How To Export Presets From Lightroom: The Complete Classic, CC, And Mobile Guide

Exporting presets from Adobe Lightroom requires accessing the local system storage paths or the application UI to package your custom develop settings as portable files. Depending on your version, Lightroom exports adjustments in modern .xmp formats, legacy .lrtemplate configurations, or embedded mobile .dng files. Mastering these export paths ensures you can safely back up your creative styles, migrate them between devices, or package them for commercial distribution.

Pre-Export System Requirements and File Architecture

Before extracting presets from your Lightroom catalog, you must understand the environment you are working in. Adobe transition standards dictate that Lightroom Classic (version 7.3 and later) and Lightroom CC use the standardized Adobe Camera Raw .xmp format. Legacy versions of Lightroom (versions 4 through 6) rely on the older .lrtemplate format. Identifying your target platform dictates the file preparation method you must choose.

To execute a successful export without loss of metadata or settings, verify the following prerequisites:

• Software Version Alignment: Ensure Adobe Lightroom Classic (v10.0+) or Lightroom CC (v4.0+) is installed to enable native .xmp export capabilities.
• Operating System Access Permissions: On macOS, you must have read and write privileges for the User Library folder. On Windows, hidden AppData folders must be set to visible in File Explorer settings.
• Target Device Specifications: If transferring to Lightroom Mobile, prepare a high-resolution raw or DNG file to act as the metadata host, alongside a mobile device running iOS 13+ or Android 9+.
• Time Commitment: 5 to 15 minutes depending on whether you are exporting a single preset, bulk groups, or packaging mobile DNG files.
• Budget: Free (utilizing existing Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions).

Step-by-Step Presets Export and Packaging Workflow

Step 1: Locating and Exporting Single Presets in Lightroom Classic

For quick sharing or simple backups, exporting an individual custom preset is the most straightforward method. This process generates a single .xmp file that contains all specific slider values, tone curves, and color grading metadata.

1. Launch Lightroom Classic and open the Develop module by clicking Develop in the top-right menu or pressing the D key on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to the left-hand sidebar panel and expand the Presets accordion menu.
3. Locate the specific custom preset you wish to export. Note that default Adobe presets cannot be exported using this method; it must be a user-created preset or an imported group.
4. Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (macOS) on the desired preset name to open the context menu.
5. Select Export from the drop-down menu.
6. A system dialog window will appear. Choose your destination directory, such as a dedicated backup folder on your desktop or an external drive.
7. Rename the file if necessary, keeping the .xmp extension intact, and click Save.

Pro-Tip: If you need to make quick adjustments to the preset before saving, apply it to an image, modify the sliders in the basic or tone curve panels, right-click the preset, and select Update with Current Settings before exporting.

Step 2: Bulk Exporting Preset Groups via System Directories

When migrating your entire editing library or preparing a commercial preset pack, exporting individual files is highly inefficient. Instead, you should locate the physical folder on your hard drive where Lightroom automatically saves your custom presets as .xmp files. This allows you to copy, compress, and move whole directories instantly.

1. Open Lightroom Classic and access the Preferences menu. On macOS, navigate to Lightroom Classic in the top menu bar and select Preferences. On Windows, navigate to Edit and select Preferences.
2. In the Preferences dialog box, select the Presets tab situated along the top row.
3. Locate the Location section and click the button labeled Show Lightroom Develop Presets.
4. This action opens macOS Finder or Windows File Explorer directly to the Adobe system folder.
5. Double-click the Settings folder inside this directory. This folder is the master depository for all custom user presets, local adjustment brush presets, and custom profiles.
6. To extract specific groups, look for files prefixed with your custom folder names or simply copy the entire Settings folder to your destination backup location.
7. If sharing these presets, select the desired files, right-click, and choose Compress (macOS) or Send to Compressed (zipped) folder (Windows) to package them for distribution.

Warning: Do not modify, delete, or rename files directly within the active Lightroom Settings folder unless you have a complete backup. Doing so can permanently corrupt your Lightroom catalog paths and lead to database sync errors.

Step 3: Exporting Presets from Lightroom Creative Cloud (Desktop Version)

Lightroom (the cloud-based desktop iteration, formerly known as Lightroom CC) features a streamlined interface that handles preset management differently from its folder-centric Classic sibling. It relies heavily on cloud syncing, but still allows direct local extraction.

1. Launch Lightroom desktop on your computer.
2. Click on the Edit icon (represented by three sliders) in the top-right corner, then click the Presets button at the bottom of the panel.
3. Expand the Presets panel to view your list of User Presets.
4. To export a single preset, right-click the preset and choose Export from the context menu.
5. To export an entire group of presets, click the three horizontal dots icon (options menu) at the top of the Presets panel.
6. Select Export Group from the menu options.
7. Choose a secure directory on your local storage drive and click Save. Lightroom will compile the group into a zip archive automatically containing all the corresponding .xmp files.

Step 4: Packaging Presets for Lightroom Mobile (The DNG Workaround)

Lightroom Mobile users on free plans (without a paid Creative Cloud subscription) cannot import raw .xmp preset files directly. To share your presets with mobile users, you must embed the preset settings inside a Digital Negative (DNG) photo file. When the mobile user imports this photo, they can copy and save the settings as a local mobile preset.

