Use Apple Photos and iCloud Photos, or Adobe’s cloud, depending on where you want to browse and share.
If you want your edits in Apple Photos
- Export your finished images from Lightroom Classic and import them into Photos on your Mac, or publish them with LR to Photos.
- Make sure the destination is the Mac’s System Photo Library.
- Enable iCloud Photos on your Mac and iPhone, using the same Apple Account.
- Allow time for Apple to upload and sync the images.
You can then use the Photos app on your iPhone to browse and share them. LR to Photos handles the Mac export and import; Apple handles device syncing.
If you prefer Lightroom on your iPhone
Lightroom Classic can sync selected collections with Adobe’s cloud so you can access them in Lightroom on other devices. Classic uploads Smart Previews, which Adobe says do not count against your cloud storage quota. This makes the Lightroom app another useful viewing and editing route.
That route does not automatically add the images to Apple Photos. See Adobe’s Lightroom Classic sync FAQ.
If a photo has not arrived
First check that it exists in Photos on the Mac. If it does, check the library’s iCloud sync status, available storage, network connection and the Apple Account on both devices. Sync can pause; it is not an instant transfer guarantee. Apple’s iCloud Photos troubleshooting guide explains what to check.
Keep your editing workflow clear
Publishing to Apple Photos is a one-way export of the Lightroom edit. Changes you make in Apple Photos do not update the Lightroom Classic original.