How to Sync Lightroom Presets Between Desktop and Mobile (2026)
How to Sync Lightroom Presets Between Desktop and Mobile (2026)
Installing presets on desktop is straightforward. Getting those same presets onto your phone takes an extra step — and the process is different depending on whether you use Lightroom Classic or Lightroom CC.
This guide covers both methods so your preset library is available on every device you edit on.
Method 1 — Lightroom CC (cloud sync, simplest)
If you use Lightroom CC (the cloud version), presets sync automatically between desktop and mobile through Adobe's cloud.
Step 1 — Install presets on desktop. Open Lightroom CC on your computer. Go to File > Import Profiles and Presets. Select your XMP preset files. They install into your preset library.
Step 2 — Wait for sync. Lightroom CC syncs your preset library to the cloud automatically. Open Lightroom Mobile on your phone — your presets should appear in the Presets panel within a few minutes.
If presets are not appearing:
Check that you are signed in to the same Adobe account on both devices
Ensure Lightroom Mobile has internet access
Force close and reopen the app
Go to the app settings and tap "Sync" if available
Method 2 — Lightroom Classic (requires extra step)
Lightroom Classic stores files locally on your hard drive and does not automatically sync presets to mobile. You need to enable preset sync manually.
Step 1 — Install XMP presets in Lightroom Classic. Go to the Develop module. In the Presets panel on the left, right-click and select Import Presets. Select your XMP files.
Step 2 — Enable sync to mobile. Go to Lightroom Classic Preferences (Cmd+, on Mac, Ctrl+, on Windows). Click the Lightroom Sync tab. Check "Sync presets to mobile and web."
Step 3 — Wait for sync. Lightroom Classic will sync your preset library to Adobe's cloud. This can take several minutes the first time if you have a large preset library.
Step 4 — Check Lightroom Mobile. Open Lightroom Mobile. Go to any photo, tap Edit, and tap Presets. Your desktop presets should now appear under "Imported Presets" or their folder names.
Method 3 — Install DNG presets directly on mobile (no desktop needed)
If you want presets on your phone without going through desktop, install the DNG preset files directly in Lightroom Mobile. This works completely independently of desktop and does not require any sync.
Every preset pack from The Editing Studio includes both XMP files (for desktop) and DNG files (for mobile). Use the DNG files for direct mobile installation.
Step 1 — Download the DNG files to your phone. Download the DNG preset file to your Files app or Photos app.
Step 2 — Import into Lightroom Mobile. Open Lightroom Mobile. Tap the + button to add a photo. Navigate to the DNG file and import it.
Step 3 — Create preset from DNG. Open the imported DNG in the editing panel. Tap the three dots in the top right. Tap "Create Preset." Name it and save.
Full guide: How to Install Lightroom Presets on iPhone and How to Install Lightroom Presets on Android
Why desktop and mobile presets look slightly different
Even when correctly synced, a preset may look slightly different on mobile versus desktop. This is normal and happens for two reasons.
Different camera profiles. Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Mobile use slightly different default camera profiles for the same file. The Color profile in the Camera Calibration panel may differ between versions.
Mobile camera processing. When editing iPhone or Android photos (rather than RAW files from a camera), Lightroom Mobile is working with a phone-processed file that has different characteristics from a camera RAW file. The same preset behaves differently on a camera RAW versus an iPhone JPEG.
The fix: Apply the preset, then make small manual adjustments to exposure and white balance to match your intended result on that device and file type.
Organizing synced presets
If you sync a large preset library, Lightroom Mobile can become cluttered with hundreds of presets. Organize them in folders on desktop before syncing.
In Lightroom Classic: right-click in the Presets panel and select "New Group." Name the group (e.g. "Analog Film Archive," "Moody Film Archive") and drag presets into it. These folder names sync to mobile.
Free preset for desktop and mobile
The free A6 preset comes with both XMP (desktop) and DNG (mobile) files. Use whichever installation method above suits your workflow.
FAQ
Why are my Lightroom Classic presets not showing on mobile?
Most likely because "Sync presets to mobile and web" is not enabled in Preferences. Go to Lightroom Classic > Preferences > Lightroom Sync and check the sync option.
How long does preset sync take?
Initial sync of a large library can take 5-15 minutes. Subsequent syncs for new presets are usually under 2 minutes.
Can I use desktop presets on Lightroom Mobile without a subscription?
The free Lightroom Mobile app supports preset installation via DNG files without a subscription. Desktop-to-mobile sync requires an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription.
Do presets sync from mobile to desktop?
Presets created or installed on Lightroom Mobile sync back to desktop when using Lightroom CC. With Lightroom Classic the sync is one-directional by default.
