User Guide Cancel

Troubleshoot issues with Develop module

  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

When you launch Lightroom Classic and go to the Develop module, you get one of the following issue:

Develop module is disabled

Develop module is disabled
Develop module is disabled. Please purchase a subscription or license to reactivate the Develop module.

Solution

Restart your computer

Restart your computer and launch Lightroom Classic.

Make sure your subscription is active

Verify whether your subscription is active or not. Develop module is disabled if your Lightroom Classic trial has expired or your subscription is not active. 

  1. Access your Adobe ID account online, and sign in with your Adobe ID with which you have purchased Lightroom Classic subscription (your email address) and password.

  2. Under My plans, click Manage plan.

  3. In the Payment information section, check to make sure that your Lightroom Classic subscription is active. If it is expired, that's likely why you are seeing the Develop module is disabled message.

Sign out and then sign in again

Sign out from Lightroom Classic and then sign in again using your Adobe ID (usually your email).

  1. Launch Lightroom Classic.

  2. Choose Help > Sign Out (your Adobe ID).

  3. In the confirmation dialog box, click Sign Out.

  4. Launch Lightroom Classic.

  5. Do one of the following:

    • If asked to sign in: Enter your Adobe ID with which you have purchased Lightroom Classic subscription
      (usually your email), and click Sign in.
    • If not asked to sign in: Choose Help > Sign In, then click Sign in now. Enter your Adobe ID with which you have purchased Lightroom Classic (usually your email) and password, then click Sign in.

Install the latest update

Make sure that you have the most current version of Lightroom Classic installed on your system. 

  1. Launch Lightroom Classic.

  2. From the menu, choose Help > Updates.

For more information, see Keep Lightroom up to date.

Reset hosts file

Sometimes, your computer cannot access our activation servers due to corrupt hosts file and results in the error. Use the Limited Access Repair tool to edit the Adobe-related entries in your hosts file. For more information, see How to download and use the Limited Access Repair tool.

Blue/Black box with a cross in the Develop module

Blue or black box
Blue/Black box with a cross (X) in the Develop module

Solution

Disable GPU

You can quickly determine if the issue is related to your graphics processor or driver by following these steps:

  1. Launch Lightroom Classic.

  2. Navigate to one of the following:

    • (macOS) Lightroom Classic > Preferences > Performance
    • (Windows) Edit > Preferences > Performance
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Lightroom Classic (version 8.4 and later)
      From the Use Graphics Processor drop-down menu, select Off.
    • Lightroom Classic (version 8.3 and earlier)
      Deselect Use Graphics Processor.
  4. Quit and relaunch Lightroom Classic.

If the problem goes away, your graphics processor or driver is likely the issue. See Troubleshoot graphics processor (GPU) and graphics driver issues | Lightroom Classic for further troubleshooting steps.

More like this

Get help faster and easier

New user?