There can be a few reasons why your Adobe Lightroom looks different than you’re used to. Here are some of the most common causes:

Updated Version

Adobe regularly releases updates to Lightroom, which can introduce new features, changes to the interface, and bug fixes. If you haven’t updated Lightroom in a while, the most likely reason for the different appearance is that you’re running an outdated version.

To check for updates, open Lightroom and go to Help > Check for Updates. If an update is available, you’ll be prompted to install it.

Changed Settings

Lightroom has a wide range of settings that can customize its appearance and behavior. If you’ve accidentally changed some of these settings, it could make Lightroom look different than you’re used to.

To check your settings, go to Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Lightroom > Preferences (Mac). Here, you can review various settings, including the interface, tools, and performance.

Different Workspace

Lightroom has multiple workspaces, each with its own layout and panels. If you’re not using the workspace you’re familiar with, this could explain the different appearance.

To change your workspace, go to Window > Workspace and select the desired workspace. You can also customize workspaces by dragging and dropping panels.

Third-party Plugins

If you’ve installed any third-party plugins for Lightroom, these could be affecting its appearance. Some plugins add new panels, change the default layout, or introduce other visual changes.

To check if plugins are causing the issue, temporarily disable them. Go to Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Lightroom > Preferences (Mac) and navigate to the Plugins section. Uncheck the boxes next to the plugins you want to disable and restart Lightroom.

Corrupted Preferences

In rare cases, corrupted preferences can cause Lightroom to display incorrectly. This can happen due to software glitches or conflicts with other applications.

To resolve this, you can try resetting Lightroom’s preferences. Go to Help > Reset Preferences. This will restore Lightroom to its default settings, including the interface.

Visual Issues

If you’re experiencing visual glitches or rendering problems, it could be related to your graphics card or display driver. Try updating your graphics card drivers to the latest version and ensure your display settings are compatible with Lightroom.

If the issue persists, consider reinstalling Lightroom or contacting Adobe support for further assistance.