Catalogs not working

[RobertWA]

I am having trouble with Catalogs in PSE 2024. If I create a new catalog it seems to work OK,  but if I log out of PSE then open it again, the new catalog is immediately populated with photos from my other catalogs. I turned off the sync options. Because all my photos are now in all my catalogs it seems to make the whole concept of catalogs useless.  Is anyone else experiencing this issue?  Any ideas on how to fix it?

[Greg_S. · Accepted solution]

Yes, this is a horrible issue.

First, let us know if you are able to successfully turn off all boxes in Preferences>Auto sync.

Also, use the Local Media Only and Synced Media filters at the top of the grid, and let us know how many media Items are displayed for each (in the lower left of the window).

Does the Local Media Only filter show only the files that you imported into your new catalog?  For now, you can use that to block out the synced media. 

Do you want to use the Elements Web at all?

[Robert_WA_]

Thanks Greg,

All sync boxes are unchecked.

The Local Media Only filter works - shows only the 63 photos I imported. Synced Media shows another 1280 photos. 

So I could use this to block out the synced media, but it seems to me that this is simply a work-around to cover up a major design flaw in the program.  Why have catalogs if they are going to always end up containing everything?????

When I tried to change catalogs I got this message "Your active catalog, [Name of catalog], is automatically synced to Adobe’s cloud storage.

If you change your active catalog, media that’s already been synced will be added to the new active catalog and the new catalog will sync to the cloud."  Why would media from other catalogs be deliberately added to a new one?  What am I missing here?

I would be much happier if my PSE had absolutely no connection whatsoever to the cloud.  Let me keep everything local.

I have noticed other forum members complaining about the intrusiveness of the cloud.  Has this been fixed in PSE 2025?

Anyway, thanks again, Greg.  Sorry about the extended grumble!

Robert