P: Allow "preview" size for offline (local) downloads (for desktop app)

Forum|Forum|30 days ago
April 11, 2026
1 reply
42 views

On the desktop version, when we select to store an album locally (for offline access), it always downloads the full resolution images. My understanding is that the same feature on mobile only downloads the “smart preview” versions of the photos.

I would like to have an option, either in the settings or when downloading an album, to select if I want the full-size files or the smart previews.

There are two options I’m asking for this:

I mostly use this when travelling. Having all the full resolution photos takes unnecessary spaces.
When I travel with a less powerful devices, having full resolution photos slows down Lightroom a lot and uses an unnecessary amount of resources to process the images.

Jim Wilde

Community Expert

Look at the Apps Settings menu for Lightroom Mobile, Cloud Storage & Sync tab…..under Image Quality you have an option to “Only download reduced-resolution”. If you enable that LrM will only keep Smart Previews on the local device unless/until the original is needed for any specific action (such as exporting at full resolution). At any time you can individually ask for the original to be downloaded (select the image, tap on the cloud icon at the top and select “Get Original”).

Also at any time you can also use the “Clear Cache” option which will remove any originals that have already synced to the cloud and replace them with smart previews. It will not remove any originals which have not yet synced to the cloud.

L

lba294Author

Known Participant

Thanks for the reply, but the ask is specifically to get this feature on the desktop version of the app. I really enjoy that option on my phone tablet but would love to have it on my laptop too.

Jim Wilde

Community Expert

On the Desktop app you currently have the option to “Store a copy of all Smart Previews locally” (which is what I use), but then on a per album basis you can choose to “Make Album Available Offline” which will store the originals locally (and first gives you the space requirement). That will download the originals in the album. When you’re done with that album on your travels you can uncheck the option and the downloaded images will become eligible for removal in due course, leaving the smart previews still stored locally.

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