How to Install and Organize Lightroom Presets on Desktop and Mobile

Quick Answer

Install desktop presets by opening Lightroom Classic, going to File > Import Profiles & Presets, and selecting the .xmp files. For Lightroom mobile, import the DNG files into the app, open one DNG, tap the Presets icon, and save it as a new preset. Organize everything into a folder structure that mirrors how you shoot—by style, client, or session—so you can find presets without scrolling through a flat list.

Desktop Installation: Lightroom Classic and Lightroom (Cloud)

In Lightroom Classic, go to File > Import Profiles & Presets and select the .xmp files from your download. They appear under the Presets panel in the Develop module. In the cloud-based Lightroom (the one with the slider icon), click the Presets icon in the Edit panel, then click the three-dot menu and choose Import Presets. The process is similar but the file location differs, so check which app you are using before you start dragging files around.

A common mistake is importing a zip file directly. Lightroom cannot read zipped presets. Unzip the download first, then import the .xmp files. If a preset does not appear after import, check whether it was saved as a profile instead of a preset—profiles live under the Profile browser, not the Presets panel.

Mobile Preset Setup: DNG Files and the Free App

Mobile presets usually arrive as DNG files. Save them to your phone's camera roll or Files app. Open Lightroom mobile, tap Add Photo, and import one DNG. Tap that photo, open the Presets panel, tap the three-dot menu, and choose Create Preset. Name it, and it saves to your preset list. Repeat for each DNG if you want the full set.

The most common mobile mistake is importing all DNGs at once and then trying to create presets from a grid view. You must open a single DNG in Edit mode to see the Create Preset option. Also, DNG presets only work on raw or DNG files in mobile—if you apply one to a JPEG, the color may shift because the preset was built for raw data.

Folder Structure That Actually Works

Lightroom does not let you create nested folders inside the Presets panel, but you can create groups. On desktop, right-click in the Presets panel and choose New Group. Name groups by purpose: Client Work, Personal, Seasonal, or by preset family. On mobile, you can create groups the same way from the Presets panel menu.

A practical structure is three levels: a main group for the preset brand, a subgroup for the collection, and individual presets inside. For example: Pretty Presets > Beloved > specific presets. This keeps limited-edition or seasonal sets separate from your everyday go-to presets. Avoid naming groups with dates or version numbers—those become meaningless in six months.

Importing DNG Presets into Lightroom Classic

Some older or mobile-first preset collections only come as DNG files. To use them in Lightroom Classic, import the DNG into your catalog, open it in Develop, and manually copy the settings to a new preset. There is no automatic DNG-to-XMP converter inside Lightroom. You can also use the DNG as a reference photo and sync settings to other images, but that is a workaround, not a true preset installation.

If you rely on both desktop and mobile, check whether your preset collection includes both XMP and DNG files. Collections designed for both platforms save you from converting files manually. For example, the Beloved Limited Edition Millennium Collection includes presets for both Lightroom Desktop and the free Lightroom Mobile app, so you can install once and use the same look on both devices.

Step-by-Step: Install and Organize Your Presets

1. Download and unzip your preset files: Save the download to a folder you can find, then unzip it. You should see .xmp files for desktop or .dng files for mobile, or both. Checkpoint: If you only see a zip file, you have not unzipped yet. Lightroom cannot read zipped presets.
2. Import into Lightroom Classic or Lightroom cloud: In Classic, go to File > Import Profiles & Presets and select the .xmp files. In Lightroom cloud, click the Presets icon, open the three-dot menu, and choose Import Presets. Checkpoint: After import, look for the presets under the Presets panel. If they are missing, check the Profile browser—some files install as profiles.
3. Set up mobile presets with DNG files: Import one DNG into Lightroom mobile, open it in Edit mode, tap the Presets icon, open the three-dot menu, and choose Create Preset. Name it and save. Checkpoint: You must open a single DNG in Edit mode to see Create Preset. Importing all DNGs at once will not work.
4. Create groups to organize your presets: Right-click in the Presets panel on desktop or use the Presets panel menu on mobile to create a new group. Name it by brand, collection, or purpose. Checkpoint: Avoid a flat list of presets. Use at least two levels: brand > collection.
5. Test the preset on a raw file: Apply a preset to a raw photo and check skin tones and highlights. Adjust intensity with the Amount slider if needed. Checkpoint: If the preset looks wrong, you may be applying a raw-only preset to a JPEG. Switch to a raw file or reduce the preset amount.

Preset Collections Built for Both Desktop and Mobile

• Beloved Limited Edition Millennium Collection: Beloved Limited Edition Millennium Collection includes presets designed for both Lightroom Desktop and the free Lightroom Mobile app, plus three new presets: Beloved, Cherished, and Freesia V2. You can install one collection and use the same warm light and creamy skin tones on your computer and phone without buying separate mobile files.
• WILDHEART Evolution Preset Collection: WILDHEART Evolution Preset Collection is a Lightroom preset and profile collection built for rich color, warm earthy tones, soft highlights, and luminous skin tones. Because it includes profiles as well as presets, you will see two import categories in Lightroom—check both the Presets panel and the Profile browser after installation.
• NATURA Evolution AI Preset Collection: NATURA Evolution AI Preset Collection is designed for clean, timeless, consistent edits that enhance images without overpowering them. If you edit across many sessions, a collection focused on consistency helps you maintain a signature look without adjusting every image from scratch.