Presets Not Showing in Lightroom Mobile — How to Fix It (2026)
Presets Not Showing in Lightroom Mobile — How to Fix It (2026)
You installed your presets and now they are not showing up in Lightroom Mobile. This is one of the most common preset problems and almost always has a simple fix. Work through the four causes below in order — most people solve it in under two minutes.
Fix 1 — The DNG file was not imported correctly
The most common cause. When installing presets via DNG, the file needs to be imported into Lightroom Mobile as a photo, not just saved to your phone. If you saved the DNG to your camera roll but did not import it into Lightroom, the preset was never created.
The fix: Open Lightroom Mobile. Tap the + button to add a photo. Navigate to where the DNG file is saved and import it into Lightroom. Open the imported DNG. Tap the three dots in the top right. Tap Copy Settings, select all. Tap the three dots again, tap Create Preset. Name it and save.
Full installation guide: How to Install Lightroom Presets on iPhone and How to Install Lightroom Presets on Android
Fix 2 — Presets synced from desktop are not appearing
If you installed presets in Lightroom Classic on desktop and expected them to sync to mobile, check that sync is enabled.
The fix: On desktop: go to Lightroom Classic Preferences (Cmd+, on Mac, Ctrl+, on Windows). Click the Lightroom Sync tab. Check that "Sync presets to mobile and web" is enabled.
Then wait 5-10 minutes and refresh Lightroom Mobile. Your desktop presets should appear under their folder names in the Presets panel.
If sync is enabled but presets still do not appear: sign out of Lightroom Mobile and sign back in with the same Adobe account. This forces a fresh sync.
Fix 3 — Lightroom Mobile needs updating
Older versions of Lightroom Mobile sometimes have sync issues that were fixed in later updates. If your app has not updated recently, presets may not display correctly.
The fix: Go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android). Search for Lightroom. If an update is available, install it. Reopen the app and check your presets.
Fix 4 — Presets are in the wrong folder or hidden
Lightroom Mobile organizes presets in folders. If your presets were synced from desktop or imported in a way that put them in an unexpected folder, they may be there but not visible where you are looking.
The fix: In the editing panel, tap Presets. Scroll through all folders — look for "Imported Presets," "User Presets," or any folder with your preset pack name. Tap each folder to expand it.
If presets are visible but in the wrong folder: long press a preset and select Move to move it to a more accessible folder.
If none of the above works
Try a fresh installation:
Delete the existing DNG import from your Lightroom library
Re-download the preset DNG files from your original download
Start the installation process again from scratch
Follow the step-by-step guide exactly
Most preset installation failures come from one missed step. Starting fresh usually solves it.
FAQ
Why do my presets show on desktop but not on mobile?
Sync may not be enabled. Go to Lightroom Classic Preferences, Lightroom Sync tab, and enable "Sync presets to mobile and web." Wait 10 minutes and check again.
I can see the DNG file in my camera roll but presets are not in Lightroom — why?
The DNG file needs to be imported into Lightroom Mobile as a photo, not just saved to your camera roll. Open Lightroom Mobile, tap +, and import the DNG file from wherever it is saved.
Do I need a subscription to use presets in Lightroom Mobile?
No. Preset installation and application is free in Lightroom Mobile. No Creative Cloud subscription needed.
