Lightroom has changed more in 2026 than in any year I can remember. It can now cull a shoot for you, edit from a text prompt, expand a photo past its edges and even turn a still into a short video.
This guide lists every AI feature in Lightroom and Lightroom Classic as of November 2026. You’ll find what each one does, where to find it, whether it uses credits, and how to get good results.
- Newest: Prompt to Edit with Google’s Nano Banana model (September), Generative Expand (August), AI Sharpen by Topaz and Photo to Video (June).
- Culling: Assisted Culling now scores every face for open eyes and sharp eyes, stacks duplicates and suggests the best shot.
- Cleanup: Generative Remove, Distraction Removal (people, reflections, dust) and improved Reflection Removal.
- Classics: Denoise, Lens Blur, AI masks (subject, sky, people) and Adaptive presets.
- Credits: generative features run in the cloud and can use generative credits. Denoise, masks and culling run on your computer.
- Adobe MAX runs 10-12 November 2026, so expect more soon.
Lightroom vs Lightroom Classic
Adobe sells two apps with confusingly similar names. Most AI features reach both, but not always at the same time.
- Lightroom (once called Lightroom CC): cloud-synced, on desktop, web and mobile. New AI features usually land here first.
- Lightroom Classic: the desktop catalogue app with local files. Version 15.6 shipped in September 2026.
Note: Both are included in Adobe’s Photography plans. Check Help > Updates so you’re on the latest version before looking for a feature.
All Lightroom AI Features in 2026
Dates are from Adobe’s release notes for Lightroom and Lightroom Classic.
| Feature | What it does | Added / updated | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prompt to Edit | Edit, restore or retouch from a text prompt (Nano Banana) | Sept 2026 (Lightroom) | Cloud |
| Reflection Removal | Removes reflections on glass, windows and water | Improved Sept 2026 | Local |
| Generative Expand | Extends the canvas and fills empty areas | Aug 2026 (Lightroom) | Cloud |
| Assisted Culling + Faces panel | Scores eyes open and eye sharpness, stacks duplicates | Updated Feb-June 2026 | Local |
| AI Sharpen (Topaz) | Restores detail in soft or blurry photos | June 2026 | – |
| Photo to Video | Turns a still into a short clip from a prompt | June 2026 | Cloud |
| Edit in Firefly | Prompt editing and image-to-video in Firefly | Feb 2026 (Classic 15.2) | Cloud |
| Natural-language search | Find photos by describing them | Desktop, April 2026 | – |
| Generative Remove | Removes objects and fills realistically | Improved Aug 2025 | Cloud |
| Denoise, Lens Blur, AI masks, Adaptive presets | Noise reduction, depth blur, one-click masks, smart presets | Ongoing | Local |
Assisted Culling
This is the feature wedding and event photographers have wanted for years. Lightroom looks at every photo and flags the ones with closed eyes, missed focus or bad exposure.
- Faces panel: shows each detected face with an eyes open and eye sharpness score. Each person in a group shot is checked separately.
- Duplicate detection: similar shots are grouped into stacks with the strongest one suggested.
- Strictness sliders: control how harsh the focus and exposure filters are. April’s update cut false rejections on shallow depth of field.
- You stay in charge: override any pick or reject.
- Import the shoot into Lightroom or Lightroom Classic.
- Open Assisted Culling from the filter options (in Classic, use the AI-focused metadata filters and the Faces panel).
- Set strictness. Start in the middle and loosen it for shallow-focus portraits.
- Review stacks. Accept the suggested best shot or pick your own.
- Flag the rest as rejects and delete or archive them.
Tip: Run culling before you edit anything. It’s the biggest time saver in this whole list.
Prompt to Edit
Added to Lightroom in September 2026, Prompt to Edit lets you describe a change in words. Adobe’s notes say it can restore, retouch or transform photos and works with Google’s Nano Banana model.
- Good prompts: “restore this faded family photo and remove scratches”, “make it look like golden hour”, “remove the crowd behind her”.
- Example prompts are built in if you don’t know where to start.
- Use it on a copy. Generative edits change pixels, not just slider values.
For the model behind it, see my Nano Banana Pro guide.
Generative Remove and Distraction Removal
The Remove panel has three AI modes. Picking the right one saves a lot of retouching.
| Tool | Best for | How |
|---|---|---|
| Generative Remove | Larger objects, complex backgrounds | Remove panel > brush over the object > Generative AI on |
| Distraction Removal: People | Tourists and passers-by | Remove panel > Distraction Removal > People |
| Distraction Removal: Reflections | Shots through windows, glass, water | Remove panel > Reflections (improved Sept 2026) |
| Dust removal | Sensor dust spots | Remove panel > Dust |
- Open the Remove panel (the eraser icon).
- Brush slightly past the object’s edges so the fill has context.
- Cycle through variations. Generative Remove gives several options; pick the cleanest.
Tip: For people in the background, try Distraction Removal first. It detects everyone automatically and you click to remove them.
Generative Expand
Generative Expand (Lightroom, August 2026) extends a photo beyond its frame. It’s useful for turning a vertical shot into a horizontal one, or fixing a tight crop.
