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mpvrana
Known Participant
May 19, 2025
Answered

P: Lightroom Mobile import screen does not display my image thumbs like LR Desktop

  • May 19, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 753 views

Posted over on Reddit, but thought this would be helpful here:

 

TLDR: Fuji Compressed RAW files don't render in the import pane in Lightroom on an iOS device from a SD card reader, but do render on Mac, and on iOS devices when connected directly to the camera.

 

Hey all. Just wanted to share some observations I've had using Lightroom  using Fuji Compressed RAW Files.

 

I enjoy the process of editing on my iPad, and that's my primary platform for working in Lightroom. Especially when going out for a photo walk, or travelling.

 

I've noticed that using a USB-C SD card reader, when importing files to the iPad, or on the iPhone via the lightning to SD card reader, the previews for Fuji Compressed RAW files don't render. They just show up as black squares in the preview for import window.

 

When adding files to Lightroom on my Mac, however, they *do* render in the preview for import window.

 

And curiously, if I connect my camera directly to the iPad via USB-C, the compressed raw files also render in the preview for import window. I'll probably bring a USB-C cable when out and about rather than the SD Card reader knowing this.

 

From what I've read, it's some code in the underlying OS that Lightroom uses to render the RAW files for preview. So possibly there's something in MacOS that isn't there in iOS or iPadOS. Unless I've misunderstood and it's a difference in code between Lightroom on Mac and on iOS/iPadOS.

 

 

{thread title edited to serve users of various iOS-unsupported image types}

Correct answer Charlie.D

I suspect this is a platform limitation, not a LR iOS bug.  Let me ask: do the image files from your camera display in iOS Photos or iOS Files apps?  

 

In Lightroom's import screen, Lightroom can show thumbnails for an image only if the iOS platform itself can show those thumbs. Sometimes unsupported images display as empty thumbs, Lightroom Mobile can at least detect these and import them.  Only after Lightroom has imported and processed such images can the Lightroom app display them.

Other times, the iOS platform will not even display empty thumbnail placeholders for unsupported images.  Nothing appears at all in the native iOS Photos app or Files app.  In this case, Lightroom Mobile also can't see the images at all, and cannot import them.

 

My advice: try import via LR Web instead: sign into your account at https://lightroom.adobe.com using a device (Mac or PC) that shows the files on SD memory.  Using this Lightroom web app, you can drag-and-drop your SD memory images straight into your account, even into a specific album if that's preferred.   If you have access to the Lightroom desktop app, then use that -- I just mention the LR Web app since that's also available to Lightroom Mobile-only subscribers.

 

I hope this info helps in some way!

3 replies

BENOITA38
BENOITA38
Participant
June 29, 2025

Hello,

I want to import images into Lightroom from an SD card connected to my iPad or iPhone, but the images are not displayed for selection in the import window. The thumbnails appear black. Can you tell me how to solve this problem?

Thank you

M
mpvranaAuthor
Known Participant
May 26, 2025

Did a little extra testing with the Mac.

 

Fuji to Mac direct connection USB 

  • Lightroom shows thumbnails (but raw images shot portrait are shown landscape)
  • Image Capture shows thumbnails
  • Apple Photos begins showing thumbnails and then slowly they’re replaced by a generic icon.

 

Fuji to Mac SD Card

  • Lightroom shows thumbnails
  • Apple Photos does not show thumbnails
  • Image Capture does not show thumnails
  • Finder does not show thumbnals

 

It would seem that there's something happening when connected directly via USB to the camera, that isn't working wiith a regular SD card connection.

 

C
Community Manager
Charlie.DCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
Community Manager
May 19, 2025

I suspect this is a platform limitation, not a LR iOS bug.  Let me ask: do the image files from your camera display in iOS Photos or iOS Files apps?  

 

In Lightroom's import screen, Lightroom can show thumbnails for an image only if the iOS platform itself can show those thumbs. Sometimes unsupported images display as empty thumbs, Lightroom Mobile can at least detect these and import them.  Only after Lightroom has imported and processed such images can the Lightroom app display them.

Other times, the iOS platform will not even display empty thumbnail placeholders for unsupported images.  Nothing appears at all in the native iOS Photos app or Files app.  In this case, Lightroom Mobile also can't see the images at all, and cannot import them.

 

My advice: try import via LR Web instead: sign into your account at https://lightroom.adobe.com using a device (Mac or PC) that shows the files on SD memory.  Using this Lightroom web app, you can drag-and-drop your SD memory images straight into your account, even into a specific album if that's preferred.   If you have access to the Lightroom desktop app, then use that -- I just mention the LR Web app since that's also available to Lightroom Mobile-only subscribers.

 

I hope this info helps in some way!

M
mpvranaAuthor
Known Participant
July 7, 2025

I'd also add that LR Web does not show previews when importing. And your answer doesn't really address why previews *do* show up when there's a direct connection to the camera.

C
Community Manager
Charlie.DCommunity Manager
Community Manager
July 7, 2025

Hello @mpvrana 

Apologies for the slow reply.  I'm just now back at work after some summer PTO.  

 

The LR iOS import screen can display only what the platform provides.  If Photos.app can't render thumbs, LR iOS's import screen will have the same trouble.  In this case, LR must import and process the images to dispaly them.  

 

I remember you said connecting via the camera instead of SD card directly does show thumbs.  In your camera settings, what is your Connection Mode set when you're trying USB transfer?  And in Lightroom iOS, are you using "Add photos from... Connect camera/card,"  or are you browsing your camera's contents via "Add photos from... Files?"

I vaguely recall a developer saying that the APIs used to import via Files differs slightly than the APIs that "Connected camera/card" use for direct transfer.

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