Lightroom for PC – Free Download for (Windows 10/11) – 2026

	100000 Presets

	100000 Downloads

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Download Lightroom for PC

Photo editing on a mobile phone screen is not as easy as on a large PC screen. Lightroom for PC is designed for desktop users. The large screen  gives precise control, and faster performance. It helps you edit fine details. You can manage large photo collections more efficiently.

App Download Information Table

What is Adobe Lightroom for PC?

Lightroom for PC refers to Adobe’s official desktop applications: Lightroom Classic and Lightroom (Cloud). These versions are built specifically for Windows and macOS and run without any emulator.

Lightroom Classic is designed for professionals who want full control and local storage, while Lightroom (Cloud) focuses on cloud-based editing and easy syncing across devices.

Some users also run Lightroom Mobile on PC using an Android emulator, but this is optional and not Adobe’s official desktop solution.

Key Differences Between Lightroom for PC and Mobile

I have noticed many differences between Lightroom for PC and the Mobile version. I edited the same RAW photo on Lightroom Mobile and Lightroom Cloud on a computer. Lightroom Mobile included most features such as masking, gradients, presets, and auto-adjustments.

Then I edited the same photo on my PC. It made noticeable differences in brightness and color accuracy. It produced HD-quality images.

User Interface

Lightroom for PC has a full menu, advanced tools with keyboard and mouse facility. Lightroom for Mobile devices have touch-friendly controls by using fingers. You can edit the image directly using sliders and buttons.

Performance

The PC version is faster and supports high-resolution editing and multitasking. It depends on the high resources of your computer. You can improve Lightroom performance on PC by reducing a large catalog to minimize.

You can organize images into smaller collections. You may delete unnecessary photos. You have to update to the latest versions which  improve performance.

Storage

Lightroom for PC has the option to store data on both local and cloud storage. Lightroom for Mobile uses only cloud storage.

Screen Size & Workflow: 

A laptop or PC offers a bigger screen for detailed view. Mobile gives you a limited to a single-view workspace. 

Lightroom PC vs Photoshop

Photoshop and Lightroom are both excellent photo editing software. They are used for achieving different goals. Lightroom can easily manage and process thousands of photos. Photoshop is designed for greater control to achieve more transformational edits.

When to use Lightroom

Lightroom is designed to handle a professional photographer’s workflow. Image management is its premium feature. It has keywording and search options to find the exact photo from the catalog.

You can tweak your settings to improve the light and color, sharpen, and add creative effects to make your images shine. Presets are another prime feature that can be used in batch edits. You can create your own presets or download a wide variety of presets. You can edit photos without changing the original file.

When to use Photoshop

Photoshop is the best choice for image creation, manipulation, and enhancement. Photoshop offers pixel-level perfection. Photoshop gives you liberty to create and edit the images according to your mind’s eye.

You can remove distracting objects from images with the Content-Aware technology of Photoshop. Graphic designers can combine images with text and vector graphics.

Lightroom CC vs Lightroom Classic

Lightroom CC and Lightroom Classic are two versions that come with Lightroom. They are designed for different users’ needs. Both are used for editing, but they work in different ways.

Lightroom Classic is the desktop version. Professional photographers like to use this version. It stores photos on your local hard drive. It offers full control over every setting. You can edit RAW files and work on large-scale projects as well.

Lightroom CC (Online or Cloud) uses cloud storage. You can save photos on the internet and connect easily with phones or tablets. Cloud storage is a modern concept in photography.

Features of Lightroom for PC

Lightroom Classic offers all the desktop editing tools features. The important features like  color correction, removing distracting objects from images, and straightening skewed shots. You can organise your photos on your PC or laptop and share them on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.

AI-Powered Editing Tools

Lightroom offers AI-powered editing tools to simplify complex tasks and speed up editing. It  includes an AI Edit Status menu which helps you to keep track of tools you’ve used. With the help of these tools, you can instantly enhance your images with one click.

You can experience faster, intelligent photo editing with prompts through generative AI. You need to give a prompt in simple language. The tool automatically adds or removes objects, swaps backgrounds, or refines details in one click. Lightroom provides all these tools on your computer. These tools are perfect for creators, marketers, and everyday users who want HD-quality results across devices.

Advanced Editing Tools

Adobe Lightroom is a complete photo service that offers advanced editing tools. These are used for color grading, RAW image editing, and AI-driven enhancements like the healing brush and lens blur. These tools grant you complete control of photo editing.

You can share your edited photos from your computer. This edited photo automatically synchronizes. You can access this edited photo from anywhere in the world.

Presets and Filters

A preset is a well-defined template with edits and adjustments for a specific style or shape. Lightroom offers a large collection of presets and filters to speed up editing. These are designed to help you achieve a high level of look and feel for your images.

Renowned professional photographers and editors share their presets in Lightroom. You can also download free presets in DNG, XMP, or ZIP formats.

Batch Editing on PC 

Batch editing is a core feature of Lightroom, especially powerful in the desktop version. It speeds up workflow. Edits apply to multiple photos at a time. Presets apply on the full image at once. It gives output with less time spent.

Remove Background and Elements

Lightroom offers AI-powered background and subject selection tools. AI tools of Lightroom detect the subject automatically. Sky and background edits work separately.

The tool improves the quality of portraits. Your enhanced images look balanced, realistic, and professional. It suggests background removal with enhancing image elements. You can also add background effects, elements, or text.

