Just made Thane of Whiterun, but I didn't ask Lydia to follow me yet. I came back several quests later to get her but she's not in the Castle (or wherever it is- Dragonreach?), so I've no idea where to find her. I don't own Breezehome yet.

Can anyone help me out?

Well she's a House Carl, so you might check Breezehome, the house you buy in Whiterun. I haven't gotten rid of her yet because she's the only follower I have at the moment and she's my pack mule. I would check your house.

She will be in Dragons Reach somewhere, check the dinner table she likes to eat and drink

Yes, in my game she stayed in Dragonreach until I bought Breezerun. The instant I purchased Breezerun she got up from the dinner table and walked out the door. She's been inside Breezerun ever since (sitting on a chair in my character's bedroom, watching my character sleep. Evidently she was a Fighters Guild porter in a previous life).

If you own Breezehome she will be there, but if you don't (like you said) then she will be in dragonsreach somewhere, just look around.

hmm still no sign of lydia anywhere...looked everywhere in dragonsreach, and like i said, i don't own breezehome. when she was first assigned me me from the jarl, i didn't speak to her b/c i had begun the 1st real companion quest where i meet one of them to retrieve a fragment of that weapon at dunsman's cairn. she wouldn't be able to join me b/c i already had a companion. when i came back, she was nowhere to be seen. that companion quest is over and i returned to dragonsreach looking for her, but no sign.

is there a bug that prevents her from showing up?

Bumping this--- still no Lydia anywhere in the game. I don't own any houses, so she cannot be at Breezehome. And she is nowhere to be seen in Dragonsreach.

I was awarded her services after killing the first dragon. But I had that 1st proper companion quest active and had one them (the werewolf guy) who I was supposed to meet at the objective. So perhaps the game saw that as me already having a companion? So, even though the Jarl awarded me Lydia and she appeared next to me at Dragonsreach, she didn't follow me, and wasn't there when I returned after that companion quest.no Lydia. That was awhile ago in in-game time. Many missions have elapsed since then. Where or where might she be?

what system do you play on? if you are on the PC use the console to bring her to you, if on the xbox/PS3 I have no idea other than to tell you to buy breezehome and see if she shows up there.

There is one possible place where she migh be in hall of dead in whiterun maybe dragon killed him there where u see her last time..
Check hall of dead if shes not there its bug or something

OK, will check hal of the dead--- where is that? Is it where I retrieved the amulet of Arkay?

@Sean1977- Thanks for the tip. What is the console command to bring Lydia to me?

"placeatme 000a2c8e" that is the command to bring lydia. oh and do it in a spot where she cant do something stupid like get stuck in a wall.

She's your House Carl. House Carl. Buy Breezehome if you want her.

you DO NOT have to buy Breezehome to get her, you get her once you become thane. She is supposed to reside that Dragonsreach until you buy Breezehome.

type a2c94.moveto player in the console and she will appear right next to you.

I use this all the time when I am out exploring and I turn around and she is no there.

You haven't read the other replies in this thread. Sean1977 is right: Lydia spawns into Dragonreach the instant the Jarl tells you he's awarding you a housecarl (you can see it happen if you turn around during his dialog). She will then stand by the door until the player approaches the dooor. When the player walks to the door Lydia initiates dialog with the player. If the player does not ask Lydia to be a follower Lydia will walk over to the dining table and sit down on one of the chairs. She will remain sitting on one of the chairs in that room for the rest of the game, if the player does not buy Breezehome. The instant the player buys Breezehome Lydia will get up from the table, walk out the door and walk to Breezhome.

If something different than this happens, it is a glitch.

Yeah, it is a glitch...she's never been at the dining room table in Dragonreach.

Thanks all for the console code---that solved it.

Okay good.. Have fun

You don't have to buy a house to have Lydia, you get her when you become housecarl. When you lost her, try Dragonsreach, if she died, check the Hall of Dead, its close to Dragonsreach.

She's with Boethiah.

No, OP, you are Lydia.

I keep on wanting to tell her: you've got your own room. There. Just across the stairs.

*Nitron enters Breezehome*
Lydia: Long life to you *eats a piece of bread* Thane!
*Lydia goes through a two minute loop of standing up and sitting down*
Nitron: Uhh...
Lydia: Honored to see you *takes a sip from a tankard* Thane.
*Lydia goes through a two minute loop of standing up and sitting down*
Nitron: I'm, uh...gonna go kill some dragons. Or...something. You okay until I get get back?
Lydia: Yes, my Thane! * eats a sweet roll and goes through another standing and sitting loop*
Nitron: By Boethiah! It's times like these I wish we could get married.

This will create a copy of Lydia. You want to use the moveto command.

I removed her chair in my bedroom. Now she stands in her room sulking.

Yea she does that in my game too a little creepy watching are character sleep.

She's probably on the roof of Dragon Reach break dancing like a BOSS.