Before a new release of Lightroom, extensive testing is done. However, due to the many variations of computer hardware and operating systems, sometimes an issue is found that’s serious enough that you’d want to roll back to a previous release. How do you roll back to an earlier Lightroom or Lightroom Classic release? Here’s how you do it step-by-step:
Open the CC App from the System Tray (Windows) / Menu Bar (Mac). Click the three … next to Lightroom or Lightroom Classic’s Open button and select Other Versions.
Classic roll back
Click Install next to the first listed version. This is the version prior to the current version. For example, if the current version is 10.1, the previous version is 10.0. Bear in mind that if you try to go back to a prior version and your current one had to upgrade the catalog to work, the updated catalog won’t work with the earlier version. So, a Lightroom Classic 10 catalog won’t work in Lightroom Classic 9.x, as the internal structure of the catalog changed in the update. In this case you need to revert to a copy of the catalog prior to the upgrade (which means any work in the new catalog is lost).
Lightroom (cloud) roll back
Click Install next to the first listed version. This is the version prior to the current version. For example, if the current version is 4.2, the previous version is 4.1. Unlike Lightroom Classic, there is no catalog to worry about, so any of the listed versions will work.
Stop Auto-updates
Remember not to click the Update button in the CC App until an updated version is released, otherwise you’ll be back where you started. Also, check if you have the CC App set to automatically update when a new version is available. If you have, then turn it off or it will update to the version you just rolled back from. To do this, in the CC App go to Preferences > Apps and turn off Auto-update for Lightroom Classic.
Report to Adobe
To ensure Adobe has as much feedback and information to sort issues, consider letting them know about the issue. Details on how to do this are found on the blog post How do I send a bug report or feature request to Adobe?.
For extensive information on Lightroom Classic, see Adobe Lightroom Classic – The Missing FAQ.
If you have the Photography Plan, then as well as Classic you have access to the Lightroom cloud ecosystem including the mobile apps and web interface. For more information on these apps, see Adobe Lightroom – Edit Like a Pro.
Note: purchase of these books includes the first year’s Classic or cloud-based Premium Membership (depending on the book purchased), giving access to download the latest eBook (each time Adobe updates the software), email assistance for the applicable Lightroom version if you hit a problem, and other bonuses.
We also have a special bundle offer for the two books. This includes Premium Membership for the first year as described above for the whole Lightroom family!
Post updated to the latest CC App October 2020.
My Lightroom Classic CC version is showing as 7.5. The Creative Cloud app does not show that a more current version is available, yet I know that there have been several updates since. How do I get a more current version. My problem is that LR won’t recognize the RAW files from my Fuji XT-3.
Hi Mark
Check your hardware supports Classic 8, there were changes between versions 7 & 8.
https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/lightroom-classic/system-requirements.html
XT-3 is a lovely camera and as you will know, Classic 8.0 introduced support for it.
I agree with Paul. I suspect it’s probably your operating system that needs updating.
Thx a lot for this hidden feature. Just went back to V9.3 after many issues with 9.4.
We’re glad it was useful for you, it’s handy when there’s an issue found in the latest release that affects you.
Thanks! Got me from v. 10 back to 9.4, until I figure out the implications of the catalog change. Much appreciated.
What kind of implications are you worried about Mike?
Useful to know this… I usually wait a couple of weeks for the first batch of minor bugs/fixes to be worked out, so I have the auto update turned off in the Creative Cloud Desktop App (File – Preferences – General)… OK so I may be paranoid!
Nothing wrong with a bit of caution!
I rolled back to 9.4 but nothing changed with usability. All my catalog entries have the question mark by the catalog names and all photos have the exclamation point. If I go through the process of finding the missing folder or individual folder that folder shows up under a new Lightroom catalog which works well. It is as though v10 created a new Lightroom catalog and only photos or folders under that catalog work even though I am now using 9.4. Right now the only solution seems to be to take each folder and go through the “find missing folder” process to make them work again. Please help.
