Understand how instant device photo access allows editing without manual imports.
When you open Lightroom on mobile, the app automatically mirrors your device’s photo library, allowing you to edit photos directly without importing them into the Lightroom library. Lightroom can also access its cloud-synced library, making it easy to work across devices and save edited versions for continued editing and sharing.
How device photo access works
Lightroom for mobile establishes a live connection to your device’s photo storage, displaying your images in the app while they remain in their original locations. On iOS, this access point appears as the Device view. On Android, it appears as the Gallery tab. Both provide the same core functionality:
- Immediate access to every photo and video stored on your device.
- Automatic organization based on the albums maintained by your operating system.
When you select an image in the Device view or Gallery view, Lightroom opens it directly in the Detail view, where you can access editing tools, presets, and AI-powered features. Your device photos and Lightroom-managed photos coexist in the same workspace with consistent editing.