- Works with the aspect ratio and Geometry tools.
- Fills empty or transparent areas after straightening or perspective fixes.
- Fills the ragged edges of panoramas.
Note: Photoshop has had Generative Expand for longer, with more control. My Photoshop AI features guide covers it.
Denoise and AI Sharpen
Denoise
Denoise cleans high-ISO raw files far better than the old noise sliders. Adobe improved it for some Ricoh and Pentax cameras in February 2026.
- Select a raw file. Denoise works best on raw.
- Open Detail > Denoise.
- Set the amount around 50 and preview. Higher values can look plasticky.
- Apply. Lightroom creates an enhanced DNG next to the original.
AI Sharpen (Topaz)
Added in June 2026, AI Sharpen runs a Topaz Labs model inside Lightroom. It recovers detail in slightly soft or motion-blurred shots. Use it gently; it can’t rescue a badly missed focus.
AI Masks, Lens Blur and Adaptive Presets
- AI masks: one-click Select Subject, Sky, Background, People and Objects. June 2026 improved subject detection, and August added Feather and Edge sliders.
- Lens Blur: creates realistic background blur using an AI depth map, with adjustable focus point and bokeh.
- Adaptive presets: presets that mask the subject or sky automatically before applying the look. Eight Adaptive Landscape presets arrived in October 2025.
- Edit in background: Lightroom Classic 15.3 lets Enhance and AI edits run in batches while you keep working.
Photo to Video
Photo to Video (June 2026) turns a still into a short clip with AI motion. PetaPixel reports it uses Adobe Firefly and Google Veo.
- Select a photo with a clear subject.
- Choose Photo to Video and pick a preset prompt, or write your own (“slow push-in, hair moving in the wind”).
- Generate and export the clip for Reels, Shorts or b-roll.
For free alternatives, see my free photo-to-video AI tools guide.
Natural-Language Search
Lightroom can find photos by description, like “red car at night” or “kids on the beach”. It started on the web and reached the desktop app in April 2026, according to DPReview.
Tip: Combine it with keywords and ratings for big libraries. Search works best on photos synced to the cloud.
Which Features Use Credits
Adobe’s generative features run on cloud models and can draw on your plan’s generative credits. Features that run on your computer don’t.
| Likely uses generative credits | No credits (local AI) |
|---|---|
| Prompt to Edit, Generative Expand, Generative Remove, Photo to Video, Edit in Firefly | Denoise, AI masks, Lens Blur, Assisted Culling, Distraction Removal, Adaptive presets |
Note: Adobe changes credit rules often and partner models (like Nano Banana or Veo) can cost more. Check the cost shown in the app and your balance in your Adobe account. My Adobe Firefly pricing guide lists credits per plan.
Troubleshooting
I can’t find a feature
- Check which app you’re in. Prompt to Edit and Generative Expand arrived in Lightroom first, not Classic.
- Update through the Creative Cloud app.
- Sign in and go online for any generative feature.
Denoise is greyed out or slow
- Use a raw file. Denoise doesn’t work on most JPEGs.
- Update your GPU driver. Denoise uses the GPU heavily and can take a minute per photo on older laptops.
Generative results look soft or wrong
- Brush a slightly larger area and try another variation.
- Be specific in prompts: describe what should be there, not only what to remove.
Assisted Culling rejects good photos
Lower the strictness, especially for shallow depth of field. Adobe tuned this in April 2026, so update first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the new AI features in Lightroom in 2026?
Prompt to Edit, Generative Expand, AI Sharpen by Topaz, Photo to Video, improved Reflection Removal, and Assisted Culling with face scores and duplicate stacks.
Does Lightroom have AI culling?
Yes. Assisted Culling scores focus, exposure and each face for open and sharp eyes, stacks similar shots and suggests the best one. You can override every pick.
Is Generative Remove in Lightroom free?
It’s included in Photography and Creative Cloud plans, but as a cloud generative feature it can count against your generative credits. Check the cost shown in the app.
What is Prompt to Edit in Lightroom?
A September 2026 feature that lets you describe an edit in words, such as restoring an old photo. Adobe says it works with Google’s Nano Banana model.
Does Lightroom Denoise work on JPEG?
It’s designed for raw files. For JPEGs, use the manual noise reduction sliders or another tool.
Can Lightroom turn photos into video?
Yes. Photo to Video, added in June 2026, makes a short clip from a still using a text prompt. PetaPixel reports it uses Firefly and Google Veo.
Is Lightroom Classic getting the same AI features?
Most of them, sometimes later. Classic 15.x added the Faces panel, duplicate detection, Edit in Firefly and improved Reflection Removal in 2026.
Final Thoughts
If you shoot a lot, Assisted Culling and Denoise alone justify updating. Prompt to Edit and Generative Expand are impressive, but use them on copies and keep an eye on credits.
I’ll update this guide after Adobe MAX (10-12 November). For video, read my Premiere Pro AI features guide, and if you’re on a Mac, compare with Apple Creator Studio’s new AI tools.