Virtual Copy Not Auto-Adding to Collections

Report · Jul 03, 2025

Lightroom classic "virtual copies" and "HDR copies" do not auto add to an existing collection when made. Have to manually add it back into the current collection from "all photos". Would love for this to be fixed - edited photoshop files add in correctly, but not Virtual Copies or HDR files.

1. Create collection of images

2. Create virtual copy, or create HDR of multiple images

3. Photos "disappear", need to be re-added to the collection by changing view to "all photographs" and adding them back into the collection.

Lightroom Classic V 14.3.1 - Mac OS Sonoma 14.7

Report · Jul 03, 2025

Hmm, I'm not seeing that in my LR 14.4 / Mac OS 15.5 -- see the attached screen recording. Note that if you're working in a smart collection, the virtual copy may or may not appear in the smart collection depending on its rules.

If you're sure you're working in a regular collection, restart your computer. If the problem persists, try resetting LR's preferences:
https://www.lightroomqueen.com/articles-page/how-do-i-reset-lightrooms-preferences/

LR sometimes soils its preferences file, and resetting it can fix all sorts of wonky behavior. That article explains how to restore the old preferences if resetting doesn't help.