You go to open up Lightroom or Lightroom Mobile, and suddenly you’re prompted to log in to your account again… for the one-hundredth time in a row. As you sigh in frustration, knowing you’ve had to sign in every time you used the app, it dawns on you that maybe, just maybe, it doesn’t have to be this way. With the help of a few easy tips, you can log in to Lightroom quickly without having to ever do it again. Here’s how.
To log in to Lightroom or Lightroom Mobile, open the app and enter your Adobe ID, Facebook, Google, or Apple login in the sign-in window that appears. After login, you can import, edit, and export images. If you log in to an existing Lightroom account, cloud-stored images will automatically appear.
Now, you may face a few different situations depending on whether you’re logging into Lightroom or Lightroom Mobile. This post will break down everything you should know to help guide you through the sign-in process and troubleshoot any problems you have.
How To Login In Adobe Lightroom (Desktop Version)
To log in to Adobe Lightroom on your desktop, start by opening the app on your computer. If you are not already signed in, a prompt will appear asking you to do so before you continue. Since Lightroom is a subscription-based app, you cannot use it until your account details and subscription are confirmed.
In this sign-in window, you have the option to sign in via your Adobe ID, Facebook, Google, or Apple. Make sure to pick the option linked with your subscribed account; otherwise, you’ll run into problems.
For example, if your Creative Cloud subscription is linked to your Adobe ID, signing in with Facebook will create a totally new account. More specifically, an account without any of your subscription details. That’s why it’s important to choose the right sign-in option!
Once you have entered your email and password, your account will be confirmed, and you’ll have immediate access to Lightroom. If this is your first time logging in, you won’t see any images appear since you have yet to import them. If you are a long-time user and your Lightroom login got signed out accidentally, all your imported photos will appear just as they were before!
Now you can begin editing your images and make the most of Lightroom once you’ve logged in!
How To Login In Lightroom Mobile
Adobe Lightroom Mobile has a similar login process to the Desktop version. To start things off, open the app on your mobile device. Before you can do anything, you’ll be asked to log in via Adobe ID, Facebook, Google, or Apple login. Even if you are not a paid Creative Cloud subscriber, you will be required to log in before using Lightroom Mobile.
If you already use Lightroom on your desktop computer, you must sign into the same account. This will ensure your subscription details and any cloud-stored photos will sync between your mobile and desktop apps. If you aren’t sure which login option to choose, take a look at your desktop Lightroom to view which account is signed in.
With that said, if you are not a paid Creative Cloud subscriber, this step will not matter as you’ll only have the free account. There are many perks to upgrading to the paid version of LR Mobile, but the app still works well at the free level.
Now that you are logged in, you have access to Lightroom Mobile and all the tools inside!
Can You Use Lightroom Without Signing In?
You cannot use Lightroom without first signing in to your Adobe CC account. Since Lightroom is part of a subscription model, your account and subscription details must be linked before use. Luckily with the Creative Cloud App, you can log in once to sync between all apps in your subscription.
So if you are trying to get through to Lightroom desktop for free, you’re going to be out of luck. However, Lightroom Mobile is completely free but requires you have an account created before use. This app is a great option if you want to edit photos without the cost.
Now, like I just mentioned, the Creative Cloud App allows you to log in to your account once, and that login will apply to all the installed apps on your computer.
Here’s how it works:
First, you’ll need to download and install the free Creative Cloud App from Adobe.
Open the app on your computer and sign in via the window that appears. Make sure to log in with the correct details associated with your subscribed account!
Now that you’re logged in, you can see all of the apps you currently have downloaded, along with the ones available for download. Depending on your subscription plan, the programs available to you will vary.
In the case of Lightroom, if you haven’t already downloaded the app, now is the time to do so. Finding Lightroom from the list of apps, click on “Install.” If it’s already installed, you’ll see it from your list of apps, as shown below.
Once installed, you can open Lightroom on your computer, and it will automatically connect to the Creative Cloud app to confirm your login details. Since you’ve signed into the Creative Cloud app already, Lightroom will open without needing to sign in. This same thing applies to all of the Adobe CC apps installed on your device.
The beauty of the Creative Cloud app is that even if your computer restarts, you’ll remain signed in to Lightroom. That way, you never have to sign in again, after the initial set up of course!
How To Skip Login In Lightroom
You can log in to Lightroom without entering your password using the Adobe Account Access app on your mobile device. By signing into this app, you can enable push notifications to confirm your login credentials across different devices with one click, therefore skipping the login process.
To set up Adobe Account Access, first, download it on your Apple or Android device.
Open the app on your phone and sign in using the email and password associated with your Adobe CC account. Although you do need to use your password for this step, it’s the last time you’ll need to!
After you’ve successfully logged in to the app, it will ask you to allow notifications on your device. Make sure to choose “Allow”; otherwise, you will not get any prompt when trying to log in from another device.
If you accidentally skipped this step, click on the hamburger menu in the upper left corner of the app and choose “Notification Settings.” This will bring you to your device’s notification settings options, where you can allow notifications from the Adobe Account Access App.
Besides that, the interface is quite simple. Your name and account details are listed, along with a verification code that changes every 30 seconds. When you attempt to log in from another device, all you need to do is type in the email for your account. Adobe Account Access will immediately open up with a prompt asking you to match the number shown on your screen.
In this example, the number on my computer was 0, so I pressed 0 in the Account Access app. This confirms my login instantly without ever needing to type in my password!
If you find that you sign in between multiple devices frequently, this app is a huge help to avoid typing in your password every time.
How To Fix Common Login Problems In Lightroom
Now that you know the basics of how to log in to Lightroom, you may face a few issues along the way. If you’re having issues, try these 6 solutions listed by the related problem.
