Unable to import from Lightroom CC 13.2 (2024) catalog because of unknown error

[Jflemay]

Greetings,

I'm using the latest version of Lightroom Classic, 13.2, on my Intel-based Mac Pro and MacBook Pro (running MacOS Sonoma 14.4.1).  Since last year, I've noticed an issue when importing the MacBook's Lightroom catalogue into the Mac Pro's.  After displaying the import dialogue and letting me choose the pictures, it says "Lightroom cannot import from this catalogue because of an unknown error."  See pictures attached.

I've tried copying the laptop's catalogue onto the Mac Pro's desktop, and renaming it.  I've also tried ticking or unticking some options like "update metadata", etc.  Nothing works.

Both catalogues pass the integrity check when I close Lightroom.

Please help!  Thank you,

Jf

[Sameer K]

Hey, @Jflemay. Thanks for sharing the details. I'll help you figure this out.

Before anything else, please update Lightroom Classic to the latest version v13.3 via the Creative Cloud desktop app.

Where do you keep your Lightroom catalog? On an internal or external drive? Do you have a recent catalog backup? 

Try these suggestions:

1 - Move the catalog from the MacBook to a non-syncing, local folder on your target Mac Pro machine.

If this does not help, on MacBook, launch Lightroom Classic with a new catalog from File > New catalog & then go to File > Import from catalog > target your old catalog. Proceed with merging the catalog into the newly made, internal storage-based catalog.

Try to move the new catalog you just created to the new machine & check if that helps.

Let me know how it goes. Thanks!
Sameer K