How to Install Lightroom Presets on Windows (2026 — XMP & DNG)
How to Install Lightroom Presets on Windows (2026 — XMP & DNG)
Installing Lightroom presets on Windows takes less than five minutes. This guide covers every method for Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC — including where to find the presets folder, how to import XMP and DNG files, and how to sync your presets to your phone afterwards.
Download your free Lightroom preset
Before you install, grab our free Analog 06 preset — a clean, minimal film look for Lightroom Classic, CC and Mobile. Download once, use forever.
What you need before starting
Lightroom Classic or Lightroom CC installed on your Windows PC
Your preset files — either .XMP or .DNG format
The preset files unzipped and accessible in File Explorer
If your preset pack arrived as a .zip file, right-click it and select Extract All before proceeding.
Method 1 — Lightroom Classic (XMP presets)
Option A — Import directly in Lightroom (easiest)
Open Lightroom Classic
Go to the Develop module
In the Presets panel on the left, right-click anywhere and select Import Presets
Navigate to your XMP preset files, select them all, and click Import
Your presets appear immediately in the Presets panel, grouped by the folder name they were in.
Option B — Copy to the Presets folder manually
Use this if the import option doesn't work or you want to organise presets yourself.
In Lightroom Classic, go to Edit → Preferences → Presets
Click Show Lightroom Develop Presets
This opens the Lightroom presets folder in File Explorer
Copy your XMP files into an existing subfolder or create a new one (e.g. "The Editing Studio")
Restart Lightroom Classic
Your presets appear in the Presets panel after restarting.
Default preset folder location on Windows: C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\Develop Presets\
Note: the AppData folder is hidden by default on Windows. To make it visible, open File Explorer, click View, and check Hidden items.
Method 2 — Lightroom CC (cloud version)
Lightroom CC (also called simply "Lightroom") uses a slightly different import method than Classic.
Import XMP presets in Lightroom CC
Open Lightroom CC
Click the Edit icon (sliders) to open the Edit panel on the right
Scroll down to the Presets section
Click the three dots (...) next to Presets and select Import Presets
Navigate to your XMP files, select them, and click Import
Import DNG presets in Lightroom CC
Go to File → Import Photos and Video
Navigate to your DNG preset files and add them to your library
Open a DNG file in the Edit view
Click the three dots (...) → Create Preset
Name the preset, assign it to a group, and save
Method 3 — Sync presets to Lightroom Mobile
After installing presets on your Windows PC, you can have them sync automatically to your phone:
In Lightroom Classic, go to Edit → Preferences → Presets
Check Sync presets with Lightroom mobile
Open Lightroom Mobile on your phone — presets appear within a few minutes
For the full mobile installation guide:
How to apply presets in Lightroom Classic
Open a photo in the Develop module
Find the Presets panel on the left side
Hover over a preset name to see a live preview on your photo
Click to apply
Adjust white balance, exposure, or any slider after applying
How to organise your presets on Windows
Use subfolders — when XMP files are inside a named subfolder in the Develop Presets directory, they appear as a collapsible group in Lightroom. Create one folder per preset pack.
Rename logically — give each preset a short name that makes sense in the panel (e.g. "A6 — Clean Film" rather than a long descriptive title)
Back up your presets folder — copy C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\Develop Presets\ to an external drive or cloud storage. If you reinstall Windows or Lightroom, copy it back.
Troubleshooting
Presets not showing after import Restart Lightroom Classic. Newly imported presets sometimes require a restart to appear in the panel.
Import button is greyed out Make sure you are in the Develop module — not the Library module. The Import Presets option is only available in Develop.
AppData folder not visible in File Explorer The AppData folder is hidden by default. Open File Explorer, click View in the top menu, and check Hidden items. The AppData folder will then appear in your user directory.
XMP files won't import Make sure the files are fully unzipped. A common mistake is trying to import files while they're still inside a .zip archive. Right-click the zip → Extract All first.
Presets look wrong on my photos Set your white balance before applying a preset. A warm indoor photo combined with a warm preset will push skin tones toward orange. Set white balance first, then apply.
Error: "The following presets could not be imported" This usually means the XMP file is damaged or from an incompatible Lightroom version. Try re-downloading the preset pack from the original source.
FAQ
What's the difference between XMP and DNG presets?
XMP is a settings file containing only the edit adjustments — this is the standard format for Lightroom Desktop. DNG is a photo file with the settings embedded inside it, primarily used for Lightroom Mobile. Both result in the same preset once installed.
Do presets work with all Lightroom versions on Windows?
XMP presets work in Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC (2018 onwards). Very old Lightroom versions used LRTEMPLATE files instead of XMP. If you have an old version, check if your preset pack includes LRTEMPLATE files.
Can I use the same presets on my Windows PC and phone?
Yes — enable preset sync in Lightroom preferences and your presets sync to all devices using the same Adobe account. You can also install them separately on your phone using the DNG method.
How do I find the Lightroom presets folder on Windows?
The quickest way: in Lightroom Classic, go to Edit → Preferences → Presets and click Show Lightroom Develop Presets. This opens the folder directly in File Explorer.
Can I transfer my presets to a new PC?
Yes. Copy the entire Develop Presets folder from your old PC to the same location on the new one. All your presets will appear in Lightroom after restarting.
How many presets can I install?
There is no official limit. Lightroom Classic handles hundreds of presets without performance issues. Organising them into clearly named subfolders keeps the panel manageable.
Start editing with a free preset
Now that your presets are installed, try our free Analog 06 preset — a clean, minimal film look that works in Lightroom Classic, CC and Mobile.
