XMP files showing up

[James26286381wsci]

Trying to understand why an XMP file sometimes shows up after I import from my SD card and onto my SSD. It has only happened 4-5 times but don't understand why it does simply after only doing an import and only 1 image of the 40-100 images in a single import has it under it. 

Also after I imported images tonight, I did a single image export in which file settings were set up as an original RAW and it was sent to a folder I set up on my SSD. I opened that folder and the image was there but there was a XMP right under the image. Is this normal?

I am just getting around to practicing exporting images tonight, in fact this is only the second one I have done. I have done zero editing to any image yet. I thought XMP files only showed up anywhere after doing edits? Taking my time learning each day but confused a bit as I go on certain things like this one.

LRC 11.5

macOS Monterey 12.5.1 (MacBook Pro M1 Max)

SanDisk 1TB Extreme SSD

Thank you for anything to set me straight.

[dj_paige]

XMP files are created by Lightroom Classic when you either use the menu command Metadata->Save Metadata to File (or Ctrl-S); or if you have the option in Catalog Settings to automatically write XMP turned on. Otherwise, I don't think you will get XMP files from Lightroom Classic.

If you do an export of a RAW photo and use Original as the Image Format, you will get an XMP file generated (if there is user-generated metadata or edits, I don't think you get an XMP file if there is no user-generated metadata or edits, but right now I can't test that).

[James26286381wsci]

So that answers my question about the original raw export and thank you. I do have the Metadata preset customized for the import process so it's added to my images but it's been set up the same since the beginning. I would assume an XMP showing up would be on every single image and not just one and that's what has me curious.

I've never yet edited one photo, taking my sweet time being as precise as possible with getting everything set up the correct way first instead of rushing into it and causing issues. Not that I am deeply concerned about the XMP files even though I don't want them and I do understand them for the most part, ok 75%. It just makes me wonder how one will pop up immediately after an import when I open my SSD to check things over and when I have never edited anything, not 1 single image. Also I do have the include XMP option turned off since day one.

[dj_paige]

Perhaps you accidentally press Ctrl-S