How to Install Presets in Lightroom (Desktop, Mobile & Classic)

Lightroom presets are one of the most practical tools in a photographer's or editor's workflow. Instead of manually adjusting dozens of sliders every time you edit a photo, a preset applies a saved combination of settings in a single click. But getting presets into Lightroom — especially if you've downloaded a pack from a creator or marketplace — trips up a surprising number of people. The process varies depending on which version of Lightroom you're using, and that distinction matters more than most guides acknowledge.

First: Know Which Version of Lightroom You Have

Adobe offers two separate applications that both carry the Lightroom name:

• Lightroom Classic — the desktop-only version with a traditional folder-and-catalog structure. This is what most professional photographers use.
• Lightroom (cloud-based) — sometimes called "Lightroom CC," this version syncs across devices and stores images in Adobe's cloud.
• Lightroom Mobile — the iOS and Android app, which works alongside the cloud version.

The preset installation process is meaningfully different between Classic and the cloud-based version. Installing into the wrong one simply won't work.

Installing Presets in Lightroom Classic

Lightroom Classic gives you the most direct access to preset files on your local system. Presets are stored as .xmp files (or older .lrtemplate files), and you can add them in two ways.

Method 1: Import Through the Develop Module

1. Open Lightroom Classic and switch to the Develop module.
2. In the left panel, locate the Presets section.
3. Click the + icon next to "Presets" and select Import Presets.
4. Navigate to where your downloaded preset files are stored, select them (you can select multiple .xmp files at once or an entire folder), and click Import.

Lightroom will automatically place the presets into the correct folder on your system and make them immediately available in the panel.

Method 2: Manual File Installation

This method is useful when importing doesn't behave as expected or you're managing large preset libraries.

1. In Lightroom Classic, go to Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Lightroom Classic > Preferences (Mac).
2. Click the Presets tab, then click Show Lightroom Develop Presets.
3. This opens the folder on your system where presets live. Drop your .xmp files directly into the appropriate subfolder.
4. Restart Lightroom Classic, and the presets will appear.

📁 Note on folder structure: If your preset pack came with subfolders, preserve that structure when copying manually — it keeps your preset panel organized.

Installing Presets in Lightroom (Cloud/CC)

The cloud-based version of Lightroom doesn't give you direct access to local file directories in the same way. The import method is slightly different.

1. Open Lightroom on your desktop.
2. Go to File > Import Profiles & Presets.
3. Select your .xmp preset files and click Import.

The presets will sync across all devices connected to your Adobe account — including Lightroom Mobile — automatically. This is one of the key advantages of the cloud workflow.

Installing Presets on Lightroom Mobile 📱

If you use the cloud-based version and import through the desktop method above, presets will appear on mobile after syncing. But if you want to import directly on mobile:

1. Open Lightroom Mobile and navigate to any photo in edit mode.
2. Scroll to the Presets panel at the bottom.
3. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the upper corner and select Import Presets.
4. Navigate to the .xmp files (stored in your device's files or a connected cloud storage service) and import them.

Supported file types on mobile are .xmp only — older .lrtemplate files won't work on mobile or in newer versions of Lightroom generally. If you have legacy presets in .lrtemplate format, you'll need to open them in Lightroom Classic first, which will automatically convert them to .xmp.

What Can Go Wrong (And Why)

A few variables determine whether preset installation goes smoothly:

Camera-specific presets are worth flagging separately. Some preset packs are built with a particular camera profile in mind — often Adobe Standard or a manufacturer-specific profile. If your photos were shot with a different camera or have a different embedded profile, the preset may render differently than the preview shown by the creator. This is normal behavior, not a flaw in your installation.

Organizing Your Preset Library

Once installed, presets can be sorted into custom groups within the panel. In Lightroom Classic, you can right-click any preset group to rename or reorganize it. In the cloud version, groups are maintained from the folder structure at import time.

If you download presets frequently, a consistent naming convention — by style, photographer, or shoot type — saves time. Lightroom doesn't limit the number of presets you can install, but an unorganized library of hundreds of presets becomes its own friction point in an otherwise fast workflow.

The Variable That Matters Most

Installation is largely mechanical once you know which version you're running. The more meaningful question — which presets actually work for your photography style, your camera's color science, your typical lighting conditions, and how much you want to adjust after applying — is something no install guide can answer. A preset that looks stunning on golden-hour portraits may flatten your indoor or street work entirely. That gap between "installed" and "useful" is where most of the real decision-making lives.