You imported your Lightroom presets, but now you can’t find them.
In most cases, your presets haven’t actually disappeared. They may be stored under Yours or User Presets, hidden in your preset settings, partially compatible with the photo you’re editing, or waiting to sync between devices.
If your Lightroom presets are not showing up, work through the fixes below before reinstalling everything.
Quick Fix: Where Should Lightroom Presets Appear?
First, make sure you’re looking in the correct place.
- Adobe Lightroom Desktop (Lr): Open a photo → Presets → Yours
- Lightroom Mobile: Open a photo → Presets → Yours
- Lightroom Classic (LrC): Develop module → Presets panel
The exact wording can vary slightly depending on your version of Lightroom, but imported presets should normally appear with your own saved and imported presets rather than alongside Adobe’s recommended presets.
1. Check Yours or User Presets
One of the most common reasons Lightroom presets appear to be missing is simply that Lightroom placed them somewhere you weren’t expecting.
After importing presets, look for a section called Yours, User Presets, or the name of the preset collection you imported.
In Adobe Lightroom Desktop:
- Open a photo.
- Open the Presets panel.
- Select Yours.
- Look through your saved and imported preset groups.
If you just installed a preset collection and don’t see it with Adobe’s built-in presets, check this section before trying to import the files again.
How to Find Your Presets in Lightroom Mobile
In Lightroom Mobile, open any photo, tap the Presets icon from the editing tools, and select Yours from the top of the Presets panel.
Your imported preset collections should be listed in the Yours section.
2. Make Sure the Preset Group Isn’t Hidden
Lightroom allows preset groups to be hidden from the Presets panel.
That means a preset collection can still be installed correctly but not appear while you’re editing.
How to Find Hidden Presets in Adobe Lightroom Desktop
In Adobe Lightroom Desktop, open the Presets panel, click the three-dot Options menu, and select Manage Presets.
How to Find Hidden Presets in Lightroom Classic
In Lightroom Classic, right-click inside the Presets panel and select Manage Presets.
Make sure the preset collection you’re looking for is enabled and visible.
If an entire preset collection suddenly disappeared while your other presets are still there, this is one of the first settings to check.
How to Find Hidden Presets in Lightroom Mobile
In Lightroom Mobile:
- Open any photo.
- Tap Presets from the editing tools.
- Tap the three-dot Options menu in the top right corner of the Presets panel.
- Select Manage Presets.
- Turn preset groups on or off depending on which collections you want to see.
If a preset group is turned off, the presets are not deleted. They are simply hidden from your Presets panel.
3. Turn On Partially Compatible Presets
If some presets appear but others are missing or unavailable, Lightroom may consider those presets partially compatible with the photo you’re editing.
This can happen when a preset contains a camera profile or adjustment that does not completely match the photo you currently have open.
Partially compatible presets can still be useful. Lightroom may hide them or display them differently depending on the version of Lightroom you’re using.
How to Show Partially Compatible Presets in Lightroom Mobile
- Open any photo in Lightroom Mobile.
- Tap Presets from the editing tools at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the three-dot Options menu in the top right corner of the Presets panel.
- Select Show Partially Compatible Presets.
Once this option is enabled, check your preset list again. Presets Lightroom considers partially compatible should now be visible.
How to Show Partially Compatible Presets in Adobe Lightroom Desktop
If you use the cloud-based Adobe Lightroom Desktop app on Mac or Windows:
- Open a photo in Lightroom.
- Open the Presets panel from the editing toolbar.
- Click the three-dot Options menu in the top right corner of the Presets panel.
- Look for Show Partially Compatible Presets. Depending on your Lightroom version, the wording may appear as an option to show or hide partially compatible presets.
- Make sure partially compatible presets are set to show.
The exact wording can vary slightly depending on your Lightroom version, but the setting is located in the Presets panel options.
How to Show Partially Compatible Presets in Lightroom Classic
Lightroom Classic uses a different path from Adobe Lightroom Desktop and Lightroom Mobile.
On Mac:
Go to Lightroom Classic → Preferences → Presets.
On Windows:
Go to Edit → Preferences → Presets.
Under the Visibility section, check Show Partially Compatible Develop Presets.
