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Troubleshoot corrupt catalog

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Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Classic

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  1. Lightroom Classic User Guide
  2. Introduction to Lightroom Classic
    1. What's new in Lightroom Classic
    2. Lightroom Classic system requirements
    3. Lightroom Classic | Common Questions
    4. Lightroom Classic Key Concepts
    5. Lightroom Classic tutorials
    6. Set Preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
    7. Reset Preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
  3. Workspace
    1. Workspace basics
    2. Display the Library on a second monitor
    3. Personalize identity plates and module buttons
    4. Watermark your photos in Lightroom Classic
    5. Color management
  4. Import photos
    1. Specify import options
    2. Set import preferences
    3. Import photos from a camera or card reader
    4. Import photos from a folder on a hard drive
    5. Import photos automatically
    6. Import photos from Photoshop Elements
    7. Import photos from a tethered camera
    8. The Filename Template Editor and Text Template Editor
  5. Organize photos in Lightroom Classic
    1. Face recognition
    2. Work with photo collections
    3. Group photos into stacks
    4. Flag, label, and rate photos
    5. Use keywords
    6. Metadata basics and actions
    7. Find photos in the catalog
    8. Work with video in Lightroom Classic
    9. Advanced metadata actions
    10. Use the Quick Develop panel
  6. Process and develop photos
    1. Develop module basics
    2. Create panoramas and HDR panoramas
    3. Flat-Field Correction
    4. Correct distorted perspective in photos using Upright
    5. Improve image quality using Enhance
    6. Work with image tone and color
    7. Masking
    8. Apply local adjustments
    9. HDR photo merge
    10. Develop module options
    11. Retouch photos
    12. Cure red eye and pet eye effects
    13. Use the Radial Filter tool
    14. Adjustments with Lens Blur
    15. Edit and Export in HDR
    16. Remove Tool
  7. Viewing photos
    1. View photos
    2. Browse and compare photos
    3. Set Library view options
    4. Share photos for comments and feedback
    5. Smart Previews
  8. Export photos
    1. Export files to disk or CD
    2. Export photos from Lightroom Classic
    3. Publish photos online
    4. Export to hard drive using publish services
    5. Presets for export, and other settings
  9. Work with external editors
    1. External Editing preferences
    2. Open and edit Lightroom Classic photos in Photoshop
  10. Manage catalogs and files
    1. How Lightroom Classic catalogs work
    2. Create and manage catalogs
    3. Back up a catalog
    4. Locate missing photos
    5. Create and manage folders
    6. Manage photos within folders
  11. Maps
    1. Work with the Map module
  12. Photo books
    1. Create photo books
  13. Slideshows
    1. Create slideshows
    2. Slideshow module panels and tools
    3. Specify the slide layout
    4. Add overlays to slides
    5. Play and export slideshows
  14. Print photos
    1. Print module basics
    2. Print module layouts and templates
    3. Work with print job options and settings
  15. Web galleries
    1. Create web galleries
    2. Use the Web module panels and tools
    3. Work with web gallery layouts
    4. Work with web gallery templates and settings
    5. Preview, export, and upload web photo galleries
  16. Keyboard shortcuts
    1. Keyboard shortcuts
  17. Content Authenticity 
    1. Content Authenticity in Lightroom Classic
  18. Lightroom and Adobe services
    1. Creative Cloud Libraries
    2. Using Adobe Stock in Creative Cloud apps
  19. Troubleshooting 
    1. Fixed Issues
    2. Known Issues
  20. Technical Support
    1. Performance Guidelines
      1. Basic troubleshooting steps to fix issues in Lightroom Classic
      2. Optimize performance
      3. Keep Lightroom up to date
      4. Preference file and other file locations | Lightroom Classic
      5. Allow Permissions to Lightroom Classic on macOS
    2.  Technical issues
      1. GPU Issues
        1. Troubleshoot graphics processor (GPU) and graphics driver issues | Lightroom Classic
        2. Lightroom Classic GPU FAQ
      2. Startup Issues
        1. Windows | Lightroom doesn't start
        2. Error: Lightroom catalog cannot be opened
        3. Error: 'Unexpected error opening catalog' occurs in Lightroom after Windows 10 upgrade
        4. "Assertion failed" update error | Windows
        5. Error MSVCR110.dll opening apps in Windows 10
      3. Rendering Issues
        1. Troubleshoot issues with Develop module
      4. Stability Issues
        1. Troubleshoot crash or freeze in Lightroom Classic
      5. Miscellaneous Issues
        1. FAQ | Color in Lightroom Classic
        2. Lightroom desktop and mobile apps unavailable to Education memberships | Kivuto
    3. Workflow Issues
      1. Catalog Issues
        1. Error : Lightroom catalog cannot be opened
        2. Troubleshoot corrupt catalog
        3. Locate missing photos
        4. Recover catalog and images after resetting preferences
        5. Lightroom Classic catalog FAQ
      2. Sync Issues
        1. Lightroom Classic sync FAQ

Why does a catalog get corrupt?

A Lightroom Classic catalog is essentially a database and, like every other database, it can get corrupt.

In most of the cases, the catalog gets corrupt due to a hardware or operating system-level issue. These can include system crash, hardware fault, or power outage, any of which can prevent Lightroom Classic to access the catalog safely.

Catalogs can also get corrupt if the connection to the drive, in which the catalog is located, is interrupted while Lightroom Classic is writing to the catalog, This can happen due to an external drive being accidentally disconnected, or the catalog being stored on a network drive.

How to prevent catalog corruption?

While catalog corruption can happen due to various reasons, here are some of the things that you can follow to minimize the chances of catalog corruption:

  • Take the back-up of your catalog regularly. For more information, see Back up a catalog. 

  • Always shut down your computer properly.

  • Save your catalog on the local drive.

  • If for some reason your catalog is on an external drive, do not disconnect the external drive while Lightroom Classic is open.

  • Select Test integrity before backing up and Optimize catalog after backing up options in the Back Up Catalog dialog box.

    Back up options

Troubleshoot Corrupt Catalog

If you get one of the following errors while opening Lightroom Classic, it means that your Lightroom Classic catalog is corrupt.

  • Lightroom encountered an error when reading a catalog file and needs to quit.
  • The Lightroom Catalog <catalog name> is corrupt and cannot be used or backed up until it is repaired.
Corrupt catalog error

Corrupt catalog error

To troubleshoot a corrupt catalog, follow the steps below:

  1. Press and hold the Alt (Win) / option (macOS) key while launching Lightroom Classic. In the Select Catalog dialog box, select the catalog which is corrupt and check Test integrity of this catalog option.

    Test integrity of the catalog

  2. Press and hold the Alt (Win) / option (macOS) key while launching Lightroom Classic. In the Select Catalog dialog box, click Create a New Catalog and then try to import the corrupt catalog.

  3. Try to open backup catalogs. For more information, see Restore a backup catalog.

  4. If the catalog is located on an external drive, copy the catalog to the local drive and then try to open it.

Note:

If you get the following error "The Lightroom Catalog "lrcat" is corrupt and cannot be used until it is repaired," wait for the repair process to complete. Lightroom Classic takes the backup of the original catalog in the Corrupt Catalogs folder beside the catalog file.

Affected version: Lightroom Classic 11.3 (April 2022 release)

Repair Catalog

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