Find photos in the catalog

In the Library module, select a source in the Catalog, Folders, or Collections panel.

In the Library Filter bar, select Text.

Choose fields to search from the Any Searchable Field pop-up menu.

Includes Searchable Metadata, Caption, File Path, virtual copy name, keywords, custom metadata, and collection names.

Searches each of these metadata fields, respectively. Copy Name refers to the name of a virtual copy.

Includes Searchable IPTC, Searchable EXIF, and Title.

Includes Make, Model, Serial Number, and Software.

Includes Contact: Creator, Job Title, Address, City, State/Province, Postal Code, and Country; Content (Mac OS) /IPTC (Windows): Headline, IPTC Subject Code, and Description Writer; Image: Intellectual Genre, IPTC Scene Code, Sublocation, City, State/Province, Country, and ISO Country Code; Status (Mac OS)/Workflow (Windows): Title, Job Identifier, Instructions, Creditline, and Source; Copyright: Rights Usage Terms and Copyright Info URL, Alt Text (Accessibility), Extended description (Accessibility).    

Includes searchable metadata fields created by third-party plug-ins.

Choose a search rule from the Contains All pop-up menu.

Searches for the specified alphanumeric sequence(s), including partial words. For example, performing a Contains search for flo returns results that include the word flower. If multiple sequences are entered, Lightroom Classic finds photos that contain any of the individual sequences.

Searches for text that contains all specified alphanumeric sequences. Say, for example, you have a folder of photos of a family gathering, and each photo is tagged with the names of the individuals in the shot. You could perform a Contains All search on Joh and Su to find all photos that contain both John and Susan. Simply enter a space between search terms.

Searches for text that contains all specified alphanumeric sequences as whole words. To find photos with the keyword flower using a Contains Word search, for example, type flower.

Searches for text that does not contain any specified sequence.

Searches for text that begins with the specified alphanumeric sequence.

Searches for text that ends with the specified alphanumeric sequence.

Type the text in the search box.

The photos with the specified text criteria appear in the Grid view and the Filmstrip.

(Optional) To refine your search, apply an Attribute or Metadata filter.

In the Library module, select a source in the Catalog, Folders, or Collections panel.

In the Library Filter bar, select Attribute.

Click an option to filter the selected photos by flag status, export status, edit status, star rating, color label, or copy.

The photos with the specified filter criteria appear in the Library filter panel and the Filmstrip.

(Optional) To refine your search, apply a Text or Metadata filter.

In the Library module, select a source in the Catalog, Folders, or Collections panel.

In the Library Filter panel, select Metadata.

Choose a metadata category from the left column by clicking the header and choosing from the pop-up menu. Then, choose an entry in that column. For example, choose Edit, and then select Edited or Unedited. Lightroom Classic displays the number of selected photos that match that criteria next to the entry.

In the next column, choose another metadata category, and choose an entry from that column.

Continue to choose as many metadata categories and criteria as you like. Click the pop-up menu at the right side of any column header to add or remove the column, change the sort order, and switch between hierarchical and flat view.

The photos with the specified metadata are displayed in the Grid view and the Filmstrip.

(Optional) To refine your search, apply a Text or Attribute filter.

In the Library Filter panel or the Filmstrip, choose any of the following from the Custom Filter menu:

Opens the Metadata options to the default four columns: Date, Camera, Lens, and Label, and all metadata selected in each category.

Turns off all filters and hides all filter options.

Displays photos with a Pick flag.

Filters photos by Country, State/Province, City, and Location metadata categories.

Displays photos with a star rating of one or higher.

Displays photos that have no star rating.

Using the Text, Attribute, and Metadata options in the Library Filter panel, specify criteria to filter your photos.

Choose Save Current Settings As New Preset from the Custom Filter menu at the right side of the Library Filter panel or the Filmstrip.

Type a name for the preset in the New Preset dialog box, and click Create.

To apply a filter preset, select it from the Custom Filter menu.

To delete a filter preset, select it from the Custom Filter menu and then choose Delete Preset [Preset Name]. 

To rename a filter preset, select it from the Custom Filter menu and then choose Rename Preset [Preset Name].

In the Collections panel, select one or more items.

The photos in the collections are displayed in the Grid view and the Filmstrip. Selecting a collection set includes all of the collections in the set.

(Optional) To refine your search, apply a Text, Attribute, or Metadata filter using the Library Filter bar.

In the Keyword List panel, select a keyword tag and click the right-pointing arrow next to the photo count.

Lightroom Classic displays all of the photos in the catalog that contain that keyword tag in the Grid view and the Filmstrip. Lightroom Classic also opens the Library Filter bar and displays Metadata keyword criteria.

(Optional) To refine your search, apply a Text, Attribute, or additional Metadata filter using the Library Filter panel.