1. Import a clean, well-exposed RAW image or an existing DNG file into Lightroom Classic or Lightroom Desktop.
2. Apply the custom preset you want to export to this image. Ensure that settings like exposure and white balance are neutralized so they do not ruin the image when applied to different lighting conditions.
3. Go to the File menu and select Export.
4. Under the Export Location settings, choose your output folder.
5. In the File Settings panel, change the Image Format dropdown to DNG.
6. Ensure that Compatibility is set to Camera Raw 11.0 or later to preserve modern color profiles and color grading tools.
7. Click Export. The resulting DNG file now contains your image data along with your full development preset parameters written directly into its XML metadata header. Mobile users can now load this image into their Lightroom app and select Create Preset from the menu.

Lightroom Preset File Specifications and Architecture

The following table provides a comprehensive overview of the different technical parameters, compatibility matrices, and operational limitations associated with each preset file type used across the Adobe ecosystem.

Resolving Export Failures and System Configuration Blocks

Scenario 1: The "Show Lightroom Develop Presets" button opens the wrong system folder

• Root Cause: Lightroom Classic stores presets in two different locations depending on whether the Store presets with this catalog option is checked in your preferences. If checked, Lightroom ignores the global AppData/Library directories and writes presets to a folder next to your active catalog file.
• Actionable Fix: Open Lightroom Preferences and navigate to the Presets tab. Uncheck the box labeled Store presets with this catalog. If you must keep it checked, open your operating system's file manager, go to the folder where your current Lightroom Catalog (.lrcat) is saved, locate the Lightroom Settings folder created inside that folder, and copy your presets from there.

Scenario 2: Exported presets do not retain custom Color Profiles

• Root Cause: Modern presets often rely on proprietary profiles (such as proprietary film emulations, Adobe Raw profiles, or camera-matching profiles). If the profile is not installed on the destination machine, the exported .xmp preset will revert to default Adobe Color, rendering the preset inaccurate.
• Actionable Fix: When exporting or selling presets that utilize custom camera profiles, you must locate the original profile file (usually a .xmp or .cube LUT file) inside the CameraRaw\CameraProfiles folder and package it alongside the preset files. Instruct the recipient to install both files simultaneously.

Scenario 3: Legacy .lrtemplate files fail to convert to .xmp on export

• Root Cause: A corrupt or misconfigured line of code within the legacy Lua-based script of an old preset can prevent Lightroom's auto-converter from building a modern .xmp file.
• Actionable Fix: Import the legacy .lrtemplate file into an older version of Lightroom if possible, or open the .lrtemplate file using a plain text editor like Notepad++ or TextEdit. Locate the broken parameter strings, manually correct them, or apply the settings to a photograph in Lightroom, then immediately save it as a new, native .xmp preset.

Scenario 4: Exported presets are missing local adjustments or transform settings

• Root Cause: When the preset was originally created, the checkboxes for Brush Adjustments, Radial Filters, Graduated Filters, or Transform/Lens Corrections were left unchecked to prevent composition distortion across varying photos.
• Actionable Fix: Apply the preset to a blank photo, configure the desired brush paths or crop/transform variables, click the plus sign (+) in the Presets panel, select Create Preset, check the specific boxes for Local Adjustments and Transform in the settings menu, save it, and then export this newly updated version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export presets directly from my Lightroom Mobile application?

If you are using the premium version of Lightroom Mobile synced with an active Creative Cloud subscription, any preset you create on mobile automatically syncs to your desktop app, where you can export it as an .xmp file. If you are on the free version, there is no direct file export feature; you must apply the preset to an image, export that image as a DNG file, and share that file to transfer your settings.

Where exactly are custom .xmp presets stored on a Windows PC and a Mac?

On Windows systems, custom .xmp files are saved in the directory path: C:\Users[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\Settings. On macOS systems, they are saved in the directory path: /Users/[YourUsername]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings. Note that both AppData on Windows and Library on Mac are hidden by default by the operating systems and must be unhidden in your folder view options.

How do I export presets from Lightroom Classic to use in Photoshop?

You do not need to perform a manual export to use your Lightroom Classic presets in Photoshop. Both programs share the same Adobe Camera Raw engine. When you save or export a custom preset in Lightroom Classic, it is saved directly to the shared CameraRaw\Settings folder, meaning it will automatically appear in Photoshop's Camera Raw filter preset menu the next time you open it.

Why does my exported preset look completely different on raw files versus JPEGs?

Raw files contain uncompressed sensor data, allowing presets to manipulate highlights, shadows, and color channels dynamically based on a wide dynamic range. JPEGs are already compressed and processed by the camera's internal engine, meaning the preset is being applied on top of baked-in contrast and color profiles, which often results in over-saturation and clipped highlights.

Streamline and Protect Your Creative Assets

Backing up and exporting your Lightroom presets ensures that your signature creative aesthetic is preserved against unexpected hardware failures and system migrations. Take control of your photography workspace today by setting up a dedicated external backup path for your customized settings and profiles.