This allows Lightroom Classic to display presets that may not be fully compatible with the photo you currently have selected.
If only a handful of presets are missing instead of an entire preset collection, this setting is especially worth checking.
4. Make Sure You’re Signed Into the Same Adobe Account
If you installed your Lightroom presets on your computer but can’t find them on your phone or tablet, check your Adobe account.
Make sure Lightroom is signed into the same Adobe account on every device.
For example, if you imported presets into Adobe Lightroom Desktop using one Adobe account but Lightroom Mobile is signed into another account, those presets won’t automatically appear on your phone.
After confirming the account, give Lightroom time to finish syncing before assuming the presets are missing.
5. Check Whether Lightroom Has Finished Syncing
If your presets are showing on one device but not another, the problem may be syncing rather than installation.
Check Syncing in Adobe Lightroom Desktop
Click the cloud icon in Adobe Lightroom Desktop to check your current sync status and confirm that Lightroom is connected to the correct Adobe account.
You can also check the cloud sync status to see whether Lightroom is still syncing or whether syncing has finished.
Check Syncing in Lightroom Mobile
In Lightroom Mobile, tap the cloud icon to check your current sync status and confirm that the app is connected to your Adobe account.
Make sure:
- You have an internet connection.
- Lightroom is signed into the correct Adobe account.
- Cloud syncing is active.
- Lightroom has had enough time to finish syncing.
If you recently imported a large number of presets, it may take a little time before everything appears across your devices.
6. If You Use Lightroom Classic, Check Your Catalog
This issue mainly applies to Lightroom Classic.
Lightroom Classic can store presets with a specific catalog. If the Store presets with this catalog option is enabled, presets may appear when one catalog is open but seem to disappear when you switch to another catalog.
On Mac:
Go to Lightroom Classic → Preferences → Presets.
On Windows:
Go to Edit → Preferences → Presets.
Check whether Store presets with this catalog is enabled.
If your Lightroom presets disappeared after opening or creating a different catalog, this may be the reason.
7. Check Manage Presets in Lightroom Classic
Lightroom Classic also allows you to hide individual preset groups from the Develop panel.
To check which preset groups are visible:
- Open the Develop module.
- Find the Presets panel on the left side.
- Click the + icon.
- Select Manage Presets.
- Make sure the preset groups you want to use are selected.
A hidden preset group isn’t deleted. Lightroom Classic may simply not be displaying it in the Presets panel.
8. Make Sure Your Presets Actually Imported
If you’ve looked through your preset groups and still can’t find the presets, there’s another possibility. The files may never have imported successfully.
Think back to what happened when you installed them. Did Lightroom display an error such as:
- Presets failed to import
- Unable to import presets
- Preset is invalid
- Preset is duplicate
If Lightroom displayed an import error, your presets aren’t simply hidden. The import itself needs to be fixed.
If Lightroom shows an import error, note the exact message before trying to import the files again. The error message can help identify what needs to be fixed.
9. Check That You’re Using the Correct Preset Files
Lightroom presets can come in different file formats, including XMP and DNG.
The correct installation method depends on the version of Lightroom you’re using and the files included with your preset download.
If you’re trying to import the wrong file type or selecting the wrong files from your download folder, the presets may not appear where you expect them.
For complete installation instructions, see our How to Install Lightroom Presets in 2026 guide.
10. Restart Lightroom
It sounds simple, but if you just imported presets and they aren’t appearing, fully close Lightroom and reopen it.
Then:
- Open a photo.
- Open the Presets panel.
- Check Yours or User Presets.
- Check your preset management settings.
This is especially worth trying immediately after installing a new collection.
11. Update Lightroom
If you’re using an older version of Lightroom, update the app before doing a complete reinstall of your presets.
Adobe regularly updates Lightroom, including its preset interface and preset management tools.
This is particularly important if a tutorial you’re following looks different from the Lightroom app on your screen. The preset controls may have moved or changed in a newer version.
What If My Lightroom Presets Suddenly Disappeared?
If your presets were previously working and suddenly disappeared, don’t immediately assume they were deleted.
Check these things first:
- Are you signed into the same Adobe account?
- Did Lightroom recently update?
