Repository navigation
Current Windows beta — this is the recommended LRBridge download. Please read the known limitations below.
Hotfix: Fixed Export and Copy/Paste Settings failing when the Web Controller is opened from a phone, tablet or another computer over a local network.
What is LRBridge?
LRBridge lets you control Adobe Lightroom Classic from a browser, hardware buttons and knobs, or scripts. It runs alongside Lightroom on your Windows PC and sends your adjustments to Lightroom, where the photo editing happens.
The project started as a way to connect Lightroom with Bitfocus Companion. Companion is an application that lets you assign commands to buttons and knobs on devices such as Stream Deck, Loupedeck and Razer Stream Controller. LRBridge supplies the connection that allows those controls to adjust Lightroom settings.
LRBridge has since grown into much more than that connection. Its included Web Controller puts Lightroom controls in a browser, ready to use with a mouse or touchscreen. Open it on your computer, or use a phone, tablet or another computer on the same local network.
You can use the Web Controller directly with LRBridge and Lightroom, build a hardware setup through Companion, or use both together.
What is new in v0.6?
This is the most complete LRBridge release so far, with a substantially expanded Web Controller and many more Lightroom controls.
The earlier Web Controller used adjustment buttons and basic value feedback. In v0.6, interactive sliders show values reported by Lightroom. You can drag a slider, enter a value, make small adjustments with +/− buttons, and reset individual settings. Changes made directly in Lightroom can also appear in the Controller.
The available controls now cover:
- Develop adjustments: exposure, white balance, colour, detail, effects, calibration, lens corrections, transforms and HDR/SDR settings.
- Colour and curves: Color Mixer, Point Color, Color Grading, editable Point Curves and Parametric Curve adjustments.
- Masking and editing tools: supported mask adjustments, Crop, Healing, Red Eye, Lens Blur and Enhance controls.
- Profiles and presets: browse available choices, apply them and adjust their amount where supported.
- Photo workflows: selection, Copy/Paste Settings, export and other Lightroom actions.
HTTP Builder helps you create custom Lightroom commands for Bitfocus Companion’s Generic: HTTP Requests module. You can also copy PowerShell commands or HTTP requests for scripts and other integrations.
LRBridge uses Adobe’s official Lightroom plug-in SDK for an extensive range of controls. Selected additional features use experimental Windows automation to operate Lightroom’s interface or read its current state. Some functions still need to be used directly in Lightroom, and some displayed values may take a moment to catch up. The remaining limitations are explained below.
Basic Windows installation
Requires Windows x64 and Adobe Lightroom Classic, not the cloud-based Lightroom app. Tested with Lightroom Classic 15.4.1; other versions have not been verified.
- Under Assets, download LRBridge-0.6.0-beta.2-win-x64-portable.zip. Choose this application ZIP rather than GitHub's “Source code” downloads.
- Extract the whole ZIP into a new writable folder. Keep its files together and quit any older LRBridge instance.
- To use Dust controls under Healing: close Lightroom and run Install Dust Presets.cmd from the extracted LRBridge folder. This installs the helper presets required by the Dust On, Off and Reset buttons.
- Start LRBridge.exe.
- Open Lightroom Classic's File → Plug-in Manager → Add. Select the matching lightroom\LRBridge.lrplugin folder inside your extracted LRBridge folder, enable it and click Done. Restart Lightroom after installing the plug-in or Dust presets.
- In LRBridge, click Open web controller.
- Select a photo in Lightroom and switch to Develop before sending editing commands.
Why Dust needs this extra step: LRBridge controls Dust by applying the included helper presets. They must be installed before those buttons can work. LRBridge applies them automatically when you press a Dust button; you do not need to select them manually in Lightroom. Other Healing controls do not require this installer.
Upgrading? Use the plug-in from the new folder, replacing the old entry in Plug-in Manager. Read the Windows installation and upgrade guide to preserve your settings. The Dust installer handles supported older preset copies; do not import duplicates.