1. I Get Signed Out Of Lightroom Each Time I Restart The Computer
If you find that you constantly get signed out of Lightroom when you restart your computer, it’s likely due to not having the Creative Cloud app installed on your computer. With this app, you can stay signed in to your Adobe account, allowing you to use all the apps in your plan with ease.
First, install the free Creative Cloud app on your computer and sign in to your account.
To streamline the process further, turn on the stay signed in option.
Now you can access the app from your computer or find it in the upper menu bar. It will open the app to show all your apps and the account you’re logged in with by clicking on the icon.
To confirm that you have the right account logged in, click on the profile icon in the upper right corner, then choose Adobe Account.
This will take you to your account page on the Adobe website and let you know which subscription plan you are a part of. If you are on a free trial, it will let you know when the trial expires via this window. To keep you signed in to Lightroom, you’ll need to have a paid Adobe CC subscription such as the Photography Plan.
With everything in order, the Creative Cloud App will remember your login details and keep you signed in all the time. This way, you never have to log in to Lightroom in the future since it automatically connects to your account.
2. I Forgot My Adobe ID Login Information
If you forget your Adobe ID or what email you used for your plan, there are a couple of easy ways to resolve this.
Your Adobe ID is the email associated with your account. Simply add your email and password through the Adobe ID sign-in option, and you’ll be directed to your account.
If you have your Adobe account created through Facebook, Google, or Apple, simply select any of those options from the sign-in menu. In most cases, your device will have everything saved and automatically sign you in. If not, proceed to log in to your Adobe account as if you were logging into Facebook, Google, or your Apple account.
If you’re like me, you may have multiple emails that you could have used. The easiest way to figure out which one is being used for Adobe is to go to your email and search for “Adobe” or “Creative Cloud.” If your email displays past emails from Adobe regarding your CC subscription, then that’s the email you use for your account!
Now when you go to log in to Lightroom, use that same email address.
3. My Lightroom Desktop & Lightroom Mobile Apps Aren’t Syncing
With Adobe Lightroom and Lightroom Mobile, you can sync your libraries to work seamlessly between two devices. However, there are a few caveats to this.
– Ensure Syncing Is Enabled
If your apps aren’t syncing, the first thing to look at is whether cloud storage is enabled or not. To sync between the apps, you’ll need to enable cloud storage and syncing from each device. To do this, open Adobe Lightroom on your computer and click on the cloud icon in the upper right corner. By clicking on the sync option at the bottom of the panel, you’ll sync the cloud images between your two devices. If syncing is complete, it will read “Synced and Backed Up.”
It’s worth remembering that this is only possible between Adobe Lightroom and Lightroom Mobile. Adobe Lightroom Classic does not work with cloud-based syncing options.
– Double Check You’re Logged In With The Same Account
Let’s say that this still isn’t working and your images aren’t syncing. Make sure to double-check that you’re signed in to the same account on both apps. To confirm your account on your desktop computer, open the Creative Cloud App and click on the profile icon in the upper right corner. Here you’ll find the email that you’ve logged in with.
Now go to Adobe Lightroom Mobile and click on the gear icon in the upper right corner. You’ll see your account info at the top of the window, including the email you’re currently logged in with. Make sure that you see the same email between your desktop and mobile devices!
– Make Sure You Haven’t Exceeded The Cloud Storage Limits
If all else fails, double-check that you actually have cloud storage available to use. Depending on your plan, you may have filled all of the cloud storage, making it impossible for new photos to sync. You can double-check how much available space there is in both Lightroom desktop and mobile.
On Lightroom desktop, click on the cloud icon in the upper right corner. Here you’ll find a progress bar showing the amount of space used versus what is left in your cloud storage.
On Lightroom Mobile, click on the gear icon in the upper right corner, then select Cloud Storage & Sync. Once again, you’ll find the progress bar showing how much space you have used up versus what’s still available.
If this progress bar is full, that means you have no cloud storage left, and new images will not sync. You can solve this issue by deleting unused photos or purchasing more cloud storage space.
4. My Account Gets Logged Out When I Exit Lightroom
The easiest way to avoid this issue is by installing the free Creative Cloud App that keeps you signed in between all apps. However, you can also turn on the “stay signed in” option when you log in to Lightroom to ensure your account details are remembered.
5. I Forgot My Password For Lightroom
To recover a forgotten password when signing into Adobe Lightroom, click on the Forgot Password option found at the bottom of your sign-in window.
Adobe will send you a reset password link to your associated email or secondary email kept on your account. From here, you can quickly reset your password to something you’ll better remember and regain access to your account.
6. I Don’t Have Access To My Adobe Accounts Email Anymore
So what if you don’t remember your password, and you lost access to the email account associated with your Lightroom subscription? Well, it’s time to call on the help of Adobe Support.
First, go to the Adobe Help Center.
Then click on the chat bubble icon in the bottom corner and select “Need Help Signing In.”
You will then be directed to a live support chat to help you reconfigure your email settings associated with your account. This way, you can regain access to your Adobe account, even if you lost the email associated with it.
Now you know everything there is to know about logging in to Adobe Lightroom and Lightroom Mobile. With the tips outlined here, it’s easy to make sure you stay signed in, keep your apps up to date, and never have to type in your password again.
How’s that for easy?
Once you’re signed in, it’s time to start editing your photos. Check out these tutorials below to polish up your skills and learn new techniques in Lightroom:
- How To Edit Photos In Lightroom
- Organize & Sort Images Like A Pro In Lightroom
- How To Full-Screen Images In Lightroom
- Discover How To Make Your Own Editing Style In Lightroom
Happy Editing,
– Brendan 🙂