- Did you switch Lightroom Classic catalogs?
- Is the preset group hidden?
- Are partially compatible presets hidden?
- Has Lightroom finished syncing?
If your presets were there yesterday and aren’t there today, the issue is often related to visibility, syncing, account settings, or a Lightroom update rather than the preset files themselves.
Why Are Only Some of My Lightroom Presets Missing?
If most of your presets are visible but only a few are missing, check your partially compatible preset settings first.
A preset may contain a camera profile or editing setting that isn’t fully compatible with the image you currently have open.
On Lightroom Mobile and Adobe Lightroom Desktop, check the Options menu in the Presets panel and make sure partially compatible presets are set to show.
In Lightroom Classic, go to Preferences → Presets and enable Show Partially Compatible Develop Presets.
You can also try opening a different photo to see whether the missing preset appears there.
Why Aren’t My Lightroom Presets Showing on My Phone?
If your presets are available on your computer but aren’t showing in Lightroom Mobile, make sure:
- You’re signed into the same Adobe account.
- Lightroom has finished syncing.
- You’re checking the Yours section of the Presets panel.
- Show Partially Compatible Presets is enabled if only certain presets are missing.
- The preset collection isn’t hidden under Manage Presets.
- Your Lightroom Mobile app is updated.
If you installed the presets directly onto your phone, also confirm that the import completed successfully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to reinstall my presets if they’re not showing up?
Usually, no. First check Yours or User Presets, Manage Presets, partially compatible preset settings, your Adobe account, and syncing. Reinstalling should come later if you confirm the presets never imported successfully.
Can Lightroom hide presets without deleting them?
Yes. Lightroom can hide preset groups from the Presets panel, which can make an installed preset collection appear to be missing. You can usually make them visible again through Manage Presets.
What are partially compatible Lightroom presets?
Partially compatible presets contain one or more settings that may not fully match the photo you’re editing. One common example is a preset that uses a camera profile created for a different camera. Lightroom can still allow you to apply the compatible portions of the preset.
How do I show partially compatible presets in Lightroom Mobile?
Open a photo, tap Presets, tap the three-dot Options menu in the top right corner, and select Show Partially Compatible Presets.
How do I show partially compatible presets in Lightroom Classic?
On Mac, go to Lightroom Classic → Preferences → Presets. On Windows, go to Edit → Preferences → Presets. Under Visibility, enable Show Partially Compatible Develop Presets.
Why are my presets showing on my computer but not my phone?
First make sure both devices are signed into the same Adobe account and Lightroom has finished syncing. Then check Yours, Manage Presets, and Show Partially Compatible Presets inside Lightroom Mobile.
Why did my Lightroom presets disappear after an update?
An update can change the Lightroom interface or where preset controls appear. Before reinstalling anything, check your preset groups, Adobe account, sync status, preset visibility settings, and partially compatible preset settings.
Where are imported presets stored in Lightroom?
In Adobe Lightroom Desktop and Lightroom Mobile, imported and personally created presets are generally found inside the Yours section of the Presets panel. Lightroom Classic users can find imported presets inside the Presets panel in the Develop module.
Still Can’t Find Your Lightroom Presets?
If you’ve checked all of the settings above and your presets still aren’t appearing, the next step is determining whether Lightroom imported the files successfully in the first place.
If you’re seeing a message such as “Presets Failed to Import”, that’s a different problem from presets being hidden or missing.
We’ll cover that next in our Lightroom Troubleshooting series.
Shop Lightroom Presets
Once your presets are installed and showing correctly in Lightroom, you’re ready to start editing.
Browse our Lightroom preset collections for film-inspired edits, bright and airy looks, moody tones, seasonal styles, everyday photo editing, and more.
Want the complete collection? Our Premium All Access Lightroom Presets give you access to our full preset library in one bundle.
More Lightroom Troubleshooting Guides Coming Soon
- Lightroom Presets Failed to Import: How to Fix It
- Why Is the Import Presets Button Missing in Lightroom?
- Why Did My Lightroom Presets Disappear?
- Why Are My DNG Preset Files Grey or Blank?
- Why Won’t My XMP Presets Import Into Lightroom?
