User Guide Cancel

Set preferences for working in Lightroom Classic

  1. Lightroom Classic User Guide
  2. Introduction to Lightroom Classic
    1. What's new in Lightroom Classic
    2. Lightroom Classic system requirements
    3. Lightroom Classic | Common Questions
    4. Lightroom Classic Key Concepts
    5. Lightroom Classic tutorials
    6. Set Preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
    7. Reset Preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
  3. Workspace
    1. Workspace basics
    2. Display the Library on a second monitor
    3. Personalize identity plates and module buttons
    4. Watermark your photos in Lightroom Classic
    5. Color management
  4. Import photos
    1. Specify import options
    2. Set import preferences
    3. Import photos from a camera or card reader
    4. Import photos from a folder on a hard drive
    5. Import photos automatically
    6. Import photos from Photoshop Elements
    7. Import photos from a tethered camera
    8. The Filename Template Editor and Text Template Editor
  5. Organize photos in Lightroom Classic
    1. Face recognition
    2. Work with photo collections
    3. Group photos into stacks
    4. Flag, label, and rate photos
    5. Use keywords
    6. Metadata basics and actions
    7. Find photos in the catalog
    8. Work with video in Lightroom Classic
    9. Advanced metadata actions
    10. Use the Quick Develop panel
  6. Process and develop photos
    1. Develop module basics
    2. Create panoramas and HDR panoramas
    3. Flat-Field Correction
    4. Correct distorted perspective in photos using Upright
    5. Improve image quality using Enhance
    6. Work with image tone and color
    7. Masking
    8. Apply local adjustments
    9. HDR photo merge
    10. Develop module options
    11. Retouch photos
    12. Cure red eye and pet eye effects
    13. Use the Radial Filter tool
    14. Adjustments with Lens Blur
    15. Edit and Export in HDR
    16. Remove Tool
  7. Viewing photos
    1. View photos
    2. Browse and compare photos
    3. Set Library view options
    4. Share photos for comments and feedback
    5. Smart Previews
  8. Export photos
    1. Export files to disk or CD
    2. Export photos from Lightroom Classic
    3. Publish photos online
    4. Export to hard drive using publish services
    5. Presets for export, and other settings
  9. Work with external editors
    1. External Editing preferences
    2. Open and edit Lightroom Classic photos in Photoshop
  10. Manage catalogs and files
    1. How Lightroom Classic catalogs work
    2. Create and manage catalogs
    3. Back up a catalog
    4. Locate missing photos
    5. Create and manage folders
    6. Manage photos within folders
  11. Maps
    1. Work with the Map module
  12. Photo books
    1. Create photo books
  13. Slideshows
    1. Create slideshows
    2. Slideshow module panels and tools
    3. Specify the slide layout
    4. Add overlays to slides
    5. Play and export slideshows
  14. Print photos
    1. Print module basics
    2. Print module layouts and templates
    3. Work with print job options and settings
  15. Web galleries
    1. Create web galleries
    2. Use the Web module panels and tools
    3. Work with web gallery layouts
    4. Work with web gallery templates and settings
    5. Preview, export, and upload web photo galleries
  16. Keyboard shortcuts
    1. Keyboard shortcuts
  17. Content Authenticity 
    1. Content Authenticity in Lightroom Classic
  18. Lightroom and Adobe services
    1. Creative Cloud Libraries
    2. Using Adobe Stock in Creative Cloud apps
  19. Troubleshooting 
    1. Fixed Issues
    2. Known Issues
  20. Technical Support
    1. Performance Guidelines
      1. Basic troubleshooting steps to fix issues in Lightroom Classic
      2. Optimize performance
      3. Keep Lightroom up to date
      4. Preference file and other file locations | Lightroom Classic
      5. Allow Permissions to Lightroom Classic on macOS
    2.  Technical issues
      1. GPU Issues
        1. Troubleshoot graphics processor (GPU) and graphics driver issues | Lightroom Classic
        2. Lightroom Classic GPU FAQ
      2. Startup Issues
        1. Windows | Lightroom doesn't start
        2. Error: Lightroom catalog cannot be opened
        3. Error: 'Unexpected error opening catalog' occurs in Lightroom after Windows 10 upgrade
        4. "Assertion failed" update error | Windows
        5. Error MSVCR110.dll opening apps in Windows 10
      3. Rendering Issues
        1. Troubleshoot issues with Develop module
      4. Stability Issues
        1. Troubleshoot crash or freeze in Lightroom Classic
      5. Miscellaneous Issues
        1. FAQ | Color in Lightroom Classic
        2. Lightroom desktop and mobile apps unavailable to Education memberships | Kivuto
    3. Workflow Issues
      1. Catalog Issues
        1. Error : Lightroom catalog cannot be opened
        2. Troubleshoot corrupt catalog
        3. Locate missing photos
        4. Recover catalog and images after resetting preferences
        5. Lightroom Classic catalog FAQ
      2. Sync Issues
        1. Lightroom Classic sync FAQ

Learn how to access and modify Lightroom Classic preferences and customize them per your frequent workflows.

You can explore categories such as General, Presets, External Editing, and more within the Preferences dialog box. Each category offers customizable settings, enabling you to adjust interface colors, default preset behavior, external editing preferences, file handling options, performance optimizations, and interface elements. You can enhance Lightroom Classic to suit your needs by fine-tuning these settings, improving efficiency and productivity in your photo editing. You can manually reset your preferences to their default state in Lightroom Classic, ensuring that problematic plug-in preferences or user presets are not loaded.

Note:

If you reset your preferences without noting your current catalog's name and location, it can appear that your catalog has disappeared when you restart Lightroom Classic. Before you reset your preferences, refer to Recover catalog and images after resetting preferences, which contains steps to avoid this confusion.

How to set Preferences in Lightroom Classic

  • On Windows, choose Edit > Preferences.
  • On macOS, choose Lightroom Classic > Preferences.

Learn about the preferences that you can set for working in Lightroom Classic:

General

Language: Select the language from the drop-down list according to your preference.
Settings: Select the checkbox if you want a splash screen during startup. 

Default Catalog

You can select the catalog from the drop-down to set the default catalog.

  • Select Load most recent catalog to always use the most recent catalog used in Lightroom.
  • Select Prompt me when starting Lightroom to always show the catalog prompt when Lightroom starts up.

Import Options

Select the checkbox you want for your Import Options preference

  • Show import dialog when a memory card is detected
  •  Select the "Current/Previous Import" collection during import
  • Ignore camera-generated folder names when naming folder
  • Treat JPEG files next to raw files as separate photos
  • Replace embedded previews with standard previews during idle time
  • Show parent folder during import

Completion Sounds

A completion sound plays when specific actions are completed. To update the sound, select the completion sound from the drop-down list for the following actions:

  • When finished importing photos play.
  • When tether transfer finishes play.
  • When finished exporting photos play.
Note:

To configure system sounds, select the Configure System Sounds button. This opens your system sound settings, where you can update the settings. 

Prompts

Select the Reset all warnings dialogue button to reset all the warning dialogue in Lightroom Classic.

 Adobe

Get help faster and easier

New user?