What is Adobe Lightroom?
Adobe Lightroom is built for photographers: it organizes large photo libraries and applies non-destructive edits, from exposure and color to AI-powered masking and noise reduction.
There are actually two apps. Lightroom is cloud-based and syncs across desktop, mobile and web. Lightroom Classic is desktop-focused and keeps a local catalog. This guide explains which to install, the official way to get it and how to solve common catalog and install problems.
What you can do with Lightroom
- Importing, rating and organizing thousands of photos
- Non-destructive editing of RAW and JPEG files
- Presets for a consistent look across shoots
- AI masking, noise reduction and distraction removal
- Syncing edits between computer, phone and tablet
Can you download Lightroom for free?
Lightroom's mobile app has a free tier with core editing tools. Premium features and the desktop apps require a paid plan.
Adobe usually offers new customers a free trial of the desktop apps (typically 7 days).
Avoid third-party “free Lightroom” downloads and cracked presets bundles. They're a frequent malware source.
Lightroom free download: install it step by step
The whole process usually takes 15 to 30 minutes, most of it waiting for the download.
Check that your computer is compatible
Compare your computer with the Lightroom system requirements on this page. Pay special attention to your operating system version, memory (RAM) and free disk space, since those cause most failed installs.
Choose a plan or free trial on adobe.com
Adobe sells Adobe Lightroom as a subscription through Creative Cloud. You can pick a single-app plan, a bundle that includes it, or the free trial if one is offered in your region.
Sign in with your Adobe account
Create a free Adobe account or sign in with an existing one. Use an email address you check often, because your license is tied to it.
Install the Creative Cloud desktop app
Adobe delivers Lightroom through the Creative Cloud desktop app. After you start a plan or trial, Adobe's site gives you the Creative Cloud installer. Run it and sign in with the same account.
Install Lightroom from the Apps tab
In the Creative Cloud app, find Lightroom in the list of apps and select Install. The download is several gigabytes, so it can take a while on slower connections. Keep the computer awake until it finishes.
Open Lightroom and confirm activation
Launch Lightroom from the Creative Cloud app or your Applications/Start menu. If you are asked to sign in, use the same Adobe account. The app checks your license online and is then ready to use.
Ready for your Lightroom free download?
This takes you to Lightroom on Adobe’s official site, where the download starts.
Download Lightroom for Windows PC or Mac
The steps above are the same on both systems. These are the details that differ.
Lightroom for Windows 10 & 11 (PC)
- Adobe’s installer for Windows is a small .exe file. Run it and approve the User Account Control prompt so it can install.
- Lightroom needs 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11. Check yours under Settings → System → About.
- On PCs with ARM processors (such as Snapdragon), check Adobe’s list of apps that support Windows on ARM before you buy.
- If Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warns about an “Adobe” installer, stop. Real Adobe installers are digitally signed by Adobe Inc.: right-click the file and check Properties → Digital Signatures.
Lightroom for Mac (Apple silicon & Intel)
- On a Mac, Adobe’s installer comes as a .dmg file. Open it, double-click the installer inside and enter your Mac password when asked.
- Lightroom runs natively on Apple silicon (M-series) Macs as well as supported Intel Macs. Check yours under Apple menu → About This Mac.
- If macOS warns that it can’t verify the developer of an “Adobe” installer, delete it. Adobe’s installers are signed and notarized, so that warning means the file isn’t from Adobe.
- After installing, macOS may ask you to allow access to folders or other permissions. Approve them in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
Lightroom system requirements
Typical requirements for the current release. Adobe updates them with each version, so confirm the details on Adobe's official system requirements page before installing.
| Requirement | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 (64-bit, version 22H2 or later) or Windows 11 | One of the three most recent macOS releases |
| Processor | Intel or AMD 64-bit processor with SSE 4.2 or later | Apple silicon (M-series) or a supported Intel processor |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB minimum, 16 GB or more recommended | 8 GB minimum, 16 GB or more recommended |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 GPU with 2 GB of VRAM (4 GB or more recommended) | Metal GPU with 2 GB of VRAM (4 GB or more recommended) |
| Storage | About 4 GB for the app, plus space for your library and previews | About 4 GB for the app, plus space for your library and previews |
| Internet | Required to download the app, activate it and validate your plan | Required to download the app, activate it and validate your plan |
Lightroom plans and how to buy
Lightroom is sold directly by Adobe. Plan names and prices change often and vary by country, so compare the current options on adobe.com. These are the main ways to get it:
- Lightroom plan: the cloud-based Lightroom on every device, with cloud storage for your originals.
- Photography plans: Lightroom, Lightroom Classic and Photoshop together. The most popular choice for photographers.
- Creative Cloud all-apps plans: both Lightroom apps plus the rest of Adobe's catalog.
- Free mobile tier: core editing on phone and tablet without a subscription.
Fixing common Lightroom installation problems
The Lightroom installer freezes or fails partway through
Make sure your connection is stable and temporarily pause VPNs, proxies or strict firewall rules. Restart the computer, open the Creative Cloud app and retry the install. If it still fails, write down the exact error code: Adobe documents each one on its help site, so searching the code is the fastest way to the right fix.
There isn't enough free disk space
Installers need room for the app and for temporary files, often more than the final install size. Free up space, or choose a different drive in the Creative Cloud app under Preferences → Apps → Installation location.
Lightroom keeps asking you to sign in, or says your trial has ended
Sign in with the same Adobe account email you used to buy the plan. Sign out of the Creative Cloud app, restart, and sign back in. Also set your computer's date and time to update automatically, because license checks depend on them.
Your operating system isn't supported
New releases of Lightroom drop support for older versions of Windows and macOS. Update your operating system if your hardware allows it. If it doesn't, open the Creative Cloud app, click the menu (…) next to Lightroom and choose Other versions to install an earlier release.
You installed Lightroom but wanted Lightroom Classic (or the reverse)
Both appear in the Creative Cloud app's Apps list with separate Install buttons. Photography plans include both, so you can install the one you're missing without changing plans.
Lightroom Classic asks to upgrade your catalog
New major versions upgrade your catalog to a new file and leave the original untouched. Back up the catalog folder first, then let the upgrade run.
Photos show a “missing” exclamation mark
The files were moved outside Lightroom Classic. Right-click the folder with a question mark in the Folders panel, choose Find Missing Folder and point it to the new location.
Next step
Using Lightroom? Set up Photoshop too.
Photo editing, retouching, compositing and digital painting. Our Photoshop guide covers the official download, requirements and the fixes people need most.
Lightroom download FAQ
Lightroom stores originals in the cloud and syncs everywhere, with a simpler interface. Lightroom Classic keeps photos and a catalog on your own drives and offers deeper desktop tools. Photography plans include both.
The Lightroom mobile app has a free tier with core editing. The desktop apps and premium features need a paid plan after any free trial.
Not for most photo editing. Lightroom covers organizing and adjustments. Photoshop is for heavy retouching and compositing, which is why Adobe bundles them in photography plans.
Install Lightroom Classic on the new computer, then copy the catalog folder and your photo folders, keeping the same folder structure. Open the copied catalog and relink any folders marked missing.
No. Adobe distributes Lightroom only through adobe.com, the Creative Cloud app and the official mobile app stores. “Free full version” downloads, keygens and cracks frequently bundle malware that can steal passwords and banking details, and they leave you without security updates or support.
Related download guides
Adobe Creative Cloud
The app that installs, updates and manages every Adobe app.
Creative Cloud free downloadAdobe Illustrator
Vector graphics for logos, icons, illustrations and print.
Illustrator free download