Blur and Detail Enhancement 

Lightroom offers to add blur effects on the background in images. Lens blur is used to add depth to photos. The background looks natural in images. Adaptive presets are used to adjust lighting conditions. Your images give a sharp and clear look.

Quick Actions for Fast Edits  

Lightroom for PC offers quick actions for fast edits. You can edit photos on the go with the Quick Actions tool. Quick Actions speed up your workflow.

You can edit photos faster with dust removal tools. It saves your time by automatically removing sensor dust spots from your photos. It analyzes the image to provide tailored enhancements.

Integration With Adobe Creative Suite 

Lightroom offers integration with Adobe Creative Suite. The suite is a set of professional multimedia creation and editing tools. It offers Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Dreamweaver.

Organize Photos Using Cloud Storage

Lightroom offers you cloud storage and synchronization features. You can upload and store photos and videos in the cloud. You can use free limited cloud storage features up to 1 terabyte.

It allows you to access your media through desktop, mobile, and web browsers. If you want more storage, then you have to get a paid subscription. Lightroom is a powerful photo management software with cloud storage for your image library. Now, you can upload HDR photos to social media with confidence.

Who Should Use Lightroom on Desktop?

Newbies and every user who likes photography and photo editing should use Lightroom on Desktop. It is more beneficial for professional photographers, content creators, and designers. These people need more accuracy and quick results.

Lightroom for PC supports RAW files. It also offers features like batch processing, lens correction, and detailed adjustments. Professional photographers can create realistic and eye-catching results with it.

System Requirements for Lightroom on PC

Your computer must meet the official Adobe Lightroom minimum technical specifications. You should follow the “Recommended” column for smooth photo editing. These specs for desktop version 9.0 meet the requirements which were released by Adobe Lightroom Old Version in October 2025.

Best Emulator to Run Lightroom Mobile on PC

This method is only for users who specifically want to use the mobile version on a PC. Adobe does not recommend this as a replacement for the desktop version. BlueStacks is the best Android emulator to run Lightroom Mobile on a PC. 

It is one of the most popular and reliable Android emulators because of its performance and user-friendly interface. You can even use it on a VPS for maximum flexibility. Other popular Android emulators like BlueStacks, LDPlayer, MeMu, and GameLoop can also be used to run Android apps on a PC. 

These emulators support stable app performance, good graphics handling, and basic system optimization features needed for photo-editing apps like Lightroom.

How to Run Lightroom Mobile on PC Using an Emulator

II am sharing how to run Lightroom Mobile on PC using an Android emulator:

Important Note: Always download APK files from trusted sources like the Google Play Store.

How to Install Lightroom on macOS

I am sharing how to download Lightroom CC from the Mac App Store. The operating system and App Store handle all the downloading and update processes automatically. There are no uninstall scripts required.
Follow these steps to complete the installation process:

Pros and Cons of Using Lightroom on PC

Common Installation Issues and Fixes

Lightroom for PC runs smoothly on BlueStacks generally. You might face some common errors. I will explain how to address them:

Performance Issues (Lagging, Freezing)

Lightroom Mobile Crashing or Not Launching

Login Issues with Adobe ID.

Sometimes you may face a login issue. In this condition, check your internet connection. Make sure your PC and BlueStacks have a stable internet connection. Always check Adobe’s official status page or social media for any reported bugs and issues.

Is Adobe Lightroom Free for PC

Adobe Lightroom for PC is not permanently free. It offers a 7-day free trial. During this trial period you can use all premium features without any cost. 

When this trial period end. You have to buy a subscription plan for using Lightroom on PC. Modified or “free” versions may also be available on third-party websites.

Adobe Lightroom does not support them. These modified versions often come with serious security, legal, and reliability risks. You must use Adobe’s official version. It is safe and secure.

Best Free Alternatives to Lightroom for PC

I have researched and found there are many best free alternatives to Lightroom for PC.The majority of the photography audience does not want to pay a subscription. They  just want some alternative to Lightroom. I have listed down the best alternatives to Lightroom for PC.

Darktable

Darktable is the best alternative to Lightroom. It is free, as it’s open source and community  owned. You can import LUTs/presets. It has many important features and functions like Library which is similar to Lightroom. You can watch plenty of tutorials available on YouTube.

RAW Therapee 

It is the same as Darktable. It is very friendly to my eyes. You can use LUTs as custom presets also. It offers you to catalog your photos and images.
There are lots of features like noise reduction and spot healing.

Remini 

Some mobile apps like Remini offer free AI features, but they are not true replacements for desktop tools like Lightroom.

Picasa

It is also a free image editing tool. You can organise images and store them in any local folder. It works offline, and easy-to-learn tools boost its popularity in the photography community.

Conclusion

Lightroom for PC is a demanding app which provides a professional editing  toolkit. Professionals always prefer the PC version for fast processing. I have explained its top features. I compared both versions such as Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC and Photoshop also.

I have explained the download and installation process. Best alternatives to the app are also explained. According to my detailed analysis, Lightroom for PC is the best option for professional and detailed photo editing. You must download it from this trusted website and enjoy easy editing in your life.

Lightroom for PC or a Mac requires a paid subscription for desktop computers. You can access the Mobile product in this subscription, but not vice versa. It offers premium tools and presets.

FAQs