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Pacman0
Inspiring
January 4, 2024
Answered

Video files will not preview or import, LrC 13.1, Sonoma 14.2.1

  • January 4, 2024
  • 3 replies
  • 5480 views

Long time Lightroom user here having issues with video files only.  Not sure exactly when this issue started as I haven't imported video files for about a year now.  Running a Mac Mini M2 updated to Sonoma 14.2.1.

 

For some reason I am unable to import (or preview) video files anymore.  Previews in the importer show the error "Preview unavailable for this file" and if I try to import anyway I get the error "There is a problem with the video file".  I have tried resetting preferences, reinstalling LrC, going back to v.12, disabling/removing all plugins, playing video files in Quicktime before trying to import, copying files off my memory cards to my desktop first, removing VLC player, etc.  Been searching for help online and in this forum for a couple of days but have been unable to find anything to fix my issue.  All video files previously imported in LrC work just fine.  I even copied a file that is already in my catalog from a couple of years ago that currently works fine in LrC to a new location and tried to import it as a new file and it fails too.  So I am stumped here.

 

Photos import just fine, it is only a problem with video files.  LrC has full disk access but just won't read any video files (I tried mov and mp4 from several cameras).  Even the non classic version of Lightroom will read and play the files just fine as will Premiere and Bridge, it is only an issue with Lightroom Classic.

 

Appreciate any help/ideas the community can provide on this!

    Correct answer Pacman0

    Thanks John.  Neither of these helped either.  I will troubleshoot more when I have some free time, hoping I don't have to move to a new user profile.  Thanks for the ideas and let me know if anything else comes to mind.


    I have some good news.  I have isolated the cause of this issue.  This is caused by using HEVC (H.265) files.

    I stumbled on this because I just got a new camera (another Fujifilm) and in the process of testing, I shot some video and just used the default settings, H.264, 29.97, 50mbps.  When I tried to import in LrC, I noticed it was showing the previews for all of the pictures AND the video files which suprised me.  So I started troubleshooting to narrow down the cause.  I cleared all files off of the SD card and then shot a video, again at H.264, 29.97, 50mbps.  Then tried the import and it worked.  So leaving that file on the card, I shot another video, this time just changing the bitrate to 100mbps - both files showed up fine in import.  Shot another video changing to 200mbps and import showed all 3 files.  Then I changed to H.265, 29.97, 50mbps and import failed with the "preview not available" for ALL 4 FILES!  So I restarted LrC and tried again, same issue.  Then I deleted the H.265 file from the card and restarted LrC and import was working properly again.  I realized that the issue is that if there is a single H.265 file in the folder that import opens, if will not show any of the files in that folder, even the non H.265 ones.

    I have been testing this whole time using folders that have multiple types of files in them.  So I moved all of the H.265 files out of the folders in question and they all work as they should with LrC.  I changed my cameras to shoot with H.264 and they are working properly with LrC import now.  I also converted my previous H.265 files to H.264 and they import properly too.

    I realize now that I did this to myself when I changed my cameras over to use H.265 sometime last year but didn't test importing into Lightroom.  I'm not sure why the HEVC codec causes this, especially since Premiere seems to work just fine with the codec, but at least I now have a root cause.  Hope this helps some others out there.

    3 replies

    J
    Jessers
    Participant
    September 30, 2024

    I would love for them to treat this as the bug it is, and not just shovel the responsibility of tricking the software to work, on to us. I've been importing video from my Sony A7 IV, no problem, up until yesterday. Suddenly, it won't show thumbnails, and just fails to import them at all. Why? I don't have H.264/265 options, why would I need to run all my footage through a lengthy, power hungry conversion process for it to simply let me.. transfer them to a dated folder structure? Why does it need to be able to decode them (something any other video application on the machine can easily do) to be able to just transfer them? I wish they'd spend a little less time shoving more resource heavy features nobody asked for down our throats, and more time just keeping the tools we actually WANT to pay for, from crumbling.
    I'm paying for the full suite, and I really don't know why anymore, cause I generally hate using it anymore.

    Back to looking for alternatives I guess.
    Polarr Next looks pretty decent!

    T
    tommymfarina
    Participating Frequently
    November 16, 2024

    Well, I kind of lose track of everything in here.

    I have the very "simple" issue that I cannot import from my iphone any video files. Has nothing to do with Fuji/Sony/or the like.

    Anything of the above does not work for me. Could you guys at Adobe just please fix that issue as smoothly as you charge my credit card every month?

    Thanks

    DdeGannes
    Community Expert
    DdeGannesCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 16, 2024

    @tommymfarina , the subject of this thread is, "Video files will not preview or import, LrC 13.1, Sonoma 14.2.1".

    I do not understand what your issue has to do with this thread.

    What application are you using to import video files from your iPhone Lightroom Classic or Lightroom ( mobile)? If so which version number. Also provide some details of exactly what you are trying to achieve.

    Just a thought, are you trying to import the video files from  your iPhone to Lightroom mobile and sync them to Lightroom Classic on your computer? If so you need to be using LrC 13.3 or later on your Computer.

    Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5,; Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; (also Laptop Win 11, ver 24H2, LrC 15.0.1, PS 27.0; ) Camera Oly OM-D E-M1.
    K
    keane108
    Participant
    January 13, 2024

    Hi. 

    Sounding out I am having similar problem. I have tried the steps fone on the Mac over in Windows as well. 
    Hope this get sorted, as i like to keep my video files together with photos ( family memories).

    At one stage, Lightroom created previews files fine and very straight forwards. 
    (Unsure which version).


    Following this thread 

    Regards.
    Keane

      P
      Pacman0Author
      Inspiring
      January 4, 2024

      Sorry, I think I posted this in bugs instead of discussion by mistake.  Please move if needed!

        johnrellis
        johnrellis
        Legend
        January 6, 2024

        Try doing a clean uninstall/reinstall of all Creative Cloud apps (not just LR) using the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool:

        https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

         

        That sometimes fixes issues that involve components shared among several Creative Cloud apps.

        P
        Pacman0Author
        Inspiring
        January 13, 2024

        I think you've tried all the standard magic incantations to narrow down the issue.

         

        I think the underlying issue is that LR uses an Adobe component called the DynamicLinkMediaServer for displaying and manipulating video. That component is managed by a different team, and organizationally, it's use within LR doesn't receive much priority.  Video has always been LR's stepchild since it was introduced in LR 3.


        Thanks John.  I appreciate the info, but wish there was something to help solve this...  I'll do some additional testing and troubleshooting here to see if I can figure out why the component doesn't work with my current user profile on my Mac.  If I can't find a solution,  I guess it is time to start looking for a better cataloging software for videos.

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