Opening files in lightroom is almost impossible

[john_4432]

When I open lightroom on my Mac, importing files is almost impossible. There is a search query. What am i supposed to enter in the query box? This is like windows 96. why does lightroom not offer a dialog box so I can be presented with openable files. When it comes to file management, Adobe lightroom is horrible and far behind the times, and yet it asks for feedback on the product. I have files on my desktop that I can't open. Lightroom states the folder can't be found. There is no folder, the image is right on my desktop. does the lightroom develop team EVER LISTEN to feedback?

[Jim Wilde]

The search box is designed to search the existing images in your catalog, so it's no surprise that it won't find any images that haven't yet been added to the catalog. 

To import new images from your desktop, you use the "Add Photos" button which is near the top of the left-hand panel. That opens a file browser which will allow you to select the images or folders from your desktop.

If you don't see the Add Photos button, confirm that you are using the "Cloud" tab, not the "Local" tab (top left-hand corner of the Lightroom window). 

If you still can't see the "Add Photos" button, please post a screenshot of the Lightroom window so that we can figure out what might be happening.