How to Install Lightroom Presets on Desktop, Mobile and Photoshop

If you just downloaded a preset pack and you’re staring at a zip file wondering what to do next, you’re in the right place. Installing Lightroom presets takes about two minutes once you know which version of Lightroom you’re using. This guide covers every platform: Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC, mobile on iPhone and Android, and Camera Raw in Photoshop.

Before you install anything, two things worth knowing:

File formats:

• Modern presets use the .xmp format, compatible with Lightroom Classic 7.3 (April 2018) and later, Lightroom CC, and Lightroom Mobile
• Older .lrtemplate files only work with Lightroom Classic versions before 7.3
• All Legendary Presets ship in .xmp format inside a .zip file, so you’re covered on every current platform

Which Lightroom do you have?

• Lightroom Classic: the full-featured desktop app with the LrC icon
• Lightroom CC: the cloud-based version with the Lr icon
• They look different and install presets slightly differently
• Not sure which one you have? Check your Creative Cloud app, both are listed there with their full names

Key Takeaways

• Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC both import presets directly from the zip file, no need to unzip first
• Mobile presets sync automatically if you install via Lightroom CC desktop with cloud sync turned on
• Apply the preset before making exposure corrections, not after, the preset’s tone curve is built around a neutral base
• If a film preset looks too strong, reduce the effect using the Opacity slider (Lightroom CC/Mobile) rather than moving individual sliders
• For film presets specifically, always apply to a RAW file, JPEGs have already had highlights and shadows baked in, which fights against the preset’s tone curve
  

  01.

  How to Install Presets in Lightroom CC

  Lightroom CC (the cloud version) works slightly differently but is just as straightforward.

  1. Open Lightroom CC and click on any image to enter editing mode
  2. Click File > Import Profiles and Presets in the top menu
  3. Select your .zip file and click Import
  4. Your presets appear in the Presets panel on the right side

  Bonus: If you have Lightroom Mobile on your phone and you’re signed into the same Adobe account, your presets will sync automatically to mobile within a few minutes. This is the easiest way to get presets onto your phone without any manual transfer.

  02.

  How to Install Presets in Lightroom CC

  Lightroom CC (the cloud version) works slightly differently but is just as straightforward.

  1. Open Lightroom CC and click on any image to enter editing mode
  2. Click File > Import Profiles and Presets in the top menu
  3. Select your .zip file and click Import
  4. Your presets appear in the Presets panel on the right side

  Bonus: If you have Lightroom Mobile on your phone and you’re signed into the same Adobe account, your presets will sync automatically to mobile within a few minutes. This is the easiest way to get presets onto your phone without any manual transfer.

  03.

  How to Install Presets on Lightroom Mobile (iPhone)

  If you don’t have Lightroom on your desktop or prefer to install directly to your phone, here’s how.

  Method 1 — Direct import (fastest):

  1. Download the preset zip file to your iPhone. It will save to the Files app automatically
  2. Open Lightroom Mobile and tap any photo to open the edit view
  3. Tap the Presets icon at the bottom of the screen
  4. Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the Presets panel
  5. Tap Import Presets
  6. Navigate to the zip file in your Files app and tap it
  7. Lightroom imports all presets in the pack at once

  Method 2 — Sync from desktop (recommended if you edit on both): Install via Lightroom CC on desktop (see above) with cloud sync enabled. Presets appear on mobile automatically.

  iOS Safari issue: If your zip file opens as a folder instead of downloading, go to Settings > Safari and uncheck “Open ‘safe’ files after downloading.” This stops Safari from auto-extracting zip files, which prevents Lightroom from importing them correctly.

  04.

  How to Install Presets on Lightroom Mobile (Android)

  1. Download the zip file to your Android device
  2. Open Lightroom Mobile and tap any photo
  3. Tap the Presets icon at the bottom
  4. Tap the three dots in the top right corner
  5. Tap Import Presets
  6. Navigate to the zip file using your file manager and select it
  7. Tap Import to confirm

  If you can’t find “Import Presets” in the menu, your Lightroom app may need updating. Update it in the Google Play Store, restart your device, and try again.

  05.

  How to Install Presets in Photoshop (Camera Raw)

  Film presets in .xmp format work directly in Adobe Camera Raw, which loads automatically whenever you open a RAW file in Photoshop.

  1. Open a RAW file in Photoshop – Camera Raw opens automatically
  2. Click the Presets tab in the right panel (the icon looks like a small page with a star)
  3. Click the three dots at the top right of the Presets panel
  4. Select Import Presets
  5. Navigate to your .zip file or the extracted .xmp files and select them
  6. Click Import

  Your presets now appear in Camera Raw and work identically to how they work in Lightroom.