Optional: check your download's SHA-256
The .sha256 file under Assets accompanies the application ZIP. Its expected SHA-256 is:
dd3594620433321fbf386a71ff4f4ec7b6738c2e9059dca904333e54efb4a8b6
Open and use the standalone Web Controller
Keep LRBridge and Lightroom Classic running on your Windows PC. Open the Controller, check its Lightroom connection indicator, then choose the controls you want to use.
The Web Controller normally uses port 17892:
- Setup example on the Windows PC: open
http://127.0.0.1:17892/, or click Open web controller in LRBridge. - On a phone or tablet: connect to the same trusted network and open the PC's network address shown by LRBridge. It uses the PC's LAN IP address and port 17892.
“Localhost” and 127.0.0.1 mean the device you are currently using. On a phone, they refer to the phone, not your Windows PC. Use the PC's LAN address there instead.
For instructions, click Open help in the LRBridge application.
A repository copy of Help is also available.
HTTP Builder and Bitfocus Companion
HTTP Builder helps you create Lightroom commands without writing them manually. Its main purpose is to make custom buttons and actions for Bitfocus Companion’s Generic: HTTP Requests module.
Choose a Lightroom action, enter its values and copy the generated request into Companion. SDK commands use Adobe’s official Lightroom plug-in interface; experimental Windows automation commands are listed separately.
You can also use HTTP Builder without Companion. Copy a PowerShell command to run on your computer, or use the generated HTTP requests in scripts and custom integrations that send commands over your network. The Builder prepares the commands; Companion, PowerShell or your chosen software sends them to LRBridge.
There are two ways to connect Companion:
- Generic: HTTP Requests: use commands generated by HTTP Builder to create your own actions.
- The LRBridge Companion module: choose its supported Lightroom actions directly from Companion’s menus. See the module and setup instructions.
There is currently no LRBridge plug-in for Elgato’s Stream Deck application. Stream Deck hardware can be used through Bitfocus Companion.
To open the command builder, click HTTP Builder in the LRBridge application. There you’ll find the command cards and connection instructions.
SDK and Windows automation, explained simply
The SDK is Lightroom's official way for plug-ins to request changes. Windows automation works through Lightroom's interface instead. Some controls send changes through the SDK but use Windows automation to check what Lightroom is displaying, so the Controller's status can arrive later than the change itself.
Security warning
Use LRBridge only on a trusted local network or trusted private VPN. It has no login or encrypted HTTPS connection. Anyone who can reach its controls may be able to send commands to Lightroom.
Do not expose ports 17890, 17891 or 17892 to the public internet, including through port forwarding or public tunnels. Restrict access to trusted devices, especially on shared Wi-Fi.
Known limitations
This is a beta release. Some controls may respond slowly or fail to show Lightroom’s latest settings. If something does not work as expected, use that control directly in Lightroom Classic.
- Some controls are experimental or unavailable. Creating a new Lens Blur refinement and choosing lens profiles still require Lightroom directly.
- Profile feedback: Lightroom may apply a change before the Controller catches up. A “command sent” message does not mean Lightroom has finished.
- Tone Curve: can occasionally get stuck waiting for Lightroom's values.
- Refine Saturation: may still jump in normal or Masking views.
- Parametric Curve: the preview can differ slightly from Lightroom's graph.
- Lens Blur: some controls may show ‘Unavailable’ or ‘Confirmation unavailable’ even after Lightroom applies the change.
- Auto Mask and Constrain Crop: performance improvements are deferred.
- There is no macOS package yet. The porting guide describes future work and testing needs, not current macOS support.
Developer, AI-agent and macOS documentation
Built with AI assistance: LRBridge was developed with extensive help from ChatGPT and Codex—a process often called ‘vibe coding’. Its features and interface were guided by the maintainer and tested through hands-on use in Lightroom Classic. The source code and development notes are available so other developers and AI agents can review the implementation, fix remaining issues and continue the project.
Want to build an integration, fork LRBridge or continue development? Start here:
- Source code and complete documentation
- HTTP API and workflows
- Starting point for developers and AI agents
- Curve compatibility and testing notes
- macOS porting guide
Support and funding
Active development is currently paused due to limited time and funding. If LRBridge is useful to you, donations and contributions from other developers are welcome. Further development will depend on available resources and community support.