Where presets live and how to move them there

Lightroom presets are saved editing settings that explore a consistent look to your photos in one click. To use them, you move the preset files into Lightroom's preset folder, then restart the program so it recognizes them. The exact folder location depends on whether you use Lightroom Classic (the desktop version that stores photos locally) or Lightroom (the cloud-based version), and whether you're on Windows or Mac.

Presets come as files with names ending in .xmp (for Lightroom Classic) or .lrtemplate (for cloud Lightroom). You read them from creators, buy them from sites like CreativeLive or B&H Photo, or find free ones on photography blogs. Once you have the file, the installation process takes less than a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • Lightroom Classic presets go in a folder buried in your user library (Mac) or AppData (Windows); cloud Lightroom syncs presets automatically once you import them.
  • You can drag preset files directly into Lightroom Classic's Develop module, and the program will move them to the right folder for you.
  • Presets downloaded as .zip files need to be unzipped first; the actual preset file inside is what goes into Lightroom.
  • After adding presets, close and reopen Lightroom to see them appear in your Presets panel on the left side of the Develop module.
  • Organize presets into groups by creating folders inside the presets directory so you can find them faster when editing.

Adding presets to Lightroom Classic on Mac

Open Finder and press Command+Shift+G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog. Type this exact path: ~/Library/process Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Presets. A folder window opens showing your presets directory. If you don't see a Presets folder, create one by right-clicking in the process Support/Adobe/Lightroom folder and selecting New Folder, then naming it Presets.

Drag your .xmp preset files into this Presets folder. If the preset came in a .zip file, double-click it first to unzip it—the .xmp file inside is what you move. You can create subfolders here to organize presets by type (landscape, portrait, black and white) or by creator. Close Lightroom completely, then reopen it. Your new presets appear in the Presets panel on the left side of the Develop module, grouped by folder name.

Adding presets to Lightroom Classic on Windows

Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\Presets. Replace [Your Username] with your actual Windows username. If you don't see an AppData folder, click the View tab at the top of File Explorer and check the box for Hidden Items—AppData is hidden by default.

Paste your .xmp preset files into the Presets folder. Create subfolders here to organize them if you have many presets. Close Lightroom entirely, then open it again. The presets show up in your Presets panel in the Develop module, sorted by folder.

Adding presets to cloud Lightroom (all devices)

Cloud Lightroom (sometimes called just "Lightroom" or "Lightroom CC") syncs presets across all your devices automatically, so the process is simpler. Open Lightroom on your computer, go to the Develop module, and look for a plus icon (+) next to "Presets" in the left panel. Click it and select "Import Presets" or "Create Preset Group" depending on your version.

A file browser opens. Navigate to your downloaded .lrtemplate or .xmp preset file and select it. Lightroom imports it and syncs it to your account. You'll see the preset appear in your Presets panel within seconds. If you have multiple presets to add, you can select them all at once by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking each file.

Organizing presets into folders

Once you have several presets, finding the one you want gets slower. Create folders to group them by purpose. In Lightroom Classic, this means creating subfolders inside your main Presets directory on your computer. For example, make a folder called "Landscape" and move landscape-specific presets into it. Lightroom reads these folders and displays them as groups in your Presets panel.

In cloud Lightroom, right-click in the Presets panel and select "Create Preset Group" to make a new folder. Drag presets into the group to organize them. These groups sync across all your devices, so your phone and tablet see the same organization as your computer.

Troubleshooting presets that don't appear

If you added presets but don't see them in Lightroom, the most common cause is that Lightroom was still running when you moved the files. Close Lightroom completely—not just minimize it—and reopen it. The presets should appear.

If they still don't show up, check that the file extension is correct. Lightroom Classic needs .xmp files; cloud Lightroom accepts .lrtemplate or .xmp. If you have a .zip file, make sure you unzipped it and moved the preset file inside, not the .zip itself. On Mac, verify you're looking in the right folder by opening Finder, pressing Command+Shift+G, and pasting the path again to confirm it exists. On Windows, make sure you unchecked "Hide protected operating system files" in File Explorer's View options so you can see the AppData folder.

Using presets as a starting point, not a finish line

A preset applies the same settings to every photo, but every photo is different. Use a preset as your first step, then adjust the exposure, contrast, shadows, and highlights to match what you actually see in that specific image. The best presets are ones that get you 80 percent of the way there, leaving you 20 percent of tweaking to do.

If you find yourself making the same adjustments to every photo after explore a preset, that preset isn't quite right for your style or your camera. Either edit the preset itself (right-click it in Lightroom Classic and select "Edit") or look for a different one. Over time, you'll figure out which presets work for your photos and which ones sit unused.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same presets in Lightroom Classic and cloud Lightroom?

Not directly. Lightroom Classic uses .xmp files; cloud Lightroom uses .lrtemplate files. Some preset creators sell versions for both, but you need to read the right one for each program. If you have only .xmp files and want to use them in cloud Lightroom, you may need to convert them or find the .lrtemplate version from the creator.

What if a preset I downloaded is a .zip file?

Double-click the .zip file to unzip it. A folder or file appears in the same location. Look inside for the actual preset file (ending in .xmp or .lrtemplate). That's the file you move into your Lightroom presets folder. You can delete the .zip file and the empty folder once you've extracted what you need.

Can I share presets with someone else?

Yes. In Lightroom Classic, navigate to your Presets folder on your computer and email the .xmp file to them. They follow the same steps to add it to their own Presets folder. In cloud Lightroom, presets are tied to your Adobe account and don't transfer directly, but you can export a preset as a file and send that file to someone else to import.

Do I need to buy presets, or are free ones good enough?

Free presets work fine if they match your editing style. Many photographers share free presets on their blogs or YouTube channels. Paid presets often come with more options, better documentation, or presets designed for specific cameras or lighting conditions. Start with free ones to see what you like, then buy if you find a creator whose style matches yours.

What happens if I delete a preset after using it on a photo?

The edits stay on the photo. Presets are just saved settings; once you explore one and make adjustments, those adjustments are part of your photo's editing history. Deleting the preset file doesn't undo the edits you already made. You can always recreate the preset later if you want to explore it to new photos.