Lightroom preset saves as .xmp instead of .lrtemplate

Which version of Lightroom CC are you using? The older Traditional version of LR (Now Called Lightroom Classic CC) or the New Cloud Centric version.

Please go to Help and select System Info and post the first 5 line from the dialog window that comes up.

With ACR 10.3, LR Classic CC V7.3 and the Cloud Centric desktop LR and the mobile version all presets are now saved as XMP files. These newer versions will not use the older LRTemplate files. If they are in a Preset folder like User Presets they will be Auto converted to XMP files and the older lrtemplate file will get a ~ (Tilde) as the first character in the name.

when I try to import the .xmp presets

What presets? Some you paid for?

If you create a DEVELOP preset in Classic 7.3 Develop module then it will automatically be in the Presets Panel /User group, and in the \Settings folder as .XMP.

If you buy .XMP Develop presets then they can be copied into the \Settings folder.

Is it possible to change the saving format in lightroom to .lrtemplate instead of .xmp?

Not if using Classic7.3 (AFAIK)

But any .lrtemplate Develop preset placed in the 'old' location will automatically get converted to .XMP Presets and placed in the 'new' \Settings folder location that v7.3 uses. (Converted presets in the 'old' location have a tilde added to the filename, eg.   ~Tone.lrtemplate)