Adobe Lightroom

Version8(as of 5/15/2025)
PlatformsWindows, Mac, iOS, Android, Web
LicenseCommercial
CategoryGraphics
Go to Website
Rating:2.4  |  95 Votes

Main Features

  • Non-destructive editing that preserves your original photos while allowing you to make edits
  • AI-powered tools, such as AI-based subject selection, sky masking, and denoise
  • Cloud syncing and cross-device access for editing images anytime, anywhere
  • Organizational tools like albums, star ratings, flags, keywords, and metadata filtering to manage large photo libraries
  • Built-in and downloadable presets and adaptive presets
  • Export photos in various formats and share them directly to social media

Software Overview

Screenshot of Adobe Lightroom 8
Screenshot of Adobe Lightroom 8

Adobe Lightroom is a photo editing and organizing app for photographers of all skill levels. The program offers numerous image-editing features, support for various file types, and cloud integration. It is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and the web, making it easy to access and edit photos from nearly any device. Adobe also offers a desktop-only version called Lightroom Classic, which provides a more advanced workflow for seasoned professionals who prefer a local file system over cloud storage.

Lightroom provides features that help you easily import, organize, and enhance your photos. You can sort images using ratings, flags, albums, and metadata, then apply edits ranging from simple adjustments like cropping and exposure correction to advanced tools like masking with AI-powered subject detection, lens corrections, tone curves, split toning, and the Color Mixer. The app also includes hundreds of presets, including adaptive presets that automatically adjust to your photo's subject and lighting conditions.

Cloud integration is a key feature of Lightroom. All edits are saved automatically and synced across your devices through Adobe Creative Cloud, so you can start editing an image on your desktop and then continue on your phone or tablet. You can also export photos to several formats, including .JPG, .TIF, .JXL, and .DNG, and share them directly on social media or via albums.

New in recent updates, Adobe has added tools to Lightroom to help both casual users and experienced photographers get results faster and with less manual effort. For example, the app includes AI-powered denoise, HDR support, editing history, and adaptive presets for portraits, skies, and subjects, further streamlining the editing process while maintaining professional-level control.

Summary

Lightroom is a user-friendly yet feature-rich photo editing app. It offers tools that scale from beginner to pro, support for many file types, and seamless syncing across devices, making Adobe Lightroom an excellent choice for enhancing, organizing, and sharing your photography from anywhere.

Primary File Type

mcat icon.MCATAdobe Lightroom Catalog

Supported File Types

ExtensionFile Type
.MCATAdobe Lightroom Catalog
.3FRHasselblad 3F RAW Image
.ARWSony Alpha Raw Digital Camera Image
.AVIFAVIF Image
.CR2Canon Raw 2 Image
.CR3Canon Raw 3 Image
.CRWCanon Raw CIFF Image File
.DCPAdobe DNG Camera Profile
.DNGDigital Negative Image
.ERFEpson RAW File
.GPRGoPro RAW Image
.HEICHigh Efficiency Image Format
.HEIFHigh Efficiency Image Format
.IIQPhase One RAW Image
.JPGJPEG Image
.KDCKodak Photo-Enhancer File
.MEFMamiya RAW Image
.MFWMamiya Camera Raw File
.MOSLeaf Camera RAW Image
.MRWMinolta Raw Image
.NEFNikon Electronic Format RAW Image
.ORFOlympus RAW File
.PEFPentax Electronic File
.PNGPortable Network Graphic
.PSDAdobe Photoshop Document
.RAFFujifilm RAW Image
.RW2Panasonic RAW Image
.RWLLeica RAW Image
.SRWSamsung RAW Image
.TIFTagged Image File
.X3FSIGMA X3F Camera RAW File
.XMPExtensible Metadata Platform File

Additional Related File Types

ExtensionFile Type
.AGLIBAdobe Lightroom Library
.AGMODULEAdobe Lightroom Module
.AGTEMPLATEAdobe Lightroom Template
.AGTOOLKITAdobe Lightroom Toolkit
.JPEGJPEG Image
.LRCATAdobe Lightroom Classic Catalog
.LRDATAAdobe Lightroom Data File
.LRDBAdobe Lightroom Database
.LRLIBAdobe Lightroom CC Library File
.LRLIBRARYAdobe Lightroom Library
.LRMODULEAdobe Lightroom Module
.LRPLUGINAdobe Lightroom Classic Plug-in
.LRPREVIEWAdobe Lightroom Preview File
.LRSMCOLAdobe Lightroom Smart Collection Settings File
.LRTOOLKITAdobe Lightroom Toolkit
.LRWEBENGINEAdobe Lightroom Web Gallery File
.TIFFTagged Image File Format
Updated 5/15/2025