Photo does not open from Lightroom

[Ken Nielsen]

Photoshop v. 24.7.0 with Lightroom Classic 12.4 - Mac OS Ventura 13.4.1 (c) All latest versions and this started happening on the last update of Photoshop. When viewing the image in Lightroom and choosing Edit in... Photoshop, then Photoshop does indeed open on screen but no image. I can only get the image to open if I choose 'open as smart object in Photoshop' which is reall not what I want. So, I have to go into the raw images folder and open the file by knowing the filename number and then it opens in Photoshop. This is a new behavior. Images have always opened before in Photoshop when I've selected "Open in Photoshop" from the 'Photo/Edit' in menu in Lightroom. 

[Ken Nielsen]

Also, I'm getting this message pop up on the screen in Photoshop quite often now...

[bet1947]

I been having this problem several months now. Done several updates and still won't work. I been just opening it as smart object and then flatten it. Now with the latest update both don't work. Good Luck. 

[Ken Nielsen · Accepted solution]

I've been scoring the internet and lo and behold, this comes up from this group no less... Thank you Digital Dog! This fixed the problem and I'm back in the saddle again!

TheDigitalDog

LEGENDOct 17, 2022

When the 'link' between Lightroom Classic and Photoshop has issues, one of the first things to try is this:
1. Use the Adobe Creative Cloud application to uninstall both Photoshop and Lightroom Classic and when asked, keep preferences. 
2. Install Photoshop first, then Lightroom Classic. 
Better? 

[bet1947]

I just tryed this method, but it did not fix the problem that I am having.  Ctrl+E or CTRL+ALT+X does not work. PS will launch, but no photo.

[dodoa1]

same for me

[bet1947]

Well I just removed the beta PS 24.7 and now the open as smart object works (CTRL+ALT+X) ,but the open in Photoshop does not work (CTRL+E) I can live with that, but I do need at least one of them to work.

[Ken Nielsen]

I do not understand and would need first a full reporting of your operating system, model and year of computer, versions of OS and software bot Lightroom and Photoshop. All of this is relevant to making the best recommend. Your re-install, done exactly as DigitalDog recommends, step by step and word by word, must be done first. THEN, there are other options but only the likes of Experts like DigitalDog would know.

[bet1947]

Here is some info, but the list is much more than this. Do you need it all?

[Ken Nielsen]

No, just the basics. Looks like the system is starved for RAM and I'll bet there is where you could free up the system. Bump it up to 32G or even 64G would make everything work better. I'm not sure about the processor; a Windows expert could advise you there on just how things could be given a boost. I would bring this subject up as a new post in the Windows side of this group.

[bet1947]

I do have 32GB of Ram. I also removed the beta version PS, and that did fix part of the issue . I now can open from lightroom using "open as smart object" , and I can live with that, but for whatever reason it won't open when using "Edit in Photoshop" (CTRL+E) 

[Ken Nielsen]

I would also dump 'Beta' as it is not as thoroughly time-tested as 'Classic.'

[joannakoz]

same here, its been so annoying 

[Temple Dog]

Followed the instructions to the letter (I'm a very longtime user of Adobe products so am careful to observe protocpls) but, sadly, still no luck. LR and PS are just refusing to connect. I am pretty sure the probklem lies in a very buggy new version of PS or ACR - and there seem to be a lot if us in the same boat). Revised updates needed Adobe, get on it!

[chisan33]

I deleted the current version of PS and installed the previous version (PS)
and they’re connecting now.

[eagle ridge band]

Thanks chisan33, this worked for me.

[Temple Dog]

I posted earlier that I followed your intructions but that they didn't work. My bad, and my apologies. Shut the computer down, came back later, opend up LR and PS and lo and behold - problem fixed! Thank you so much for this workaround!

[jacours]

I would also like to thank TheDigitalDog very much for this recommendation. After days of unsuccessfully waiting for a clever solution to this problem, I was able today to eliminate it within 10 minutes.

[Sandylp]

Your suggestion of uninstalling and reinstalling LRC and PS also worked for me. Thank you so much.

[WLan]

Just had this issue and your suggestion is what got it back to normal, thanks a lot my friend!

[MG-laptop]

Thank you so much! This description also solved my same problem!

[SteveAtkinsonStudio]

Worked great for me... thanks!

[JimS_TX]

This did not fix my problem.  Photoshop is still greyed out and the External Editing in Preferences still says that "Adobe Photoshop not found".  Interestingly, if I open Photoshop, External Editing ALSO says "Detected that Photoshop 2025 is running", but that changes nothing.  

Bug!

[Horstheld]

I have the same problem since this week it does not open a picture in photoshop from lightroom.

[bet1947]

If you have the beta PS 24.7 or 25 , you may remove it and see if that will fix the problem. I did remove it and now mine is partially fixed. I now can open a photo from LR to PS using the "open as smart object" , but it did not fix the "open in PS CTRL+E"