How To Install Lightroom Presets in 3 Easy Steps

Ever wonder how professional photographers give their images a polished look? The secret often lies in how they use Lightroom presets. Whether you're a novice photographer or a seasoned pro, understanding how to install Lightroom presets can streamline your workflow and enhance the quality of your photographs.

3 Easy-To-Follow Steps To Install Presets in Lightroom

Ready to add that professional sheen to your photos? You're in the right place. Let's get started with a simple three-step guide.

1. Download Your Lightroom Presets

The first step in learning how to install Lightroom presets is to get your hands on them. Presets come in various file formats, with .lrtemplate files being common for earlier versions of Lightroom and .xmp for Lightroom CC and beyond. These presets are usually packed into zip files to make them easy to download and manage.

After purchasing presets or finding free presets online, download them onto your computer and locate the zip file in your downloads folder.

Double-click (on Mac) or right-click and choose “Extract All” (on Windows) to decompress the zip files. You’ll end up with a preset folder containing the individual preset files. You can then move this folder anywhere that’s convenient for you.

2. Launch Lightroom on Your Desktop and Find the Develop Module

Next, you'll want to add your presets to Lightroom. Open Adobe Lightroom on your desktop. In the top right corner of the main Lightroom Classic window, you'll see the “Develop Module,” a key part of adding presets to Lightroom. If you’re using Lightroom CC, make sure you're in editing mode (where you can see your images).

If you’re using a mobile device, keep in mind that the process of importing Lightroom mobile presets may differ slightly. Mobile presets are typically imported as “Profiles” within the Lightroom mobile app, depending on your version and the operating system of your mobile device.

3. Import Your Preset File in the Presets Tab

With your presets downloaded and Lightroom opened, go to the left-hand side of your screen in the Develop Module to find the Presets Panel. In Lightroom Classic, the Presets Panel is usually on the right-hand side of the Develop Module.

To start importing Lightroom presets, click on the “+” sign in the Presets panel or right-click and choose “Import Presets” from the menu bar (it’s usually under “File > Import Profiles and Presets”). This will open the import dialog, where you can navigate to the preset folder you've just decompressed.

Select the presets you want to use, then click “Import.” Lightroom will categorize these as “User Presets,” making them easier for you to find in the future.

To be sure your presets are imported and ready to use, restart your version of Lightroom.

Installing Mastin Labs Presets

Mastin Labs has a fast and easy way to add the presets to your collection that removes the manual process and gives you more control over the organization. While manual importing is still an option, using the installer provided can cut your waiting time down. 

Once you’ve purchased your presets, log into your Mastin Labs account and download the Zip files provided in the dashboard. 

From there, open the Zip files by double clicking and select the folder “3. Desktop Presets for Lightroom Classic CC” and click on the correct installer for your system.

On-screen instructions will prompt you through the installation process, and once you open Lightroom up again, the presets will appear in the preset side-bar menu, ready to go.

Explore Mastin Labs’ Masterful Collection of Must-Have Presets

Now that you know how to import Lightroom presets, you're set to elevate the quality of the images you capture. With presets, you can apply professional-grade edits to your images in a fraction of the time. After you import presets into Lightroom, you'll be able to use presets on your mobile devices and the desktop version in Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC, and beyond.