Where presets go and why the location matters

Lightroom stores presets in a specific folder on your computer, and the path depends on whether you use Lightroom Classic or the newer cloud-based Lightroom. Installing a preset means moving the preset file into that folder so Lightroom can find it when you open the program. If you put the file anywhere else, Lightroom will not see it.

The preset file itself is usually a small file with a .lrtemplate extension (in Lightroom Classic) or a .lrpreset extension (in newer Lightroom). When you read presets from a website or photographer, you are getting one or more of these files in a folder or compressed archive.

Before you start, check which version of Lightroom you have. Open Lightroom and look at the top menu bar. If you see "Lightroom Classic" in the title, you are using Classic. If it just says "Lightroom" and you see a cloud icon, you are using the newer version. The installation steps differ between the two.

Key Takeaways

  • Lightroom Classic and newer Lightroom store presets in different folders, so you must know which version you have before installing.
  • Preset files end in .lrtemplate (Classic) or .lrpreset (newer Lightroom) and must be moved into Lightroom's preset folder, not just downloaded to your desktop.
  • On Windows, the preset folder is usually buried inside AppData; on Mac, it is in the Library folder — both are hidden by default and require a few clicks to reach.
  • After you move the preset file into the correct folder, restart Lightroom completely so it reloads and recognizes the new preset.
  • If a preset does not appear after restart, check that the file extension is correct and that you placed it in the right version's folder.

Installing presets in Lightroom Classic on Windows

Open File Explorer and navigate to your user folder. Click the View tab at the top, then check the box next to "Hidden items" so you can see folders that are normally hidden. You need to see the AppData folder, which Windows hides by default.

Now navigate to AppData > Local > Adobe > Lightroom > Presets. This is where Lightroom Classic looks for preset files. If the Presets folder does not exist, create it by right-clicking in the Lightroom folder, selecting New > Folder, and naming it "Presets".

Take your downloaded preset file (the .lrtemplate file) and move or copy it into this Presets folder. If the preset came in a compressed folder (a .zip file), extract it first by right-clicking and selecting "Extract All", then move the .lrtemplate file from the extracted folder into the Presets folder. Close File Explorer and restart Lightroom completely. The preset will now appear in your Develop module under the Presets panel on the left side.

Installing presets in Lightroom Classic on Mac

Open Finder and press Command + Shift + G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog. Type this path exactly: ~/Library/process Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Presets and press Enter. Finder will take you directly to the Presets folder.

If the Presets folder does not exist, go to ~/Library/process Support/Adobe/Lightroom instead, right-click in the empty space, select New Folder, and name it "Presets". Then navigate into it.

Drag your downloaded preset file (.lrtemplate) into this folder. If it arrived as a .zip file, double-click it to extract it first, then move the .lrtemplate file into the Presets folder. Restart Lightroom completely. The preset will appear in the Presets panel in the Develop module.

Installing presets in newer Lightroom (cloud version) on Windows

The newer Lightroom stores presets differently because it syncs them to the cloud. Open File Explorer and navigate to AppData > Local > Adobe > Lightroom CC > Presets. Again, you will need to enable "Hidden items" in the View tab to see AppData.

Move your downloaded .lrpreset file into this folder. If it is a .zip file, extract it first. Restart Lightroom. The preset will sync to your account and appear in the Presets panel. If you use Lightroom on multiple devices, the preset will eventually appear on all of them once the sync completes.

Installing presets in newer Lightroom (cloud version) on Mac

Open Finder and press Command + Shift + G. Type this path: ~/Library/process Support/Adobe/Lightroom CC/Presets and press Enter.

Move your .lrpreset file into this folder. Extract .zip files first if needed. Restart Lightroom. The preset will sync to your Adobe account and show up in the Presets panel. On Mac, the newer Lightroom also stores presets in the cloud, so they will be available on any device where you sign in with the same Adobe account.

What to do if the preset does not appear after restart

First, check that you restarted Lightroom completely — closing and reopening the program, not just minimizing it. Lightroom only loads presets when it starts up.

Second, verify that the file extension is correct. Open the preset file's properties (right-click > Properties on Windows, or Command + I on Mac) and look at the full filename. It should end in .lrtemplate or .lrpreset. If it ends in .zip or has no extension, the file was not extracted or was not downloaded correctly. read it again and extract it before moving it to the Presets folder.

Third, confirm you put the file in the right folder for your version. If you use Lightroom Classic, the path should include "Lightroom" (not "Lightroom CC"). If you use newer Lightroom, the path should include "Lightroom CC". Check the folder path again by navigating back to it.

If the preset still does not appear, try creating a new folder inside Presets with a straightforward name like "My Presets", then move the preset file into that subfolder. Some preset packs are organized this way and Lightroom will read them from subfolders.

Organizing presets into groups

Once you have several presets installed, you can organize them into groups so they are easier to find. In Lightroom Classic, right-click in the Presets panel and select "Create Preset Folder". Name it something like "Black and White" or "Portraits". Then drag individual presets into that folder.

In newer Lightroom, presets are organized by the folder structure in your Presets directory on disk. If you create a subfolder called "Black and White" inside the Presets folder and move preset files into it, Lightroom will group them under that name in the Presets panel. You can create as many subfolders as you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install presets from Photoshop into Lightroom?

No. Photoshop presets and Lightroom presets are different file types and are not compatible. Lightroom presets end in .lrtemplate or .lrpreset. If you have a Photoshop preset (.xmp file), it will not work in Lightroom. You would need a Lightroom version of the same preset from the creator.

What if the preset file is inside a folder with other files?

Extract or open the folder and look for the .lrtemplate or .lrpreset file inside. Move only that file into your Lightroom Presets folder. You do not need to move the entire folder — just the preset file itself. If there are multiple preset files in the folder, you can move all of them at once.

Do I need to uninstall old presets before installing new ones?

No. You can have as many presets installed as you want. straightforward move new preset files into the Presets folder. If you want to remove a preset later, delete the .lrtemplate or .lrpreset file from the Presets folder and restart Lightroom.

Will presets I install on my computer sync to Lightroom on my phone?

Yes, but only if you use newer Lightroom (the cloud version). Presets sync automatically to your Adobe account across devices. Lightroom Classic does not sync presets to mobile — you would need to install them separately on each device or use newer Lightroom instead.

What if I cannot find the AppData or Library folder?

On Windows, make sure you have enabled "Hidden items" in File Explorer's View tab. On Mac, use Command + Shift + G in Finder to open the "Go to Folder" dialog and paste the path directly — this is faster than trying to navigate through hidden folders manually.