Part 1: Installing Presets in Lightroom Classic (Desktop)
This is the most common method for photographers who edit on a computer.
What You’ll Need:
The preset files (they usually come as .xmp or older .lrtemplate files).
Lightroom Classic is installed on your computer.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Locate Your Presets Folder: Open Lightroom Classic.
Go to the top menu: Lightroom (Mac) or Edit (Windows) > Preferences.
Click on the Presets tab.
Click the button that says Show Lightroom Develop Presets….
This will open a folder in your file explorer (Windows) or finder (Mac).
Copy the Preset Files: In the window that opens, navigate into the Lightroom folder, then the Develop Presets folder.
You can place your preset files directly here, or for better organization, create a new folder inside “Develop Presets” (e.g., “My Travel Presets”) and place them there.
Refresh and See Your Presets:
Close Lightroom Classic and re-open it. This refreshes the preset list.
Go to the Develop module.
On the left-hand panel, find the Presets panel. Your new presets (or your new folder) will now be visible there, ready to use!
Part 2: Installing Presets in Lightroom Mobile (Phone/Tablet)
This method uses a special file format called DNG (a digital negative) to transfer the preset.
What You’ll Need:
The Lightroom Mobile App installed and logged into an Adobe account.
The preset files, which usually come as .dng files for mobile installation.
Your phone or tablet.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Import the DNG Files:
Save the provided .dng files to your device’s camera roll/photo library. (You might receive these via email, a cloud storage link, etc.).
Open in Lightroom Mobile:
Open the Lightroom app and create a new album (e.g., “Preset Holders”) to keep things tidy.
Tap the + icon (usually at the bottom-right) and choose Add Photos.
Select the DNG preset files you saved and import them into your new album.
Copy the Settings:
Open one of the imported DNG photos.
Tap the three dots (…) at the top right of the screen.
Select Copy Settings.
A menu will pop up. Make sure all the editing boxes are checked (especially Treatment, Profile, & Amount). Tap OK.
Create Your Preset:
Go to a photo from your own library that you want to edit.
Tap the three dots (…) again and select Paste Settings. The look of the preset will be applied to your photo.
Now, with the edited photo selected, go back to the three dots menu and this time, tap Create Preset.
Name your preset (e.g., “Golden Hour Vibe”) and place it in a preset group (folder). Tap the checkmark to save.
Your new preset is now permanently saved in your Lightroom Mobile app and can be applied to any photo with a single tap from the “Presets” tab.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What’s the difference between .XMP and .DNG preset files?
.XMP: This is the standard file for Lightroom (Desktop) presets. It contains only the editing instructions and is meant to be installed directly into the Lightroom software.
.DNG: This is a universal photo file format. For presets, it’s a photo that has the preset settings baked in. It’s used as a “carrier” to copy the settings into Lightroom Mobile, which doesn’t allow direct file installation.
Q2: I installed my presets in Lightroom Classic, but I can’t see them. Why?
Did you restart Lightroom? You must quit and restart the application for it to recognize newly added presets.
Are you in the Develop Module? Presets are primarily accessed in the Develop module, not the Library module.
Check the folder location: The most common mistake is placing the files in the wrong folder. Double-check the path: .../Lightroom/Develop Presets/....
Q3: Can I use my desktop presets on my phone, and vice versa?
Yes, with Sync. If you use Lightroom Classic, ensure your catalog is synced with Adobe’s cloud. Any presets you create or install on the desktop will automatically appear in the “Presets” section of your synced Lightroom Mobile app after a short while.
Q4: The preset looks totally wrong on my photo. What happened?
Presets are not one-size-fits-all. They are based on the lighting, colors, and exposure of the original photo they were created on. After applying a preset, almost always make small adjustments to the Exposure, White Balance, and Contrast sliders to make it perfect for your specific image.
Q5: Is there a limit to how many presets I can have?
No. You can have as many presets as you want. However, having thousands can become slow to navigate. It’s best practice to organize them into clearly named folders.