Guide
Oct 22, 2026 · 6 min read
Have you imported presets into Lightroom Mobile, but they are nowhere to be found? Or maybe you can see your downloaded files on your phone, but the presets are not appearing when you try to edit a photo. If this sounds familiar, don't worry. You may not need to download everything again or reinstall the app.
Sometimes, the problem is as simple as looking in the wrong preset folder. In other cases, the file may not have been imported correctly, the DNG preset may need an extra step, or Lightroom may not have finished syncing your content.
In this guide, you'll learn why Lightroom Mobile presets are not showing after import and how to fix the problem on Android. We'll go through each solution step by step, starting with the easiest ones.
Before trying complicated fixes, it's helpful to understand what might have gone wrong. Lightroom presets can be missing for several reasons, and the right solution depends on how you imported them.
The good news is that you can check these possibilities one by one without immediately deleting your photos or reinstalling Lightroom.
This is the first thing to try because your presets may already be in Lightroom. You might simply be looking in a different section of the Presets panel.
Open Lightroom Mobile on your Android phone and select a photo from your library. Tap it to enter the editing screen.
Find Presets in the editing tools and tap it. If the tool is not immediately visible, look through the available editing options.
Open the Yours category and look for User Presets. Also check any other preset groups you created or imported.
Depending on your Lightroom version and the way the presets were imported, their group names and locations may differ slightly. Take a moment to look through the available groups before importing the same files again.
Tip: If you find your preset, tap it to see whether it applies to your photo. You don't need to import it again if it is already available in your preset library.
Downloading a preset file and importing it into Lightroom are two different things. Saving a file to your phone does not always make it available in the Presets panel.
For compatible preset files, Lightroom Mobile provides an import option inside the Presets panel. Follow these steps:
Lightroom's interface can vary between versions. If you cannot find the Import Presets option, check Adobe's official instructions for your installed version rather than guessing which menu to use.
You can read Adobe's official guide to importing and exporting Lightroom presets for the current workflow.
If you downloaded a DNG preset, this step is especially important. Some people add the DNG file to Lightroom as a photo and then expect the preset to appear automatically in their preset library. However, importing the photo and creating a reusable preset are separate steps.
Open Lightroom Mobile and use the Add Photos option to locate the DNG file on your device. Select the file and add it to your library.
Find the DNG file in your Lightroom photo grid and open it. If Lightroom displays a file-loading message, don't assume the file is useless. Adobe notes that DNG preset files can sometimes display a loading error during this workflow.
With the DNG file open, tap the options menu and look for Create Preset. If the option is available, open it and enter a name that you can recognize later.
Choose User Presets or select a preset group. Review the settings you want to include and save the preset using the confirmation control shown in your app.
Return to another photo, open the Presets panel, and check the group where you saved it. Your preset should now be available for use.
If you're unsure about the DNG workflow, follow Adobe's official instructions for importing DNG presets.
Many preset creators provide their files in a ZIP folder because it makes several files easier to download together. The ZIP folder itself is not the same as an individual preset file.
If Lightroom cannot find your presets, try these steps:
Do not select a screenshot or preview image and expect it to become a preset. A preview image can show you what a preset looks like, but it does not necessarily contain the editing settings needed to create one.
If your preset files are correct and you are checking the right folder, the next step is to make sure Lightroom Mobile is up to date.
Older app versions may have a different interface or may not support the same import workflow available in newer releases.
If no update is available, continue with the other fixes. An update is worth checking, but it does not guarantee that every missing preset problem will be resolved.
Sometimes, Lightroom needs to refresh before newly imported or synced content becomes visible. Restarting the app is a simple step that may help with temporary display issues.
If the missing presets were synced from another device, check your internet connection as well. Open Lightroom's sync status or cloud indicator, if available, and allow the app time to finish syncing.
Keep in mind that restarting the app will not recreate a preset that was never imported or saved in the first place. If the presets are still missing, move on to the next solution.
Some presets are designed for particular editing settings, profiles, or types of photos. A preset may be imported but behave differently from the example you saw online. In some cases, a partially compatible preset may not appear as expected.
Try these checks:
Not every preset will produce the same result on every photo. Differences in lighting, camera settings, and color profiles can change the final appearance even when the preset is working correctly.
If your presets were available before but disappeared after you changed phones, signed out, or reinstalled Lightroom, the problem may be related to syncing rather than the preset files themselves.
Start by checking the following:
Adobe explains that content that has not synced before an app is uninstalled may not be available after reinstalling it. Locally stored presets can also be lost if the app's data is removed.
For more information, read Adobe's guide to missing photos and presets in Lightroom Mobile.
It can be tempting to clear the app's data or reinstall Lightroom as soon as something goes wrong. However, these should not be your first steps.
On Android, clearing an app's cache is different from clearing its storage or app data. Clearing the cache removes temporary files, while clearing app data can delete locally stored photos, edits, and presets.
Before considering a reinstall, make sure your important photos and edits are safely backed up or synced. If your presets were downloaded separately, keep the original files so you can import them again if necessary.
Only consider reinstalling after checking the simpler solutions and confirming that your important content is safe. If your presets are missing because they were never imported or synced, reinstalling the app may not solve the underlying problem.
Once your presets are working, a few simple habits can help you avoid the same problem in the future.
Your presets may be saved under a different group, may not have imported correctly, or may need an extra step if they are DNG files. Start by checking Yours and User Presets, then verify the import method you used.
Adding a DNG file to Lightroom as a photo does not automatically create a reusable preset. Open the DNG photo and use the Create Preset option if it is available, then save the settings to a preset group.
Imported presets are generally available in the Presets panel under Yours and User Presets. Depending on how you imported them, they may appear in another group. Check the available groups before importing them again.
Yes. You can import compatible preset files directly from your Android phone. Download the files to your device, extract any ZIP folder when required, and follow the appropriate import method in Lightroom Mobile.
A normal app update is not intended to remove your presets. However, it's a good idea to keep copies of your original preset files and make sure important content is synced or backed up.
It might help with certain app problems, but it is not a guaranteed fix. Reinstalling can remove local content that has not been synced. Check your account, backups, and preset files before considering this step.
Presets use saved editing settings, but each photo has different lighting, colors, and exposure. You may need to adjust brightness, contrast, or white balance to get the look you want.
When Lightroom Mobile presets are not showing after import, the problem is often easier to fix than it first appears. Start by checking the correct preset group, confirming that the file was imported properly, and making sure any DNG preset was saved as a reusable preset when required.
If those steps don't work, update the app, restart Lightroom, check compatibility, and review your Adobe account and sync status. Avoid clearing app data or reinstalling the app until you know your important photos, edits, and presets are safe.
Take the fixes one step at a time. With the correct import method and a little patience, you can usually identify why your presets are missing and get back to editing your photos.
For additional help, visit Adobe's Lightroom preset import guide or its official troubleshooting guide for missing photos and presets.