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Preference file and other file locations | Lightroom 1

Last updated on May 24, 2023

Lightroom Classic User Guide
Introduction to Lightroom Classic
1. What's new in Lightroom Classic
2. Lightroom Classic system requirements
3. Lightroom Classic | Common Questions
4. Lightroom Classic Key Concepts
5. Lightroom Classic tutorials
6. Set Preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
7. Reset Preferences for working in Lightroom Classic
Workspace
1. Workspace basics
2. Display the Library on a second monitor
3. Personalize identity plates and module buttons
4. Watermark your photos in Lightroom Classic
5. Color management
Import photos
1. Specify import options
2. Set import preferences
3. Import photos from a camera or card reader
4. Import photos from a folder on a hard drive
5. Import photos automatically
6. Import photos from Photoshop Elements
7. Import photos from a tethered camera
8. The Filename Template Editor and Text Template Editor
Organize photos in Lightroom Classic
1. Face recognition
2. Work with photo collections
3. Group photos into stacks
4. Flag, label, and rate photos
5. Use keywords
6. Metadata basics and actions
7. Find photos in the catalog
8. Work with video in Lightroom Classic
9. Advanced metadata actions
10. Use the Quick Develop panel
Process and develop photos
1. Develop module basics
2. Create panoramas and HDR panoramas
3. Flat-Field Correction
4. Correct distorted perspective in photos using Upright
5. Improve image quality using Enhance
6. Work with image tone and color
7. Masking
8. Apply local adjustments
9. HDR photo merge
10. Develop module options
11. Retouch photos
12. Cure red eye and pet eye effects
13. Use the Radial Filter tool
14. Adjustments with Lens Blur
15. Edit and Export in HDR
16. Remove Tool
Viewing photos
1. View photos
2. Browse and compare photos
3. Set Library view options
4. Share photos for comments and feedback
5. Smart Previews
Export photos
1. Export files to disk or CD
2. Export photos from Lightroom Classic
3. Publish photos online
4. Export to hard drive using publish services
5. Presets for export, and other settings
Work with external editors
1. External Editing preferences
2. Open and edit Lightroom Classic photos in Photoshop
Manage catalogs and files
1. How Lightroom Classic catalogs work
2. Create and manage catalogs
3. Back up a catalog
4. Locate missing photos
5. Create and manage folders
6. Manage photos within folders
Maps
1. Work with the Map module
Photo books
1. Create photo books
Slideshows
1. Create slideshows
2. Slideshow module panels and tools
3. Specify the slide layout
4. Add overlays to slides
5. Play and export slideshows
Print photos
1. Print module basics
2. Print module layouts and templates
3. Work with print job options and settings
Web galleries
1. Create web galleries
2. Use the Web module panels and tools
3. Work with web gallery layouts
4. Work with web gallery templates and settings
5. Preview, export, and upload web photo galleries
Keyboard shortcuts
1. Keyboard shortcuts
Content Authenticity
1. Content Authenticity in Lightroom Classic
Lightroom and Adobe services
1. Creative Cloud Libraries
2. Using Adobe Stock in Creative Cloud apps
Troubleshooting
1. Fixed Issues
2. Known Issues
Technical Support
1. Performance Guidelines
2. Technical issues
  1. GPU Issues
    1. Troubleshoot graphics processor (GPU) and graphics driver issues | Lightroom Classic
    2. Lightroom Classic GPU FAQ
  2. Startup Issues
  3. Rendering Issues
    1. Troubleshoot issues with Develop module
  4. Stability Issues
    1. Troubleshoot crash or freeze in Lightroom Classic
  5. Miscellaneous Issues
    1. FAQ | Color in Lightroom Classic
    2. Lightroom desktop and mobile apps unavailable to Education memberships | Kivuto
3. Workflow Issues
  1. Catalog Issues
  2. Sync Issues
    1. Lightroom Classic sync FAQ

This document lists the file locations for Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 through 1.4.1.

Important: Do not delete any database files. The only file it's sometimes necessary to delete or remove is the preference file.

File locations on Mac OS X

The Photoshop Lightroom application is the Adobe Lightroom.app file, located in the Applications folder.

The preference file is the com.adobe.Lightroom.plist file, located in the [username]/Library/Preferences folder.

The following Photoshop Lightroom database files are located in the [username]/Pictures/Lightroom folder:

Lightroom Database.lrdb (the database) (Photoshop Lightroom 1.0)
Lightroom Catalog.lrcat (the catalog which can be renamed) (Photoshop Lightroom 1.1-1.4.1)
Lightroom Database.lrdb.lock (the file that prevents data from being overwritten inadvertently)
Lightroom Previews.lrdata (the file that holds the preview data assigned to your photos)

The database backups are in the Backups folder located in the Pictures/Lightroom folder. Each backup file, named Lightroom Database.lrdb, is in its own folder that is named with the date of the backup and a random number. For example, a folder could be named 2007-01-19 1221.

Installed and user-created presets and templates have filenames ending in .lrtemplate, located in their appropriate folders under the [username]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom folder.

Registration data is in the Library/Application Support/Lightroom/Lightroom 1.0 Registrations folder.

File locations in Windows XP

The Photoshop Lightroom application is the Lightroom.exe file, located in the Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Lightroom folder.

Preferences are located in the Lightroom Preferences.agprefs file, located in the Documents and Settings/[username]/Application Data/Adobe/Lightroom/Preferences folder.

The following Photoshop Lightroom database file is located in the Documents and Settings/[username]/My Documents/My Pictures/Lightroom folder: Lightroom Database.lrdb (the database) (Photoshop Lightroom 1.0) or the Lightroom Catalog.lrcat file (Photoshop Lightroom 1.1-1.4.1)

Previews are located in various folders in the Documents and Settings/[username]/My Documents/My Pictures/Lightroom/Lightroom Previews.lrdata folder. They are organized and coded for the application to read, not for users.

The database backups are in the Backups folder located in the Documents and Settings/[username]/My Documents/My Pictures/Lightroom folder. Each backup filename begins with the date of the backup and includes a random number before the actual filename, which is Lightroom Database.lrdb. An example of a filename is: 2007-01-19 1221 Lightroom Database.lrdb (Photoshop Lightroom 1.0) or 2007-01-19 1221 Lightroom Catalog.lrcat (Photoshop Lightroom 1.1-1.4.1).

Installed and user-created presets and templates have filenames ending in .lrtemplate, located in their appropriate folders under the Documents and Settings/[username]/Application Data/Adobe/Lightroom folder.

Registration information is located in the Windows registry, in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Adobe/Lightroom/1.0/Registration key folder.

Note: There is no lock file on Windows. Only one person at a time can have the application open, and libraries cannot be opened on a network share. Therefore, there is no reason to have a file that locks the application.

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