Your 9.4 catalog will be exactly the same as before upgrading to v10; that’s the point of being able to rollback. And the creation of the new v10 catalog does nothing to your photos or location; ir updates the preview files to use, but no folder changes at all.
If you were using Smart Previews previously and the physical files were missing / moved then this would have been harder to detect previously but obvious now that the Smart Previews file is no longer visible to 9.4.
First, thank you for replying. My one great question continues though. After rolling back why would my folders still be “missing” with question marks and exclamation marks. That was not the case before I upgraded to v10.
The question is why they’re marked as missing. In most cases, that’s as simple as the drive letter (Windows) / mount point (Mac) getting changed by the operating system, so simply changing it back is the fastest fix. Post a screenshot in a forum thread (forum linked on the menu) and we should be able to spot what went wrong. I suspect the catalog upgrade may have just been coincidence.
I am almost embarrassed to say this but after opening Lightroom for the first time this morning, all my folders are recognized and the photos are present. I cannot explain the delay because last night this was not the case, but I am thankful for it. My photos are stored on a network drive. I do not know if that had anything to do with it. Thanks.
We like good news!
Do I have to uninstall version 10 if I want to go back to version 9.4? I mistakenly deleted images from my version 10 catalog after the upgrade and would like to go back to my 9.4 catalog to recover them and the edits. Alternately I can import the raws files again from my SD card to the version 10 and edit them again. Is there any negative to working with the older catalog?
Thank you!
No, just go to the CC App and Install the one you want.
please donot upgrade to 10v version, its a nightmare ( I believe its a beta version) nothing works, Goods things that were already there are no longer there
“it’s a beta version” – this is untrue. It’s the officially released public version from more than a month ago.
“nothing works” – incorrect. The vast majority have upgraded to it fine and are using it. It would be helpful to know what isn’t working for you.
“things that were already there are no longer there” – what? a couple of features have been enhanced, nothing has been removed.
For the items that relatively few are hitting problems with, see our blog for Classic 10.0:
https://www.lightroomqueen.com/whats-new-in-lightroom-classic-10-0/
HI.. NEED HELP HERE!
I created catalogues with smart previews for my editor, when they opened the catalogues they updated their version to v.10 of LR. Upon receiving back the LR catalogues I have tried to open but keep getting an error ‘my version is too old to open this’. I cannot upgrade to V.10 on my iMac as it says its not compatible.
Can someone help me on this so I can open the edited catalogue.
Thanks
You can’t downgrade a catalog from 10 to 9; if you can’t upgrade to 10 (due to the Operating System as it sounds in your case) then you have to have a 9.x catalog back from your editor.
Thanks Paul,
So just to clarify, as the editor has upgraded to v.10 and I cannot upgrade to V10 on my system due to system requirements I will need the editor to convert the catalogue to V9.x so I can then open on my LR version?
Do you have instructions on how they can convert their catalogue from v10 to 9.x?
Thanks
Hi
Unfortunately, no. Once converted to the later v10 format, you can’t change it back to a previous format. They would need to have done (or re-do) their edits using 9.4 on your v9 catalog to be compatible.
I am not seeing the “other versions” tab when I click on the three dots for any of my creative cloud apps. Is this happening to anyone else?
We’ve not heard of that. What options are shown when you click on the three dots?
Yes, it’s happening to me and I’ve been trying to figure it out all day!
For me, to the right of Lightroom it says “Not compatible.” Okay. When I click the three dots, it just says “Learn More” and takes me to the Adobe page where I still don’t have access to older versions. When I try to download, it says “Update required” (but my system can’t update any more) and tells me to install Lightroom Classic instead, which I *still* cannot install.
Okay, so tell us:
– the current version of Lightroom Classic you have installed
– the Operating System you’re running
– the version you’re wanting to revert to
Thank you for the detailed article.