You don’t have to be a computer genius to install Lightroom presets. Whether you edit on the computer or retouch on the fly with your phone, you can have our Lightroom presets loaded up and ready to go at the drop of a hat. 

Here is our nifty guide to installing Lightroom presets, from the old-school versions all the way to the latest update! 

The Prep Work

First, Determine what Lightroom Version You Have

All Lightroom versions allow you to install presets- but the process may differ depending upon what version of the program you have.

If you don’t know off the top of your head, you can click "Help" at the top of your Lightroom dashboard and then click "System Info" to find out.

Hint: If your Lightroom program is older than April 2018- then you’re likely using Lightroom 4, 5, 6, or Lightroom Classic (Version 7.2 or earlier).

Second, Download the ZIP

Before we get started, you need to have your Lightroom preset(s) ready on your computer. 

If you are using Lightroom 4, 5, 6, or a Lightroom Classic Version 7.2 and earlier, continue reading. If you are using Lightroom Classic Version 7.3 (or later), Lightroom CC, or you are already well familiar with ZIP files, you can fast forward to the next section. 

A ZIP file is a common file type used in transfers, because it allows you to send and download multiple files quickly and easily. A ZIP file works similarly to a regular file folder, but with one specific catch: you cannot use the files while they are inside the ZIP. You have to take them out of the ZIP first. 

For Mac users, just double click the ZIP folder and click "Extract". 

If you are a Windows user, just select the files in the folder and drag them to your desktop.

Third, Understand the Different Preset Types

Knowing what kind of preset you have helps ensure that you are able to use the full functionality of your new tool. There are three distinct presets available for Lightroom: 

• Workflow Presets: This is what most think about when stating ‘preset’. The workflow presets make global changes to an image and are found under the Presets tab. 

• Tool Presets: This type of preset only makes an adjustment to one specific setting of your image and keeps all of the previous changes constant. This one is usually added after a workflow preset is used.
  
  
•  Layer Presets: This preset creates a layer over your image. This one is special because it doesn’t actually change any of your settings, it just adds an effect on top. 

.XMP file, .lrtemplate file, or .DNG file? 

When downloading, viewing, or extracting files from the ZIP, you may find that there are three types of files: .XMP, .lrtemplate, or .DNG. 

These three files are the same exact thing, but used for different versions of the program: 

• .XMP is for the new Lightroom versions.  
• .lrtemplate is for the old Lightroom versions. 
• .DNG is for Lightroom Mobile. 

Installing on the Desktop Versions

Starting from oldest to newest, we have explanations on all of the Lightroom programs under the sun; ensuring that you’re able to use our presets on any of them. 

Lightroom 4, 5, & 6, and Lightroom Classic (Version 7.2 or Older) 

1. First, extract the preset files from the ZIP.
   
   
2. Go ahead and open your Lightroom program. In the upper lefthand corner, click Preferences and then go to the Presets tab.
   
   
3. From there you will see an option that says Show Lightroom Presets Folder. Go ahead and click it.
   
   
4. Double click on the Lightroom folder and then double click on the Develop Presets folder.
   
   
5. Drag and drop or copy the .lrtemplate files you exported from the ZIP into the Develop Presets folder.
   
   
6. Restart your Lightroom program and you’re all set! The preset(s) will now appear under your Preset menu! This menu is found on the left hand side of your screen in the Develop window. 

Lightroom Classic (Version 7.3 or Newer)

1. When you open Lightroom Classic, but default, you will be in the Library window. Switch to the Develop window (located in your upper right hand corner).
   
   
2. On the left hand side of your screen, there is a section titled Presets. It’s hard to miss, as you’ll notice that Adobe has some basic presets already included in the tab! Click the + (plus) icon in the section's upper right corner.
   
   
3. Select Import Presets from the dropdown menu.
   
   
4. Find where you placed your preset ZIP folder and select it (I suggest putting it on your Desktop for easy access). If you extracted your ZIP folder, then select the .XMP file.
   
   
5. Once selected, your preset will now be listed in the Presets dropdown menu and ready for use!

Lightroom CC

1. Open the Lightroom CC application and click on the Edit icon located at the top right of your screen. There are no words on this icon, it looks like three horizontal bars with circles on them.
   
   
2. You will see a Presets button at the bottom of your screen. Go ahead and click this.
   
   
3. Once the Presets panel reveals itself, click on the icon with three dots (...) at the very top.
   
   
4. A dropdown menu will appear. Click Import Presets.
   
   
5. Find where you placed your preset ZIP folder and select it (I suggest putting it on your Desktop for easy access). If you extracted your ZIP folder, then select the .XMP file.
   
   
6. The preset(s) will now be located in the Presets panel! 

Installing on the Mobile Version

If you only have the mobile app version, there is only one way to install the preset(s). If you are using both the Lightroom CC desktop version and the mobile version, you have the option of synchronizing presets between the two applications with your computer. 

Hint: It helps to have the latest version of the mobile app, so make sure Lightroom is up to date. 

Android Devices

1. Download the ZIP folder to your phone.
   
   
2. Open up the Lightroom app on your phone.
   
   
3. Select any image you have saved on your phone, as you need to open an image in order to access the menu you need to download presets.
   
   
4. On the bottom of your screen you will see a toolbar with different editing tools and icons. Slide it all the way to the right until you see Presets. Press it.
   
   
5. Once pressed, you will see the Preset tab pop up. Click the three vertical dots icon on the right hand side.
   
   
6. Find the ZIP folder you downloaded and select it. Depending on the type of Android phone you have, this step might change a little bit. You will either navigate to the folder on your phone where the ZIP file was downloaded or if you cannot import the .ZIP file directly, use the My Files app on your phone to extract the contents of the .ZIP file first.
   
   
7. Your presets will now be available to use in the Presets tab! 

Apple Devices 

1. Download the ZIP folder to your phone.
   
   
2. Once the ZIP has downloaded, press the Download icon in the upper right corner of your screen to open the default Files app on your phone. Press on the ZIP file and the content should be automatically extracted and a new folder will appear with the .DNG files inside.
   
   If you are having trouble with this, you can download the ZIP to your computer first, extract it to your computer, transfer the contents to a cloud service such as Google Drive or Dropbox, and then transfer them to your phone that way.
   
   
3. Open up the Lightroom app on your phone.
   
   
4. Click the + (plus) icon in your library and create a new folder.
   
   
5. Name the new folder Presets. Go ahead and open the folder.
   
   
6. Within the folder, press Create New Album and name the album (I suggest naming after the preset to keep it organized for yourself) and add DNG to the title. Your album name should look like ‘preset name DNG’.
   
   
7. Next, open your newly named album and press the Add icon. From here, you will want to navigate to the folder where your extracted DNG files live and select all of the DNG files inside. When you have selected all, press Open.
   
   
8. Open the first DNG image.
   
   
9. Press the three horizontal dots icon to open the menu and select Create Preset.
10. You will now find your preset(s) in the Preset tab! 

Using Lightroom CC on Desktop

If you have Lightroom CC, you can synchronize your presets between the two applications. All you have to do is follow the instructions for Lightroom CC above and install your preset. Once they are installed, the presets will automatically sync to your mobile device via the cloud.

In conclusion, no matter what Adobe Lightroom program you have, presets are readily available for you to install. Add them into your editing workflow to easily create eye-catching images with a single button click!