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Hi Guys
Somehow, I accidentally deleted a few thousand photos from my Lightroom CC (not classic) library. I used Time Machine to restore an older .lrlibrary file and started lightroom again but nothing happens, its just stuck and no photos show up. I could extract all originals from the .lrlibrary file and start over but then, all my edits and ratings etc. would be gone. I tried downloading everything via Lightroom CC Classic and also checked on lightroom.adobe.com and of course, the deleted pictures are gone in the cloud.
Is there a way to get ALL photos out from a lightroom CC .lrlibrary file including edits and ratings? For example to reimport them in lightroom CC classic? Is there an official procedure how to restore a .lrlibrary catalog from a local backup?
Thanks for your help
Hi Peter
Thanks for trying... I do have the originals myself from the Time Machine backup.
I will use Lightroom CC Classic to download all the photos from the cloud and then re-import the originals I accidentally deleted from the TM Backup. When I have everything together, I wil migrate to another software and cancel all my adobe subscriptions.
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This is a big failing of the cloud Lightroom....
I will point someone at Adobe to this thread. For now, don't do anything more.
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Note that the lrlibrary file is more like a cache file - with cloud Lightroom, the truth is in the cloud.
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Thanks for the help. I had the Option selected to store a copy of the files on locally. So the info must be there in the file somehow?
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If everything is deleted from the cloud I think you are stumped. A backup up of the library cache may only be partial because the cache is dynamically managed so that older files drop out as new ones are added.
I could be worthwhile contacting Adobe support directly via on-line chat. I’m not holding out any promises but they may be able to do something at the backend.
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Locally stored copies are linked to the cloud original file and will disappear if the cloud copy is deleted. Was this folder being backed up by Time machine? That could be a possibility.
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Yes the .lrlibrary file is backup up with Apple Time Machine, I have a full copy of the full .lrlibrary file before I accidentally deleted some photos.
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No I meant a TM backup of the folder or external drive which you setup in preferences to store a local copy for off-line editing.
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Yes, thats the .lrlibrary file located in the /Users/NAME/Pictures/ folder. I do have a backup of that.
If I go into the .lrlibrary file (with show package content on mac os) then I see the originals folder which contain all the images. But these are the originals without the edits!
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OK I understand. I thought you were perhaps using an external drive. It’s good that you have a backup of the originals but I suggest you wait to see if Adobe can link them to the edit settings or restore everything from the server. Don’t import again at this stage.
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I cant even import again as my lightroom CC is not working at all anymore as explained in the first post.
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I have asked someone at Adobe to contact you. I recommend you stop what you are doing and don't make things worse.
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I am already chatting with some support guy. They dont know their own product..
But I think I can figure it out myself somehow. I can restore again the old, good .lrlibrary and try to somehow open it while being offline, so all my files and edits should be there. Then I can export everything (originals + edits) I think.
The absolute worst and biggest fail about lightroom CC is this:
I'll keep you updated.
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"Some support guy" is not the person I have asked to contact you - it won't be a person from Support.
You are wasting your time restoring the lrlibrary file. I'd recommend patience, but it's your time.
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Yeah, it looks like lightroom CC refuses to open an restored catalog somehow.
What is the person you have asked to contact me and when will that be?
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Tobi,
If you need to recover original photos that were successfully synced to the cloud, that is something we can do. If you need to recover edits and ratings, that is not something we can do today. That is something we hope to have available in a future release. Unfortunately, I can't help you with this.
I also checked with the team here and they don't see a way to use Time Machine to accomplish this either.
Please do let me know if you need to recover any of the original photos.
-Peter
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Hi Peter
Thanks for trying... I do have the originals myself from the Time Machine backup.
I will use Lightroom CC Classic to download all the photos from the cloud and then re-import the originals I accidentally deleted from the TM Backup. When I have everything together, I wil migrate to another software and cancel all my adobe subscriptions.
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What a funny way to say thank you.... It was you, not Adobe, who deleted those files and the edits. Going forward with Lightroom Classic, you would have your edits stored locally too.
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Hey, everybody makes mistakes, backup and restore is a fundamental and crucial part of computing..
I eventually installed LR CC on my iMac about a week ago having used 6.14 for years. "Eventually" because it would not install - it got stuck at 9.8%. Support used a "CC Cleaner" to solve the problem and, of course completely deleted 6.14 and everything in it (can I get a refund?). Then I tried to install it on my MacBook, but the second support person could not comprehend the problem. So... I deleted all of 6.14 myself using CleanMyMac x which I had to buy to achieve that (can I get a refund?).
So I now learn from the above that it is impossible to restore images and settings in the event of a disaster like, for example, Adobes' servers crashing (anybody know what their backup procedures are and how safe my work is on their servers?).
So I now have no 6.14 which I have loads of experience on, can only get the desktop for £20 per month which includes CC which is a security nightmare, a rubbish experience trying to install CC, and a fear that I will not be able to restore following an error or a disaster.
Time to re-invest in a proper desktop photo app?
Discuss...
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I have asked someone at Adobe to reach out to you.