Preference file and other file locations | Lightroom Classic

• The files and file locations given here are defaults. Some of these locations can be customized in the Lightroom Classic Preferences or Catalog Settings dialogs.
• While troubleshooting, when possible, rename files instead of deleting them.
• If possible, back up catalogs on a different hard disk or volume from the disk where your catalog is located. For more information on backing up in Lightroom Classic, read Back up a catalog.

File locations in macOS

Note: The user Library file is hidden by defaultr. For temporary access to the user Library file, press Option and choose Go > Library in the Finder.

The Lightroom Classic application file /Applications/Adobe Lightroom Classic/Adobe Lightroom Classic.app

Preferences

• Lightroom Classic: /Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/com.adobe.LightroomClassicCC7.plist

On macOS, after you delete the above file, restart your computer, then relaunch Lightroom Classic while holding the shift + option. In the dialog, select Reset Preferences.

Catalog  /Users/[username]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom Catalog.lrcat

Preview cache  /Users/[username]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata

Smart Preview cache  /Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom Catalog Smart Previews.lrdata

Catalog lock file  /Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom Catalog.lrcat.lock

Note: The lock file prevents the catalog from being overwritten when in use.

Catalog journal file  /Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom Catalog.lrcat-journal

Open catalogs use the journal file to check for incomplete database records. Do not delete the journal file unless you're deleting its associated catalog as well.

Catalog backup  /Users/[user name]/Pictures/Lightroom/Backups/[date and time of backup]/Lightroom Catalog.lrcat

Presets and templates

• (.lrtemplate) Presets or templates in the .lrtemplate format are stored at: /Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/[preset or template folder]/[preset or template filename.lrtemplate]
• (XMP) Beginning with Lightroom Classic, the existing presets in the.lrtemplate format are automatically converted to a new XMP preset format. After conversion, the new XMP presets are saved at: /Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings
  
• (Presets stored with the catalog): If you've enabled the Store Presets With This Catalog option in the Lightroom Classic preferences, the presets and templates files are saved at: MacHD/[catalog location]/[catalog folder name]/Lightroom Settings/Settings

File locations in Windows

Note: Some of the folders you're looking for could be hidden. To view them, choose Start > Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Folder Options. In the Advanced area of the View tab, make sure that Show Hidden Files and Folders is selected, and then click OK.

The Lightroom Classic program file  C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Lightroom Classic\Adobe Lightroom Classic.exe

Preferences  

• Lightroom Classic: C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\Preferences\Lightroom Classic CC 7 Preferences.agprefs

To reset your preferences in Windows, restart Lightroom Classic and immediately press the Shift + Alt keys. In the resulting Reset Preferences dialog box, indicate you want to reset your preferences.

Catalog  C:\Users\[user name]\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom Catalog.lrcat

Preview cache  C:\Users\[user name]\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom Catalog Previews.lrdata

Smart Preview cache  C:\Users\[user name]\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom Catalog Smart Previews.lrdata

Catalog lock file  C:\Users\[user name]\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom Catalog.lrcat.lock

Note:The lock file prevents the catalog from being overwritten when in use.

Catalog journal file  C:\Users\[user name]\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom Catalog.lrcat-journal

Note: Open catalogs use the journal file to check for incomplete database records. Do not delete the journal file unless you're deleting its associated catalog file as well.

Catalog backup  C:\Users\[user name]\Pictures\Lightroom\Backups\[date and time of backup]\Lightroom Catalog.lrcat

Presets and templates  

• (.lrtemplate) Presets or templates in the .lrtemplate format are stored at: C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom\[preset or template folder]\[preset or template filename.lrtemplate]
• (XMP) Beginning with Lightroom Classic, the existing presets in the .lrtemplate format are automatically converted to a new XMP preset format. After conversion, the new XMP presets are saved at: ~/Users/[user name]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings
  
• (Presets stored with the catalog): If you've enabled the Store Presets With This Catalog option in the Lightroom Classic preferences, the presets and templates files are saved at: C:\Users\[user name]\[catalog location]\[catalog folder name]\Lightroom Settings\Settings