This tutorial will teach you to install Lightroom Mobile presets into the app, without using the desktop version at all. You will be able to save them as presets and apply them with one click.

If you already have the desktop version of Lightroom (to subscribe to Lightroom Desktop click here), you can simply sync your presets between Lightroom Desktop and Mobile.

But if you want to download Lightroom mobile presets straight to your phone and use them on the free app without going through the desktop version, you can do it directly on your phone.

If you haven’t yet, check out our Brand Vibe Bundles (with lightroom presets) here.

How To Install Lightroom Mobile Presets

Step 1: Download the DNG files to your phone

Mobile presets come in a DNG file format. Some sellers allow direct download of the DNG files but some compress the files into a ZIP format.

Note: If your presets are in XMP or lrtemplate format, they are for Lightroom Desktop, not Mobile.

If you see a DNG file when you click on your download link, skip directly to Step 2.

If you see a ZIP file, then you need to unzip the presets first.

Option A – Unzip files directly on your phone

You can use apps like Unzip to unzip the file on your phone without a desktop computer. First make sure you download the Unzip app to your phone (iOS or Android). Then click to download the file and tap on Open in Unzip:

First, click the + at the top right corner of your screen and then from the drop down menu, click the “Transfer” button. After you do that, click where you stored your original ZIP file and you should find your files appear under “Files.”

Next, click on the file you want to unzip (e.g. “Feel Good Social - Papaya Cream Presets”). By clicking on your file, it will automatically unzip it.

Next, click on the newly created file, which will have the same name as your original ZIP file. After that, click on your file again, which will bring you to two options: “Desktop - .XMP” or “Mobile - .DNG”.

Click on “Mobile - .DNG” since you will be downloading this to your mobile Lightroom app.

After clicking on the “Mobile - .DNG” file, you will see all of the files for the mobile presets you will download into Lightroom.

For each image, click on it and click “Save Image.” If you downloaded the app for the first time, you will have to allow Unzip to add photos to your photo library. Click “OK” to allow.

Now you have all of your DNG files inside your Unzip app as well as your photo library on your phone. Go to Step 2 to import them into Lightroom.

Option B – Unzip on a PC and transfer to your phone - I LEFT THIS PART because i didn’t know if you wanted to keep it w/out the images.

If you have a computer handy, download the ZIP file on your laptop and double-click to unzip it. That should create a folder of the same name with the DNG image files inside.

Now you need to transfer the DNG files to your phone via AirDrop, Dropbox, Google Drive or any other transfer method you prefer.

Simply drag your DNG files into your Dropbox folder and wait for the files to sync. Once all your files are synced, go into your Dropbox folder in your phone app and export each DNG file into your phone’s camera roll.

Open the Dropbox app on your phone and tap on the 3 dots button next to each DNG file. Then tap on Export to save the presets to your phone. Then tap on Save Image.

Step 2: Import preset files into Lightroom Mobile 

At this point you should have all of your DNG files saved to your phone – either in your Unzip app or in your camera roll. The files serve as “preset carriers” and now you just need to add them to Lightroom mobile and save presets out of them.

If you go into your photo stream and see them as blank picture files, don’t be alarmed – that’s how they should look.

Open Lightroom Mobile and tap on the Add Photos button in the lower right corner.

After doing this, select “Camera Roll” from the pop-up menu. Make sure that “Select Mode” is turned on so you are able to add all of the preset photos to your Lightroom app at the same time.

Next, select the DNG presets from your camera roll and import them into your Lightroom Mobile app by clicking the add button in the lower right corner:

Step 3: Save Settings as Presets

At this point you should have all of your DNG files imported into Lightroom Mobile. Locate the files and open one of them inside the app.

Now tap on the 3 dots icon at the top right of the screen and then tap on Create Preset:

Next you will see the New Preset screen (shown below) which contains all the options you can use to customize your preset. You can give your preset a name (highly recommended) and add it into a Preset Group in Lightroom. We recommend you create preset groups if you have a lot of presets and want to keep them organized.

The checkboxes below determine which picture settings you’d like to save with this preset.

I personally check all boxes except for Tools, Optics and Geometry. That’s because those parameters vary from picture to picture and I will probably never need to crop or rotate different pictures exactly the same way.

When you’re done with the settings save your preset by tapping on the checkmark icon at the top right corner.

Repeat this step for each DNG file as you will need to save each preset separately. Don’t worry though, you only need to do this once!

Step 4: Using Lightroom Mobile Presets

To use your new presets just go back into your library and open any photo you’d like to edit.

Find the Presets icon in the menu at the bottom of the screen and tap on it. Make sure the Preset Group that’s selected is the one where you saved your new presets. If you saved them in the User Presets group, select that.

Now you can edit the photo by tapping on a preset from the list and then tapping on the checkmark. You can still continue to edit the photo and make adjustments if you like, after you’ve applied the preset.

And that’s it! Now you know how to install, save and use your Lightroom Mobile presets without desktop! Let us know if you have any questions or issues below. :)