LRDATA File

What are LRDATA files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a LRDATA file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your LRDATA files.

What is a LRDATA file?

A .LRDATA file is an Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Data file.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Data files are used by Adobe Lightroom to store image preview and thumbnails cache alongside a photo catalog. When a user imports photos into Lightroom, the program creates these files to speed up viewing, browsing, and rendering of previews in different modules without touching the original photos.

Lightroom writes .LRDATA files automatically - typically named "Previews.lrdata", "Smart Previews.lrdata", or similar - and stores them in the same folder as the catalog file (.LRCAT). The previews cache includes small thumbnails for browser views, larger previews for slideshows or prints, and full-size 1:1 previews for detailed editing. If you delete a .lrdata folder, Lightroom will regenerate the previews when needed.

Technically each .lrdata is a folder on disk (often shown as a package on macOS) rather than a single flat file. The folder contains subfolders and files that correspond to preview sizes and indexed views. Lightroom manages this internal organization, and users generally do not need to inspect or modify those contents manually.

How to open LRDATA files

We have identified one LRDATA opener that is compatible with this specific type of LRDATA file.

Programs that open Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Data files

Last updated: August 7, 2026

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