Can You Install Lightroom on Two Computers?

Download Article
Learn if and how you can use Lightroom on more than one computer at a time
Download Article

You can install both Lightroom Classic and the cloud-based Lightroom on multiple computers as part of your Creative Cloud license. [1] If you're using the cloud-based Lightroom, your photos are automatically synced and available anywhere you sign in. But with Lightroom Classic, you'll need to move your catalog to an external hard drive that you can swap between the two computers. This wikiHow article will show you how to use Adobe Lightroom on more than one computer.

=Things You Should Know

  • Lightroom Classic doesn't store data on the cloud. So the changes you make to an image on one computer won't sync with your other computer.
  • Subscribe to Lightroom with Creative Cloud to ensure your changes sync to all the computers that you use to edit images.
  • Use an external hard drive that's mobile if you want to share images between your computers that have Lightroom Classic.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using Lightroom Classic

Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/71\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/71\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Lightroom Classic stores your photos on your computer, not the cloud. This means you can't keep your photos synced between your two computers. The best way to have access to the same photo library on multiple computers is to switch to the latest version of Lightroom , which stores your photos in Creative Cloud.
    • If you want to switch to Lightroom (the cloud-based version), visit https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom/compare-plans.html to check out your subscription options. Storage plans range from 20GB to 10TB. Since Lightroom stores all of your photos in the cloud, make sure you get a plan with enough space for all of your photos.
    • If you want to stick to Lightroom Classic, it is possible to use it on two computers. The trick is to move your catalog and Smart Previews to an external hard drive, which you can then connect to whichever computer you want to use. Read on to learn how.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e2\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is the computer on which you store your photos.
    • Technically, the photos will only be stored on the primary computer. But full-sized Smart Previews which are similar to RAW files, will be stored on the external hard drive. This makes it so you can edit photos on either computer and keep the catalog up to date on the external drive.
    • According to Adobe, it's not possible to store your catalog on a networked hard drive in the latest versions of Lightroom Classic. [2]
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Here's how:
    • Click the Lightroom menu (on a Mac) or Edit menu (on a PC).
    • Click Catalog Settings…
    • Click the General tab.
    • Click Show . This opens a Finder or Explorer window containing your catalog.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/48\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/48\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Now that you've opened the folder you need, close Lightroom Classic so you can modify the files. Leave the Finder or Explorer window open.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8b\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The files you need to copy are Catalog.lrcat , Previews.lrdata , and Smart Previews.lrdata . Just select those files, right-click the selection, and then click Copy .
    • There is no way to share your plugins and preferences between two computers—you'll have to install plugins and adjust your options manually on the second computer.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    To do this, just right-click the drive in Finder or Explorer and select Paste . If you have a lot of large photos, this could take a while due to your catalog size.
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll have to navigate to the drive onto which you copied the files to first, and then double-click the file called Catalog.lrcat . This opens your catalog in Lightroom Classic, which links its new location to the application.
    • Now that you've changed the location of the catalog on your primary computer, Lightroom Classic will always look for the catalog at that location. This means the external drive must be available every time you want to use Lightroom Classic.
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/df\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/df\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    When you install Lightroom on a second computer, you'll be asked to sign in with your Creative Cloud account, which is used to verify your license.
    • While you can stay signed in to Lightroom Classic on two different computers , you can only have the application open on one computer at a time. Make sure to close Lightroom Classic on the first computer before you try to use it on the second computer.
    • You can download the Lightroom Classic installer from https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/get-started.html .
  9. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":334,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":529,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will usually pop up a window containing the files on the hard drive.
    • If Lightroom Classic is open on the second computer, you'll want to close that, too.
  10. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/97\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/97\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-10.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Again, the file name is Catalog.lrcat , and you'll find at the location to which you copied it from your primary computer. Opening the catalog in Lightroom Classic is all you'll need to do—now you can edit all your photos on either computer!
    11. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using Lightroom with Creative Cloud

Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-11.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you're using the cloud-based version of Lightroom, your photos remain in the cloud, which means you'll have access to all of them on any computer. On the new computer, go to https://creativecloud.adobe.com/apps in a web browser, log in to your Creative Cloud account, and select the Install option for Lightroom. [3]
    • You can sign in to Creative Cloud on two different computers, but you'll only be able to have Lightroom open one computer at a time.
    • If you want to use Lightroom on more than 2 computers, that's fine—you can install the app on as many computers as you want. If you want to sign in on a new computer and you're already signed in on 2 other computers, you'll need to log out of Creative Cloud on one of your computers first.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fd\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-12.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    To do this, just double-click the downloaded installer, sign in to your Adobe Creative Cloud account, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the application.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ea\/Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-13.jpg\/v4-728px-Can-You-Install-Lightroom-on-Two-Computers-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    As long as you're signed in to your Adobe account, opening Lightroom will automatically sync your catalog, presets, and preferences to this computer.
    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • If you move your catalog to an external hard drive, make sure you have a way to back up that drive to a cloud service or another external hard drive.
        Thanks
      • If your external hard drive isn't very fast, you'll likely notice performance differences using Lightroom Classic on that drive instead of your built-in hard drive.
        Thanks
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to Make It Look Like You are Hacking
      The Best Ways to Earn Free Microsoft Points
      How to Have Computer Fun: Content, Games, Writing, & More
      Easy Guide to Updating the BIOS on a Computer (Windows)
      How to See All Open Apps and Windows (for Windows 10, 11, and Mac)
      How to Print Screen on an HP Laptop, Desktop, or Tablet
      How to View System Information on Windows & Mac in Seconds
      How to Remove a Computer from Accessing Steam
      How to
      Find out How Long Your Computer Has Been On
      How to Enable XMP: Step-by-Step Guide for Easy Overclocking
      How to
      Check if Your Computer Is 64 Bit
      How to
      Destroy an Old Computer
      How to
      Be a Computer Genius
      How to Install a BIOS Update from a USB
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/using/install-apps-number-of-computers.html
      2. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/kb/catalog-faq-lightroom.html
      3. ↑ https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/using/download-install-new-computer.html

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 23,739 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement