An XMP file stores editing information about your photos without changing the original image

An XMP file is a small text document that holds editing notes about a photo. XMP stands for Extensible Metadata Platform. When you edit a photo in Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or certain other programs, the software writes those edits — crop, color correction, exposure adjustment — into an XMP file instead of permanently altering the original photo file. The original stays untouched.

Think of it like writing notes in the margin of a book instead of marking up the book itself. The photo file is the book. The XMP file is the margin notes. If you open that photo in the same program later, it reads the XMP file and shows you the edits you made. If you open the photo in a different program that does not understand XMP, you see the original unedited image.

XMP files are plain text, which means you can open them in any text editor and read the code inside. You will see XML-style tags describing things like white balance, shadows, highlights, and crop dimensions. Most of the time you never need to look at this code — the photo editing program handles it for you.

Key Takeaways

  • XMP files store editing information separately from the original photo, so your edits are reversible and the original image stays intact.
  • Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop create XMP files automatically when you edit photos, and they read them back when you open the photo again.
  • An XMP file is a plain-text document with an .xmp extension that sits in the same folder as your photo file.
  • If you move or rename a photo file without moving its XMP file, the edits will not appear when you open the photo again.
  • Programs that do not support XMP will show you the original unedited photo, even if an XMP file with edits exists in the same folder.

Where XMP files live and how they connect to your photos

When you edit a photo in Lightroom or Photoshop, the program creates an XMP file with the same name as your photo and stores it in the same folder. If your photo is called "vacation_2024.jpg", the XMP file will be called "vacation_2024.xmp". They sit side by side in your file system.

Some programs embed the XMP data directly inside the photo file instead of creating a separate .xmp file. Lightroom does this by default with certain file types. Other programs create a separate sidecar file — that is the technical term for an XMP file that travels alongside the original. The behavior depends on your software and your file format. JPEG files usually get sidecar XMP files. RAW files from cameras often have XMP data embedded inside them.

The connection between photo and XMP file is based on the filename. If you rename the photo file but leave the XMP file with its old name, the program will not find the edits. If you move the photo to a different folder without moving the XMP file, the edits stay behind. This is why photo management software usually handles moving and renaming for you — it keeps the files together.

What happens when you edit a photo in Lightroom or Photoshop

When you crop a photo in Lightroom, adjust the exposure, or change the white balance, Lightroom does not touch the original image file. Instead, it writes instructions into the XMP file: "crop to these dimensions," "increase exposure by 1.5 stops," "shift white balance toward blue." The original photo file remains exactly as it was when you imported it.

This non-destructive editing is one reason photographers prefer Lightroom and Photoshop. You can change your mind about an edit weeks later, reopen the photo, and the edits are still there — or you can delete the XMP file and start over with the original. In Photoshop, if you save your work as a PSD file instead of overwriting the original, the same principle applies: the original stays safe and your edits live in the PSD.

When you export a photo from Lightroom — say, to create a JPEG for email or social media — Lightroom reads the XMP file, applies all those edits to create the final image, and saves the result as a new file. The original and the XMP file stay untouched. The exported JPEG is a flattened version with all the edits baked in.

Moving photos and keeping edits with them

If you copy a photo file to an external drive or a different computer, you need to copy the XMP file at the same time if you want to keep your edits. Most file managers will not show you the .xmp file by default — they are hidden files on many systems. On Windows, you can show hidden files by opening File Explorer, clicking View, and checking "Hidden items." On Mac, you can press Command+Shift+Period in Finder to toggle hidden files on and off.

The safest approach is to let your photo software handle the move. In Lightroom, you can right-click a photo and choose "Show in Finder" or "Show in Explorer" to see where it lives, then use Lightroom's built-in tools to move it. If you use Photoshop and save as PSD, the edits stay in the PSD file, not in a separate XMP file, so you only have one file to move.

If you have already moved photos without their XMP files and want to recover the edits, you may be able to find the XMP files in your Lightroom catalog or backup. Lightroom stores edit history in its database, and you can export that information as XMP files if you need to. Check your software's documentation for the exact steps.

XMP files and different photo programs

Adobe programs — Lightroom, Photoshop, Bridge — all read and write XMP files. Many third-party photo editors also support XMP, including Capture One, DxO PhotoLab, and Darktable. However, not every program understands XMP. If you open a photo in a program that does not support XMP, you will see the original unedited image, and the XMP file will be ignored.

Some programs use their own proprietary formats instead of XMP. Capture One stores edits in its own database. If you switch from Capture One to Lightroom, your Capture One edits will not transfer — you would need to export the photos from Capture One first to bake the edits into the image files. This is why it matters which program you choose for your main photo workflow.

If you share a photo with someone and include the XMP file, they will only see your edits if they open it in a program that supports XMP. If they open it in Windows Photos, Preview on Mac, or most web browsers, they will see the original unedited photo. To share your edited version, export the photo as a JPEG or PNG instead — that creates a new file with all edits applied.

Deleting XMP files and when it matters

You can safely delete an XMP file if you no longer need the edits. The original photo will remain unharmed. If you delete the XMP file by accident, your edits are gone unless you have a backup of the XMP file or your photo software has a history or undo feature that can recover them.

Some photographers delete XMP files when they are done editing and have exported their final photos, just to keep their file system clean. Others keep them as a record of what they did. There is no harm in keeping them — they are small files, usually just a few kilobytes. If storage space is tight, deleting XMP files for photos you have already exported will free up a tiny amount of space, but the benefit is minimal.

If you are archiving photos long-term and want to preserve your edits, keep the XMP files. If you are only keeping the exported JPEG or PNG versions and do not plan to edit again, the XMP files are not necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open an XMP file and read what is in it?

Yes. XMP files are plain text, so you can open them in Notepad, TextEdit, or any text editor. You will see XML code describing the edits. Most of it is readable if you know what you are looking for — you can find crop dimensions, exposure values, and color adjustments. You do not need to edit the code yourself; your photo software does that for you.

What if I rename my photo file but forget to rename the XMP file?

Your photo software will not find the XMP file and will treat the photo as unedited. The edits are still in the XMP file, just disconnected. If you rename the XMP file to match the new photo filename, the edits will reappear. Most photo software will do this automatically if you rename through the program instead of using your file manager.

Do I need to back up XMP files?

If your edits matter to you, yes. Back up the XMP files along with your photos. If you only keep the exported JPEG or PNG versions and do not plan to edit again, backing up the XMP files is optional. Lightroom stores edits in its catalog database, so if you back up your Lightroom catalog, your edits are safe even if the XMP files are lost.

Why does my photo look different in different programs?

The program you are using may not support XMP. If you open a photo in a program that does not read XMP files, you see the original unedited version. Open it in Lightroom or Photoshop and you see the edits. This is normal and not a problem — it just means the program does not understand the XMP format.

Can I convert an XMP file to a regular photo file?

Not directly. An XMP file is instructions, not an image. To turn your edits into a photo file, open the photo in your editing software, make sure the edits are applied, and export it as a JPEG, PNG, or TIFF. That creates a new image file with all the edits baked in.