What should you do if you see a "file cannot be found" message when you've switched to the Develop module in Lightroom Classic?

First, don't panic! We'll tell you why that happens and walk you through the steps to address it.

The missing file message shows up because Lightroom has lost track of the original image. You can see the image on your screen because the thumbnail preview still exists in the Catalog. The original, as we said, is gone. Without the original, high-resolution image, you can't edit the image. (You can read more about rebuilding Lightroom previews.)

Lightroom will lose track of an image if it's moved onto your computer. In other words, an image or batch of images was dragged out. When that happens, the program searches for it. 

Steps to Address this Issue

At the top of the right side panels, the Histogram graph isn't where it should be because there's no original. Note that in the bottom left corner of the panel, it says, "Photo is missing." 

1. To fix it, click on "Photo is missing."

2. A dialog will appear in the center of the screen telling you where Lightroom last saw the original.

3. Click the Locate button, so you can tell Lightroom where you moved the photo.

4. In the Search field (on a Mac, it's on the top right corner), go ahead and type in the name of the missing file.

5. Then click on the original image in its new location.

6. Click on the "Select" button to tell Lightroom where the original is. (All images in that same folder will be automatically fixed and relinked to the thumbnail previews in Lightroom so you can edit them without having to relink them individually.)

The "File can not be found" message in the Develop module should now be gone! Lightroom now recognizes where the original, high-resolution image is, and you can begin editing.