  06.

  Troubleshooting: When Presets Don’t Show Up

  Presets installed but I can’t find them. In Lightroom Classic, presets are grouped into folders. Scroll the full length of the Presets panel and look for a collapsed folder with the preset pack name. Click the arrow to expand it.

  Presets look wrong or completely flat on my photos. This almost always happens when you apply a preset to a JPEG instead of a RAW file. JPEGs have already had tone compression applied by your camera, which conflicts with the preset’s tone curve. If you only have JPEGs, reduce the preset’s effect by lowering individual sliders rather than expecting the full look.

  The preset looks too strong. In Lightroom CC and Mobile, tap the preset name again after applying it, a slider appears that lets you reduce the effect from 100% down to whatever feels right. In Lightroom Classic, use the History panel to step back and reapply at a lower strength, or manually reduce Grain Amount and Clarity.

  Presets aren’t syncing to mobile. Check that you’re signed into the same Adobe account on both devices and that cloud sync is turned on in Lightroom CC. Sync can take a few minutes after installing new presets.

  Zip file won’t import on iPhone. See the Safari issue noted above, the fix is turning off “Open ‘safe’ files after downloading” in Safari settings.

  07.

  How to Use a Film Preset After Installing

  Installing is step one. Getting a good result from a film preset takes one more minute of adjustment.

  Apply the preset first, then correct exposure. Film presets are calibrated for neutral exposures. If you over-expose or under-expose in-camera, correct it after applying the preset, not before. Applying to a heavily adjusted image changes how the tone curve behaves.

  Adjust white balance if skin tones look off. Kodak presets run warm, if the warmth is pushing skin toward orange, drop the color temperature 100–200K. Fuji presets run cooler, if the image looks flat under artificial light, push the temperature slightly warmer.

  Reduce grain on high-resolution files. A grain setting that looks natural on a 20-megapixel file can look heavy on a 45-megapixel file. If the grain looks digital rather than analog, reduce the Amount slider in the Detail panel by 30–40%.

  Match the preset to your subject. Kodak Portra presets are built for skin tones and warm light. Fujichrome Velvia is built for landscapes and saturated outdoor color. Using Velvia on a portrait will fight the skin tones. If you’re unsure where to start, the Lightroom film presets collection is organized by brand and use case.

  For a deeper look at what each film stock does and how to choose the right one for your subject, see our complete beginners guide to Lightroom presets.

  08.

  Quick Reference: Install Method by Platform

  Platform	Open location	Import via	Unzip first?
  Lightroom Classic	Develop module	File > Import Profiles and Presets	No
  Lightroom CC	Any image open	File > Import Profiles and Presets	No
  Lightroom Mobile iOS	Edit view	Presets > three dots > Import Presets	No
  Lightroom Mobile Android	Edit view	Presets > three dots > Import Presets	No
  Camera Raw (Photoshop)	RAW file open	Presets panel > three dots > Import	No or Yes

  09.

  FAQ

  Do I need to unzip the files before importing?

  No. Lightroom Classic, CC, and Mobile all import directly from the .zip file. Camera Raw accepts either the zip or the extracted .xmp files.

  Can I install presets on the free version of Lightroom Mobile?

  Yes. The free Lightroom Mobile app supports preset import. You don’t need a paid Creative Cloud subscription to install and use presets on your phone.

  Do presets work on both iPhone and Android?

  Yes. .xmp presets are cross-platform. The install process is slightly different between iOS and Android (see above) but the presets work identically once installed.

  Will my presets disappear if I reinstall Lightroom?

  In Lightroom Classic, presets are stored locally and may need to be reinstalled if you reinstall the app. In Lightroom CC, presets sync to the cloud and reappear automatically when you log back in.

  Can I use Lightroom presets in Photoshop?

  Yes, through Camera Raw. Any .xmp preset that works in Lightroom also works in Camera Raw, which is built into Photoshop.

  What’s the difference between a preset and a profile?

  Presets adjust the settings panels in Lightroom (exposure, curves, HSL, grain, etc.). Profiles adjust color at a deeper level, below the panel controls, and can be used in combination with presets. Most Legendary Presets packs include both.

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  Once your presets are installed, the full Kodak film presets range and Fuji film presets collection are ready to work with. Browse the complete film presets library to find the stock that fits your shooting style.

  Installed your first preset? The next step is figuring out which one actually suits your work. Our best Lightroom presets guide walks through the top picks by genre.