Installing Lightroom presets should take less than five minutes. Yet it is one of the most Googled photography questions every year. This guide covers every method — Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC (cloud), and Adobe Camera Raw — so you can get your presets working immediately.
Installing Presets in Lightroom Classic (Easiest Method)
- Open Lightroom Classic and go to the Develop module
- In the left panel, find the Presets section
- Click the + icon next to Presets and select Import Presets
- Navigate to your downloaded .zip file or .xmp files
- Select all the preset files and click Import
- Your presets will appear in a new folder in the Presets panel
If your presets came as a .zip file, unzip it first before importing. The presets inside will be .xmp or .lrtemplate files.
Installing Presets in Lightroom CC (Cloud Version)
- Open Lightroom CC
- Click the Edit icon (sliders icon) on any photo
- Scroll to the Presets panel on the right
- Click the three dots ··· menu and select Import Presets
- Select your .xmp files and click Import
Installing in Adobe Camera Raw
- Open any RAW file in Photoshop (it will open in Camera Raw)
- Click the Presets tab (the star icon on the right panel)
- Click the three dots menu and select Import Presets
- Select your .xmp files and import
.lrtemplate vs .xmp Files
Older presets use .lrtemplate format. Modern presets (2018 and newer) use .xmp. Both work in Lightroom Classic. Lightroom CC and Camera Raw only accept .xmp files — but Lightroom Classic can convert .lrtemplate files automatically when you import them.
Preset Not Working? Try This
- Gray preview? Make sure you are in the Develop module, not Library.
- Wrong colors? Check that Process Version is set to Current (2012 or later) in the Camera Calibration panel.
- Preset missing after restart? Make sure the preset file is in the correct Lightroom presets folder and not on an external drive that is disconnected.
Which Presets to Start With
If you are looking for professional presets that actually work and were built by a photographer who has shot for National Geographic, start here:
- Landscape and Cityscapes Presets — for outdoor and nature photography
- Street Photography Presets — film and cinematic looks for street work
- Ultimate Collection — everything in one download