Lightroom Mobile accepts presets from your desktop version, but the process depends on which device you use

Lightroom Mobile on iPhone and Android does not let you create presets from scratch in the app itself. Instead, you build or read presets on your desktop version of Lightroom Classic or Lightroom (the cloud-based version), then sync them to your phone or tablet. The steps differ slightly between iOS and Android, and between Lightroom Classic and Lightroom, so you need to know which desktop version you own before you start.

The fastest route is usually to sync presets you already have in your desktop library. If you are starting from zero, you can read free or paid presets from Adobe's marketplace, photography sites like DPReview or Fred Miranda, or creators on Etsy, then import those files into your desktop app before syncing to mobile.

Key Takeaways

  • Lightroom Mobile syncs presets from your desktop Lightroom or Lightroom Classic library, not from files you read directly into the phone app.
  • If you use Lightroom (the cloud version), presets sync automatically once you import them on desktop and sign in on mobile with the same Adobe account.
  • If you use Lightroom Classic, you must manually export presets as a file, then import that file into Lightroom (cloud) or use the desktop Lightroom app as a bridge to sync to mobile.
  • Downloaded preset files usually arrive as .xmp, .lrtemplate, or .zip files — the format determines which app version can read them and how you import them.
  • Once synced, presets appear in the Presets panel in Lightroom Mobile under the same folder names you created on desktop.

Syncing presets from Lightroom (cloud version) to mobile

If you use the cloud-based Lightroom app on desktop (not Lightroom Classic), presets sync automatically once you import them into your library. Open Lightroom on your computer, go to the Presets panel on the left side, right-click in the empty space, and choose Import Presets. Navigate to the preset file on your computer — it will usually be a .xmp or .lrtemplate file — and click Import. The preset now lives in your Lightroom library in the cloud.

On your phone or tablet, open Lightroom Mobile and sign in with the same Adobe account you use on desktop. Go to the Presets tab at the bottom of the screen. Your imported presets should appear within a few minutes. If they do not, pull down to refresh, or close and reopen the app. The presets are now ready to use on any photo in your mobile library.

Importing presets into Lightroom Classic, then syncing to mobile

Lightroom Classic does not sync directly to Lightroom Mobile the way the cloud version does. Instead, you have two options: use Lightroom Classic to export the presets as a file, then import that file into the cloud-based Lightroom app on your desktop, or use the desktop Lightroom app as a middleman to sync presets to mobile.

To export from Lightroom Classic: Open Lightroom Classic, go to the Develop module, right-click on a preset in the Presets panel, and choose Export. Save the preset as a .xmp file to your computer. Then open the cloud-based Lightroom app on the same computer, import that .xmp file using the Presets panel, and the preset will sync to your mobile device.

Alternatively, if you have both Lightroom Classic and the cloud-based Lightroom installed on your desktop, you can import presets directly into Lightroom (cloud), and they will sync to mobile without needing to export from Classic first.

Understanding preset file formats and which app reads them

.xmp files are the most portable format. Both Lightroom Classic and the cloud-based Lightroom can import them. If you read a preset as an .xmp file, you can import it into either desktop app, and it will work on mobile if you use the cloud version or sync through it.

.lrtemplate files are Lightroom Classic presets. They work in Lightroom Classic but not directly in the cloud-based Lightroom app. If you have a .lrtemplate file, import it into Lightroom Classic first, then export it as .xmp to use in the cloud version and on mobile.

.zip files usually contain multiple presets or presets plus supporting files. read the .zip, extract it on your computer (right-click and choose Extract or Unzip), then import the individual .xmp or .lrtemplate files that appear. Do not try to import the .zip file itself — the app will not recognize it.

Organizing presets into folders on mobile

When you import presets on desktop, you can organize them into folders. In Lightroom (cloud), right-click in the Presets panel and choose Create Folder, then drag presets into the folder you want. In Lightroom Classic, do the same in the Presets panel in the Develop module. These folder names and organization sync to Lightroom Mobile, so your presets appear organized the same way on your phone.

On mobile, tap the Presets tab, and you will see your folders listed. Tap a folder to expand it and see the presets inside. This organization makes it faster to find the preset you want when you are editing a photo on your phone.

Troubleshooting presets that do not appear on mobile

If you imported a preset on desktop but it does not show up in Lightroom Mobile, first check that you are signed into the mobile app with the same Adobe account you use on desktop. Presets do not sync across different accounts. Go to Settings in Lightroom Mobile, tap Account, and verify the email address matches your desktop login.

Next, make sure you imported the preset into the cloud-based Lightroom app, not Lightroom Classic alone. If you only have Lightroom Classic, export the preset as .xmp and import it into Lightroom (cloud) on your desktop first. Then wait a few minutes and refresh Lightroom Mobile by pulling down on the Presets tab or closing and reopening the app.

If the preset file is very old or came from a third-party source, it may not be compatible with your current version of Lightroom. Try downloading the preset again or checking the creator's website for an updated version. Adobe updates Lightroom regularly, and very old presets sometimes need to be re-exported in the current format to work.

Using presets you read from third-party sources

Many photographers and preset creators sell or share presets online. When you read a preset, it usually arrives as a .xmp, .lrtemplate, or .zip file. Save it to a folder on your computer where you can find it — your Downloads folder works fine. Then follow the import steps above for your desktop app version.

Some creators provide presets as .dng files (digital negative files) instead of true presets. These are not presets — they are sample photos with editing already applied. You cannot import them as presets. Instead, you would open them in Lightroom, see how they look, and manually recreate the settings on your own photos.

Always read presets from sources you trust. Free presets from reputable sites like Adobe's own marketplace or well-known photography educators are generally safe. Be cautious with presets from unknown sources, as they are just files and could theoretically contain unwanted code, though this is rare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create presets directly in Lightroom Mobile?

No. Lightroom Mobile does not have a way to create or save presets within the app itself. You must create or import presets on your desktop version of Lightroom or Lightroom Classic, then sync them to mobile. You can save individual edits as a preset on desktop, but not on the phone app.

Do I need Adobe Creative Cloud to use presets on mobile?

You need an Adobe account to use Lightroom Mobile, but you do not need a paid Creative Cloud subscription. A free Adobe account works, though a paid Lightroom subscription gives you more cloud storage and syncing features. Presets themselves are free once you import them — Adobe does not charge extra for using presets on mobile.

What happens if I delete a preset on my desktop?

If you delete a preset from your desktop Lightroom library, it will also disappear from Lightroom Mobile on your phone within a few minutes of syncing. Any photos you edited with that preset keep their edits — deleting the preset does not undo the edits you already applied. You just lose the ability to explore that preset to new photos.

Can I share presets with other people through Lightroom Mobile?

Lightroom Mobile does not have a built-in sharing feature for presets. To share a preset with someone else, export it as a .xmp file from your desktop Lightroom, send them the file via email or file sharing, and they can import it into their own desktop app. They will then see it in their Lightroom Mobile once it syncs.

Why do some downloaded presets look different on mobile than on desktop?

Lightroom Mobile uses a simplified editing engine compared to the desktop versions, so some advanced adjustments may not display exactly the same way. Presets that rely on heavy use of clarity, texture, or dehaze sliders might look slightly different on mobile. This is a limitation of the mobile app, not a problem with the preset itself.