If you’ve ever bought a Lightroom preset pack, you’ve seen file formats with strange extensions — .xmp, .dng, .lrtemplate, sometimes .cube. Each one means something specific. Pick the wrong one and your install goes nowhere. This is the practical breakdown of what each format is, where it works, and which one your specific Lightroom setup needs.
The 30-second answer
.xmp— modern Lightroom preset format. Works in Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC, and Premium Lightroom Mobile. The default for any preset pack made after 2018..dng— “preset photos.” Tiny placeholder images with editing settings baked in as metadata. The only way to install presets in free Lightroom Mobile..lrtemplate— legacy preset format from before 2018. Works in Lightroom Classic only. Auto-converts to.xmpwhen imported..cube— LUT format. Not a Lightroom preset; used for video color grading in Premiere, Final Cut, DaVinci, etc.
.xmp in detail
XMP stands for Extensible Metadata Platform — Adobe’s standard for storing edit settings and metadata in a small XML-based file. A Lightroom preset .xmp file is just a text file (you can open it in any text editor) containing the slider positions and adjustments that make up the look.
Where it works
- Lightroom Classic (Mac and Windows)
- Lightroom CC (cloud, all platforms)
- Lightroom Mobile Premium (Creative Cloud subscription)
- Adobe Camera Raw (Photoshop workflow)
- Bridge
Where it doesn’t work
- Free Lightroom Mobile (the no-subscription version) cannot import
.xmpdirectly - Non-Adobe RAW editors
.dng in detail
DNG stands for Digital Negative — Adobe’s open RAW format. In normal use, a .dng is a RAW photo file. But preset makers exploit a clever trick: they ship a tiny .dng with the editing settings stored as metadata. Open it in Lightroom and you see a small image; copy its settings and you’ve imported the preset.
Why preset makers ship .dng files
The free version of Lightroom Mobile can import photos but not .xmp presets. By packaging the editing settings inside what looks like a photo, preset houses can deliver presets to non-paying mobile users. It’s a workaround, but it’s universal — every modern preset pack includes .dng files for free Lightroom Mobile users.
How to use a .dng preset
See our complete mobile install guide for step-by-step. The short version: import the .dng as a photo, then use Copy Settings → Paste Settings to apply its edits to your real photo.
.lrtemplate in detail
Pre-2018, Lightroom presets were .lrtemplate files. Adobe replaced this with .xmp in Lightroom Classic 7.3 (April 2018). Modern Lightroom Classic still imports .lrtemplate and silently converts it to .xmp, but new preset shops only ship .xmp.
If you have an older preset library you want to migrate, drop the .lrtemplate files into your Develop Presets folder; Lightroom converts on first launch.
Which format does your Lightroom need?
- Lightroom Classic (paid):
.xmp - Lightroom CC (paid cloud):
.xmp - Free Lightroom Mobile:
.dng - Premium Lightroom Mobile:
.xmp(or.dng, both work) - Photoshop (Camera Raw filter):
.xmp
Why quality preset packs ship multiple formats
A reputable preset pack typically includes:
.xmpfor Lightroom Classic, CC, and Premium Mobile.dngfor free Lightroom Mobile.lrtemplatefor backward compatibility (some still include this)
If you buy a preset pack and it only contains .xmp, that’s fine for Classic and CC users — but check the product description if you intend to use the pack on free Lightroom Mobile.
Bonus: .cube (LUTs, not presets)
If your preset pack also includes .cube files, those are LUTs, not Lightroom presets. They go into your video editor (Premiere, Final Cut, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut). Most preset shops sell matched LUTs alongside Lightroom presets so photographers and videographers can keep stills and motion in the same color world.
For more on the difference, see Presets vs LUTs explained.
Where to buy presets that ship every format
Browse our Lightroom presets catalog — every pack includes .xmp for desktop and Premium Mobile, plus .dng for free Lightroom Mobile users. You’re covered whichever Lightroom flavor you use.