All The New Improvements To Lightroom Mobile (Dec 2024 Update)

Lightroom Mobile has come a long way, and with Adobe’s latest updates, it’s now packed with new tools and improvements that make mobile photo editing more powerful and intuitive. If you’re a photographer who enjoys editing on the go, here’s a detailed look at what’s new in Lightroom Mobile v10.1, as illustrated using my iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Enhanced Lens Blur Options

One of the standout additions in this update is the new lens blur shape: Oval. Joining existing shapes like circle, bubble, five-blade, and ring, the oval shape offers an anamorphic-style blur that’s perfect for adding cinematic depth to your images. You can fine-tune the blur amount to achieve your desired look. Plus, new adaptive presets like “Oval” and “Oval Swirl” make it easy to experiment and enhance your creative workflow.

Streamlined Instagram Sharing

Sharing your work on Instagram is now more seamless. A new “Send to Instagram” option under the share menu allows you to export HDR images optimized for Instagram’s platform. This ensures your edits retain their vibrancy and detail, making your posts stand out.

Background Masking for Better Control

Bringing Lightroom Mobile closer to feature parity with its desktop counterpart, the app now includes a “Select Background” masking option. This tool lets you isolate and adjust the background with precision. For example, you can subtly brighten the background, warm it up, or even desaturate it to emphasize your subject.

Real-Time Edit Comparisons

A handy new feature allows you to quickly view the impact of your adjustments. By tapping and holding on tools like Curves, Grading, or Color Mix, you can temporarily hide their effects to compare before-and-after results. This makes it easier to refine your edits without guesswork.

Improved Info and Metadata Access

Viewing and copying metadata is now more efficient. An “Info” button in edit mode provides direct access to details like camera settings and file names. You can also copy metadata, such as camera model or file name, with a single tap.

For geotagged images, a new location tab displays the city, state, and country where the photo was taken, along with a clickable map thumbnail. I've been waiting years for this feature!

Fewer Taps, Faster Navigation

Efficiency is a priority in this update. You can now access app settings by simply tapping the Lightroom app icon, reducing the number of steps needed to tweak preferences or configurations. This seemingly small change makes a big difference for users who value speed and convenience.

Explore Lightroom Everywhere

Lightroom Mobile is just one piece of the larger Lightroom ecosystem, which also includes desktop and web versions. If you’re interested in mastering all that Lightroom has to offer, consider exploring my comprehensive courses, like Lightroom Everywhere. With over 10 hours of in-depth video lessons, you’ll learn how to unlock the full potential of Lightroom for your editing workflow.