How to Install Lightroom Presets on Desktop (Classic + CC, Mac & Windows)

Installing Lightroom presets on desktop is faster than installing them on mobile, but the menus differ enough between Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC, and operating systems that the official Adobe documentation can leave you guessing. This guide covers every desktop scenario — Classic and CC, Mac and Windows — with the exact menus and the most common problems.

Before you start

• Download your preset pack and unzip the .zip file
• Locate the folder of .xmp files (or .lrtemplate if it’s an older pack)
• Open Lightroom Classic or Lightroom CC

Method 1 — Install .xmp presets in Lightroom Classic (Mac and Windows)

1. Open Lightroom Classic and switch to the Develop module (D on the keyboard)
2. On the left panel, find the Presets section
3. Click the + icon to the right of “Presets” → choose Import Presets
4. Navigate to the unzipped folder and select the .xmp files (use Ctrl+A or Cmd+A to select all)
5. Click Import. Your presets appear under User Presets (or whatever group name was assigned)
6. Click any preset to apply it to your active photo

The drag-and-drop shortcut

You can also drag the unzipped folder of .xmp files directly onto the Presets panel. Lightroom will import them, preserving folder names as preset groups. This is the fastest method for packs with multiple groups (e.g., “Warm,” “Cool,” “B&W”).

Method 2 — Install .lrtemplate (legacy) presets

If your preset pack only contains .lrtemplate files (older format from pre-2018), Lightroom Classic will auto-convert them to .xmp on first use. Drop them into:

• Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Develop Presets/
• Windows: C:Users[YourName]AppDataRoamingAdobeLightroomDevelop Presets

Restart Lightroom. The presets will appear in the Presets panel. Modern preset packs ship in .xmp already — only worry about .lrtemplate if you’re working with an older library.

Method 3 — Install presets in Lightroom CC (Cloud)

Lightroom CC (the cloud-based version) handles presets through a similar but separate menu:

1. Open Lightroom CC and select any photo
2. Click the Edit panel (top right)
3. Click Presets at the bottom of the right panel
4. Click the three-dot menu at the top of the Presets panel → Import Presets
5. Select your .xmp files → Import
6. Imported presets appear under User Presets and sync to Lightroom Mobile and web automatically

Method 4 — Install ACR profiles (for Photoshop workflows)

Some preset packs ship with Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) profiles — these work in Photoshop’s Camera Raw filter. Drop them into:

• Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings/
• Windows: C:Users[YourName]AppDataRoamingAdobeCameraRawSettings

Restart Photoshop. The profiles appear in the Camera Raw Profile Browser.

Common problems and fixes

“I imported the presets but I don’t see them”

Most likely they imported into a folder you collapsed. Scroll the Presets panel and look for User Presets or the group name from the pack. Click to expand. If you still can’t find them, restart Lightroom — sometimes the panel doesn’t refresh until restart.

“The preset has no effect on my photo”

This usually means one of two things:

• The preset is RAW-optimized but you’re applying it to a JPEG. Presets always look stronger on RAW. The same preset on a JPEG produces a milder version of the effect.
• The preset’s exposure adjustments are calibrated to the photographer’s workflow (e.g., they shoot intentionally underexposed and the preset corrects). Your photo might already be exposed differently. After applying, check the histogram and adjust exposure manually.

“I get an error: ‘These presets cannot be imported'”

Two common causes:

• You’re trying to import .lrtemplate files into a Lightroom version that doesn’t support legacy formats. Update to the latest Lightroom Classic — Adobe has been silently retiring legacy support.
• The files are corrupt. Re-download the pack and try again.

“I have presets installed in Classic but they don’t show up on my phone”

Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Mobile do not sync presets directly with each other. Only Lightroom CC (cloud version) syncs to mobile. To get your Classic presets onto mobile, either re-import them into Lightroom CC, or install them directly on the phone (see our mobile install guide).

Backup your presets

Once you’ve imported a preset pack, the original .xmp files are no longer required by Lightroom — but keep the unzipped folder somewhere safe. If you reinstall Lightroom, switch computers, or the catalog ever corrupts, you’ll need the original files to re-import.

Where to find presets worth installing

Browse our complete Lightroom presets catalog for officially-licensed packs from working photographers — every pack includes .xmp files for Lightroom Classic and CC, plus .dng mobile companions where applicable.

For mobile-only photographers, see our Lightroom Mobile install guide. For a side-by-side on Classic vs CC vs Mobile, see which Lightroom version you should use.