Where presets go and why the path matters

Lightroom presets are saved settings that change how your photos look — they adjust exposure, color, contrast, and other qualities all at once. To use them, you move the preset files into a specific folder on your device, then restart Lightroom so it finds them. The folder location depends on which version of Lightroom you own and whether you use Windows or Mac.

Most people own either Lightroom Classic (the older desktop version that stores photos locally on your computer) or Lightroom (the newer cloud-based version that syncs across devices). The installation steps are different for each. If you are not sure which you have, open Lightroom and look at the window title — it will say "Lightroom Classic" or just "Lightroom".

Presets you read come as files with names ending in .xmp or .lrtemplate. Some downloads are zipped folders you need to unzip first. Once you place them in the right location and restart Lightroom, they appear in your Develop module under the Presets panel on the left side of the screen.

Key Takeaways

  • Lightroom Classic and Lightroom (cloud version) store presets in different folders, so you must know which version you own before you start.
  • On Windows, Lightroom Classic presets go in Users > [Your Name] > AppData > Roaming > Adobe > Lightroom > Presets; on Mac they go in Library > process Support > Adobe > Lightroom > Presets.
  • Lightroom (cloud version) presets are installed through the Presets panel inside the app itself — you do not manually move files to a folder.
  • You must close and reopen Lightroom after moving preset files for the app to recognize them.
  • Presets downloaded as .zip files must be unzipped before you move them to the presets folder.

Installing presets in Lightroom Classic on Windows

Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where Lightroom Classic stores presets. The path is C:\Users\[Your Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\Presets. If you do not see AppData, it is hidden — click the View tab at the top of File Explorer, then check the box next to "Hidden items".

If the Presets folder does not exist, create it yourself. Right-click in the Lightroom folder, select New, then Folder, and name it Presets. Once the Presets folder is open, paste or drag your downloaded preset files into it. If the files are in a .zip folder, right-click the zip file and select Extract All first, then move the unzipped files into the Presets folder.

Close Lightroom completely — not just minimize it, but fully quit the process. Reopen Lightroom. The new presets now appear in the Presets panel on the left side of the Develop module. Click any preset to explore it to your current photo.

Installing presets in Lightroom Classic on Mac

Open Finder and press Command + Shift + G to open the Go to Folder dialog. Type ~/Library/process Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Presets and press Enter. This takes you directly to the presets folder without hunting through hidden directories.

Drag your downloaded preset files into this folder. If the files are in a .zip folder, double-click the zip file to unzip it first, then move the unzipped files into the Presets folder. Close Lightroom completely and reopen it. The presets appear in the Presets panel in the Develop module.

Installing presets in Lightroom (cloud version) on any device

The cloud version of Lightroom handles presets differently — you do not manually move files to a folder. Instead, open Lightroom and click the Presets panel on the left side. At the bottom of the panel, click the plus icon (+) or the three-dot menu, then select "Import Presets" or "Create Preset Group".

A file browser opens. Navigate to your downloaded preset files and select them. Lightroom uploads them to your Adobe account and syncs them across all your devices — phone, tablet, and computer. You do not need to restart the app; the presets appear in the panel when ready.

If you downloaded a .zip file, unzip it first on your computer, then use the import function to select the unzipped files. The cloud version accepts .xmp and .lrtemplate files the same way.

What to do if presets do not appear after installation

The most common reason presets do not show up is that Lightroom was still running when you moved the files. Close Lightroom completely — check your taskbar or Activity Monitor to make sure no Lightroom process is still running — then reopen it. This forces Lightroom to scan the presets folder again.

If you are using Lightroom Classic and the presets still do not appear, verify you placed them in the correct folder. Open the Presets folder and look inside — you should see your preset files or a subfolder containing them. If the folder is empty, the files did not move successfully. Try dragging them again or copying and pasting instead.

For the cloud version of Lightroom, check your internet connection. Presets sync through Adobe's servers, so a weak or interrupted connection can prevent them from uploading. Wait a few moments and refresh the Presets panel by closing and reopening it.

Organizing presets into groups

In Lightroom Classic, you can organize presets into folders to keep them tidy. Inside the main Presets folder, create a new folder with a name like "Portrait" or "Black and White". Move related presets into that folder. When you restart Lightroom, the presets appear grouped under that folder name in the Presets panel.

In the cloud version of Lightroom, click the three-dot menu in the Presets panel and select "Create Preset Group". Name the group and drag presets into it. Groups sync across all your devices automatically.

Removing presets you no longer use

In Lightroom Classic, navigate back to the Presets folder on your computer and delete the preset files you no longer want. Restart Lightroom and they disappear from the Presets panel. You can also right-click a preset in the Presets panel itself and select Delete, which removes it from the folder automatically.

In the cloud version, right-click a preset in the Presets panel and select Delete. The preset is removed from your Adobe account and disappears from all your devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Presets made for Lightroom Classic (.lrtemplate files) do not work in the cloud version, and vice versa. The two versions use different preset formats. If you own both, you need separate preset files for each. Many preset creators sell versions for both, so check the product description before you buy.

What if my preset file is named something.dng or something.lut?

Those are not Lightroom presets — they are camera profiles or lookup tables for other software. Lightroom presets end in .xmp or .lrtemplate. If you downloaded the wrong file type, you have the wrong preset for Lightroom.

Do I need to restart my computer after installing presets?

No. You only need to close and reopen Lightroom itself. Restarting your computer is not necessary and will not help if Lightroom is the problem.

Can I move presets between computers?

Yes. Copy the preset files from the Presets folder on one computer to the Presets folder on another, then restart Lightroom on the second computer. For the cloud version, presets sync automatically across devices if you are signed into the same Adobe account.

Why do some presets look different on my phone than on my computer?

Phone screens and computer monitors display color differently, and Lightroom adjusts the preview to match each device's capabilities. The actual preset settings are the same — the difference is just how your screen shows them. When you export the edited photo, it uses the preset settings, not the screen preview.