Fix 1: Turn Off “Don’t Import Suspected Duplicates”
If you’re experiencing issues with Lightroom not importing photos, one common reason could be that the program believes the files are already imported. In this case, certain files will appear greyed out, and you will not be able to import them into the Lightroom catalog. To fix this problem, you can follow these steps:
- Open Lightroom and go to the Import dialog box.
- Look for the “File Handling” section in the lower-left corner of the screen.
- Check if the “Don’t Import Suspected Duplicates” option is selected or not. If it is, this could be the reason why Lightroom is not importing your photos.
- Uncheck the “Don’t Import Suspected Duplicates” option.
- After unchecking the option, Lightroom will now allow you to import the files that it believes are duplicates. These files will no longer be greyed out and will be available for import.
After you’ve followed the above steps, Lightroom will no longer skip importing files that it believes are duplicates, allowing you to import all your photos without missing any. This simple fix can save you a lot of frustration and ensure that all of your photos are properly imported into Lightroom.
Fix 2: Make Sure you are in the Correct Module
Another reason why Lightroom may not be importing your photos is that you may not be in the correct module. The Import button can only be found in the Library Module, so it’s important to make sure you’re in the correct module before trying to import your photos. To fix this, follow these steps:
- Switch to the Library Module by clicking on the Library Module icon in the top right corner of the screen or by using the keyboard shortcut “G.”
- Once you’re in the Library Module, you should see the Import button in the bottom left corner of the screen. Click on it to start the import process.
- The Import dialog box will open, allowing you to select the photos you want to import. You can select either a folder or individual files.
- Lightroom may not import photos if they are in an incompatible file format. Check that your photos are in a compatible format, such as JPEG or RAW.
- You can choose the folder to which you want to import your photos by selecting the “Destination” option in the Import dialog box. You can also create a new folder if you wish.
- Before importing, you can check the previews of your photos by selecting the “Preview” option in the Import dialog box.
- Once you’ve selected your photos and set your preferences, the Import button in the bottom right corner of the screen should become clickable. Click on it to start importing your photos into Lightroom.
- Make sure there is a checkmark beside each file to indicate it’s selected for import.
If the Import button is still greyed out, then move down to the next step.
Fix 3: Check the File Type
Another common reason why Lightroom may not be importing your photos is that the file type is not supported. Lightroom does not support certain file types, including Adobe Illustrator, Nikon scanner, and NEF. Identify the file types that you are trying to import. You can do this by looking at the file extension in the file name, such as .jpg, .png, or .raw.
Check if the file type is supported by Lightroom. You can do this by referring to Adobe’s official list of supported file types for Lightroom.
If you have files that are not supported, consider converting them to a supported file type before importing them into Lightroom.
For files that are supported but still not importing, check if the file is corrupted. Corrupted files can cause issues with importing. You can try opening the file in another program or performing a file repair tool to see if that fixes the issue.
Keep in mind that Lightroom has limitations on file dimensions. Files that are larger than 65,000 pixels per side or larger than 512 megapixels are not supported by Lightroom. If you have files that exceed these limits, consider reducing their size before importing them into Lightroom.
Fix 4: Check your Import Settings
Finally, you may be using the wrong import setting. At the top of the import window, there are four different options: Copy As DNG, Copy, Move, and Add. Here’s what you need to do:
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- Open Lightroom and go to the Library Module.
- Click on the Import button located in the bottom left corner of the screen.
- In the import window, select the source of your photos by clicking on the “From” option on the left-hand side and browsing for the folder where your photos are located.
- Once you’ve selected the folder, make sure to choose the correct import option at the top of the window: Copy As DNG, Copy, Move, or Add.
- If you are unsure which option to select, consider the following:
- Copy As DNG: This option will copy your files and convert them to DNG format, which is Adobe’s open-source RAW format. This option is best if you want to keep the original files untouched and have a backup in a different format.
- Copy: This option will copy your files from the source folder to a new folder you choose. This is a good option if you want to keep your original files in one location and work with copies in Lightroom.
- Move: This option will move your files from the source folder to a new folder you choose. This is a good option if you want to move your files to a different location and have Lightroom automatically update the file path in its catalog.
- Add: This option will add your files to the Lightroom catalog without copying or moving them. This is a good option if your files are already organized in a specific folder structure and you don’t want to duplicate them.
- Once you’ve selected the correct import option, choose the destination folder by clicking on the “To” option on the right-hand side and browsing for the folder where you want your photos to be copied or moved.
- Double-check the import settings to make sure they are correct, then click on the Import button at the bottom right corner of the window to start the import process.
- Wait for the import process to complete, then check the Library Module to make sure your photos are now visible in Lightroom.
Fix 5: Update Lightroom
Keeping your software up-to-date is another important tip for avoiding import issues. Adobe regularly releases updates to Lightroom that address bugs, improve performance, and add new features. You can check for updates in the Creative Cloud app. Follow these steps to update Lightroom.
- Quit the Lightroom app.
- Go to the Creative Cloud app and sign in with your Adobe account.
- Find Lightroom and click on the Install button next to it.
Fix 6: Troubleshoot System Issues
Your system can also cause problems with Lightroom causing it to not import photos. In this case, make sure you have ample storage and raw power available for Lightroom to run smoothly.
Furthermore, you should also make sure that all your system drivers are up-to-date. This includes video drivers, network drivers, and any other drivers that may affect Lightroom. Here’s how to update these drivers:
- Right-click on the Start icon and select Device Manager.
- Then, click on the PC-like icon (scan for hardware changes) from the top menu. This will scan for all the drivers that need an update.
- Right-click on the drivers that need an update, and select Update driver.
- Once the driver is installed, restart your computer and try importing photos in Lightroom again.
If updating the drivers doesn’t fix the issue, then Lightroom could be conflicting with other software. Make sure there are no conflicts with other software running on your system. Disable any conflicting software temporarily to see if that resolves the issue.
Final Words
Lightroom not importing photos can be frustrating, but there are several solutions to fix the issue. By checking for suspected duplicates, ensuring you are in the correct module, selecting a valid folder or file, using a supported file type, and selecting the correct import setting, you can resolve this issue and start editing your photos in Lightroom.
