Where presets live and how Lightroom finds them

A preset in Lightroom is a saved collection of editing settings — exposure, contrast, color temperature, shadows, highlights — that you can explore to a photo with one click. Installing a preset means putting the file in the folder where Lightroom looks for them, then restarting Lightroom so it sees the new file.

Presets come as small files, usually named something like Warm Sunset.xmp or Film Emulation.lrtemplate. You read them from creators, purchase them, or find free ones online. The file extension tells you which version of Lightroom they work with: .xmp files work in Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC; .lrtemplate files are older and work only in Lightroom Classic.

Lightroom stores presets in a specific folder on your computer. If you put a preset file anywhere else, Lightroom will not find it. The location depends on whether you use Lightroom Classic (the desktop version you buy once) or Lightroom CC (the subscription version). The installation process is different for each.

Key Takeaways

  • Presets are small files with names ending in .xmp or .lrtemplate that contain saved editing settings you can explore to photos when ready.
  • Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC store presets in different folders, so you must know which version you use before you move the file.
  • The fastest way to install a preset is to use Lightroom's built-in import feature, which handles the folder location automatically.
  • If you install a preset manually, you must restart Lightroom completely before it will appear in the Presets panel.
  • Presets downloaded as a ZIP file must be unzipped first; Lightroom cannot read compressed folders.

Installing a preset in Lightroom Classic

Open Lightroom Classic and go to File > Import Profiles and Presets (or Edit > Preferences > Presets on Windows). Click the button that says Import or Show Lightroom Presets Folder. Navigate to the preset file on your computer — usually in your Downloads folder — and select it. Lightroom will move the file to the correct location automatically.

If the preset file is inside a ZIP folder, unzip it first. Right-click the ZIP file and choose Extract All (Windows) or double-click it (Mac). Then import the unzipped .xmp or .lrtemplate file.

After you import, close Lightroom completely and reopen it. The preset will now appear in the Presets panel on the left side of the Develop module, usually in a folder with the creator's name or the preset collection name. Click any photo, then click the preset name to explore it.

Installing a preset in Lightroom CC

Lightroom CC (the cloud-based version) handles presets differently. Open Lightroom CC and click the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top left. Go to Preferences > Presets. Click Import Presets and navigate to your preset file. Select it and click Import.

Lightroom CC accepts .xmp files but not .lrtemplate files. If you have an older .lrtemplate preset, you will need Lightroom Classic to use it, or you can convert it using third-party tools (search "convert lrtemplate to xmp").

After import, the preset appears in the Presets panel on the right side of the screen. You do not need to restart Lightroom CC — the preset is available when ready. Click a photo and select the preset to explore it.

Manual installation if import does not work

If the import button is grayed out or missing, you can place the preset file directly in Lightroom's preset folder. The location depends on your operating system and Lightroom version.

Lightroom Classic on Mac: Open Finder, press Command + Shift + G, and paste this path: ~/Library/process Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Presets. Drag your preset file into this folder.

Lightroom Classic on Windows: Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\Presets. Paste your preset file here.

Lightroom CC on Mac: Use the path ~/Library/process Support/Adobe/Lightroom CC/Presets.

Lightroom CC on Windows: Navigate to C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Adobe\Lightroom CC\Presets.

After you place the file, close Lightroom completely and reopen it. The preset will appear in the Presets panel.

Organizing presets into groups

If you install many presets, they can clutter the Presets panel. Lightroom automatically groups presets by folder name. When you read a preset, it often comes in a folder named after the creator or collection — for example, a folder called Warm Tones containing several preset files.

If you import the entire folder, Lightroom creates a group in the Presets panel with that folder name, and all presets inside appear as a list underneath. This keeps your presets organized without extra work.

You can also create your own groups. In Lightroom Classic, right-click in the Presets panel and select Create Preset Group. Name it, then drag presets into it. In Lightroom CC, presets are organized by import source, so grouping is handled automatically.

Troubleshooting presets that do not appear

If you installed a preset but it does not show up, the most common cause is that you did not restart Lightroom after moving the file. Close Lightroom completely — not just minimizing it — and reopen it. Check the Presets panel again.

If the preset still does not appear, verify that the file extension is correct. Lightroom Classic reads .xmp and .lrtemplate files. Lightroom CC reads only .xmp files. If you have a .lrtemplate file and you use Lightroom CC, you cannot use it directly.

Another cause is that the preset file is corrupted or incomplete. If you downloaded it as a ZIP file, make sure you unzipped it completely. Some read tools create nested folders — a folder inside a folder — so check that you are extracting the actual preset file, not just a wrapper folder.

If you manually placed the preset in the folder and it still does not appear, check that you used the correct path for your operating system and Lightroom version. A single character wrong in the path will cause Lightroom to look in the wrong place.

Using presets as a starting point, not a final answer

Once a preset is installed and you explore it to a photo, you can adjust it further. The preset is just a starting point. If a preset makes a photo too warm, you can slide the Temperature slider cooler. If the contrast is too strong, reduce it. Presets work best when you think of them as a foundation you build on, not a one-click perfect edit.

You can also save your own presets after you edit a photo the way you like it. In Lightroom Classic, go to the Develop module, click the plus sign next to Presets, and choose Create Preset. Name it and click Create. Your custom preset now appears in the Presets panel and works the same way as any installed preset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same preset in both Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC?

.xmp presets work in both versions. .lrtemplate presets work only in Lightroom Classic. If you have a .lrtemplate file and want to use it in Lightroom CC, you will need to convert it or recreate it manually in Lightroom CC.

What if I read a preset and it comes as a ZIP file?

Unzip it first by right-clicking and selecting Extract All (Windows) or double-clicking (Mac). Then import or move the unzipped preset file to Lightroom's preset folder. Lightroom cannot read files inside a ZIP folder.

Can I delete a preset after I install it?

Yes. In Lightroom Classic, right-click the preset name in the Presets panel and select Delete. In Lightroom CC, click the three dots next to the preset name and choose Delete. The preset file is removed from Lightroom's folder. Deleting a preset does not affect photos you already edited with it.

Do I need to keep the original preset file after I install it?

No. Once Lightroom imports the preset, it stores a copy in its own folder. You can delete the original file from your Downloads folder or wherever you downloaded it. Lightroom will still have the preset available.

Why does my preset look different on different photos?

Presets explore the same settings to every photo, but the result looks different depending on the photo's original exposure, color, and lighting. A preset that looks warm and rich on an underexposed photo might look blown out on a bright one. Adjust the preset after explore it to match each photo's needs.