Problem Importing Lightroom Presets

[Jeff A. Goulden]

I just converted from Lightroom 5.7 to Lightroom Classic 9.3 for Windows.  I have an extensive collection of presets that I exported from Lightroom 5.7.  When I try to import into Lightoom 9.3, I get the error message "File Appears to be Unsupported or Damaged".  My preset files all have the file extension .llrtemplate.  I suspect that this is an older format that is no longer supported.  Is there any way I can export these presets from my old Lightroom into the new program?

[Just Shoot Me]

IIRC place those older lrtemplate files in the same folder as they were in with LR 5 and LrC 9.3 should see them and ask to Convert them to the format, XMP, that works with the newer versions of LrC.

They are usually stored in your Usename folder area.

"C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\Develop Presets

[johnrellis]

[This post contains formatting and embedded images that don't appear in email. View the post in your Web browser.]

"When I try to import into Lightoom 9.3, I get the error message "File Appears to be Unsupported or Damaged"."

To build on Just Shoot Me's reply: While his method will work (when done exactly right), another method that is less error-prone for many is to click the + button at the top of the Presets panel and do Import Presets:

There is also the menu command File > Import Develop Profiles And Presets, but it can't import old-format .lrtemplate presets.

If you're still getting that error message after using the + > Import Presets command, upload one of the presets to Dropbox or similar and post the sharing link here. We can quickly see what's going wrong.

[Use the blue reply button under the first post to ensure replies sort properly.]

[Jeff A. Goulden]

I should have also mentioned that I am going from Lightroom 5.7 on a Windows 7 machine to Lightroom 9 on a Windows 10 machine.  On my Windows 7 machine I found the preset files in the location as described by Just Shoot Me.  I didn't find the same path on my Windows 10 machine.  I actually saved my presets in a folder I called Lightroom Settings.

Having said that, I tried going to the preset panel and hitting the plus button.  It did find all my .lrtemplate files but when I tried to import, I got the error message "The preset file was the wrong type of preset".

Also, I don't understand why the preset panel and menu command File>Import Develop Profiles and Presets is only available in the Develop module.  Most of my presets have to do with exporting.  It seems like there should be something for this in the Library module.

As a follow-up, it was able to import my Develop Presets.

[Just Shoot Me]

You should find Most of that path.

C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Adobe\Lightroom as most of all presets are saved to that path in different folder names. Like Export Presets, Import Presets and the like.

The new path for Develop presets is.

C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\Settings

[Jeff A. Goulden]

There doesn't seem to be a "C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\Settings" on my Windows 10 machine.  I was able to import my Develop Presets as suggested by johnrellis.  Here's what my path looks like.

[Just Shoot Me]

Yeah you can't see those paths, certain folder and file, unless you have some options set and or turned off in the Folder Options of the OS.

MS, like Apple, likes to hide what they think are system files.

Glad you got it working.

[Jeff A. Goulden]

Thanks "Just Shoot Me".  Being new to Windows 10, I didn't have the appropriate folder options checked.  I guess hiding the system files is Microsoft's way of protecting us from ourselves, probably not a bad thing.

Thanks for all your help.  Much appreciated!!

[johnrellis · Accepted solution]

[This post contains formatting and embedded images that don't appear in email. View the post in your Web browser.]

"Most of my presets have to do with exporting.  It seems like there should be something for this in the Library module."

An easy way in LR 9.3 to get to the right folder mentioned by Just Shoot Me for all your other presets (other than Develop presets) is to do the menu command Edit > Preferences > Presets > Show All Other Lightroom Presets:

This will open File Explorer with the "Lightroom" folder selected, with subfolders for each type of preset: Export Presets, Filter Presets, Import Presets, etc. as shown in Just Shoot Me's screenshot.  These non-Develop presets still have the .lrtemplate format, so just place them in the corresponding subfolders.

[Use the blue reply button under the first post to ensure replies sort properly.]

[Jeff A. Goulden]

Thanks John!!  That got me going in the right direction.  I was able to copy presets from my saved location to the location you showed me.  They appear to work.  Thanks again.

[johnrellis]

Glad you got it resolved.