?

[Legasius]

@DdeGannes you are right double checked it, I have pending windows update. Updating now, lets see if it helps, fingers crossed! Thanks👍

[drtonyb]

@Legasius 

I have sent you a Private Message.

[Legasius · Accepted solution]

I have managed to fix it!

Special thanks @drtonyb , you got me on track that there was an issue locating whole Picture folder. Lightroom interpreted folder path is : D:\Pictures\2025\2025-08-16 (I provided bad path due to copying it from path that I saw in Lightroom)
However, real path was D:\Darbalaukis\Pictures2025\2025-08-16
Lightroom kept skipping "Darbalaukis location" even if I specifically show that folder location by navigating via Missing file function or locating folder via Folders tab in Library. So, I placed Picture folder to D:\ not D:\Darbalaukis. Issue solved.

Thank you all for your patience and help!

[DdeGannes]

@Legasius , good to hear you have got your issue resolved.

[drtonyb]

@Legasius 

I am pleased to see that you fixed the problem.

However, I am still a bit puzzled. Your screen shot in the pdf shows the RAW files were located in the folder D:\Darbalaukis\Pictures2025\2025-08-16 and the edited TIF file from Ps was saved back to this folder. LrC would also have that same folder path set when the RAW files were Imported, so how could LrC be looking for the edited TIF file in D:\Pictures2025\2025-08-16?

Does this "(I provided bad path due to copying it from path that I saw in Lightroom)" mean that in LrC's Folder's panel you saw the top folder being Pictures on drive D:? If so, right-click on Pictures and select "Show Parent Folder" should add the Darbalaukis folder above Pictures.

You mentioned that "This workflow works flawlessly on my other desktop computer". Is that using a different catalog, a different folder structure and different images?

[Legasius]

However, I am still a bit puzzled. Your screen shot in the pdf shows the RAW files were located in the folder D:\Darbalaukis\Pictures2025\2025-08-16 and the edited TIF file from Ps was saved back to this folder. LrC would also have that same folder path set when the RAW files were Imported, so how could LrC be looking for the edited TIF file in D:\Pictures2025\2025-08-16

By @drtonyb

When I update parent folder Lrc would merge folders (missing files with existing ones). However, this was a temporary fix  because, whenever I had a new edit in photoshop a new missing files appeared and I would need to repeat same processes.

Maybe it has something to do with folder security? Due to that LrC had issues accessing it? But as I see it has full control in all users.

I don't know why LrC didn't see, nor added Darbalaukis to the path it is beyond my understanding. Despite the fact I would go to D:\ Darbalaukis \ Pictures - since missing parent folder was Pictures. 

But I have tried navigating to 2025 and 2025-08-16 subfolders problem remained.

Does this "(I provided bad path due to copying it from path that I saw in Lightroom)" mean that in LrC's Folder's panel you saw the top folder being Pictures on drive D:? If so, right-click on Pictures and select "Show Parent Folder" should add the Darbalaukis folder above Pictures.

By @drtonyb

I believe this is where the core of the issue was that for whatever the reason LrC did not see Darbalaukis as a path.

At least now I don't have to manually search for missing TIF files for every quick touch up in Photoshop. This is a huge win for me since I was working with this problem closely to one year at this point. Which amount to few extra hours of navigating in bigger event shoots

You mentioned that "This workflow works flawlessly on my other desktop computer". Is that using a different catalog, a different folder structure and different images?

Weird part is that I have tried to replicate same issue on my other workstation I have with same catalog, and images and whiles same path structure and it still worked.