Can I cull photos in Lightroom from my phone?
Yes, in Lightroom Classic: SofaDeck turns its single-key shortcuts into big phone buttons, so you can lean back and tap P (pick), X (reject), 1–5 (stars) and → (next photo) while the photos fill the monitor. Those are all single keys, which are free. Shortcuts with Ctrl, like Undo or Export (Ctrl+Shift+E), need Pro.
- Install SofaDeck on your PC (free)
- Scan the QR code with your phone
- Tap
Works on iPhone & Android — no app needed. Scan the QR code on your PC with the phone's camera and the remote opens in its browser. On Android you can also add the optional Google Play app.
Culling a shoot is hundreds of the same few decisions: keep, reject, rate, next. Lightroom Classic gives each a single key, and the job goes faster when those keys are big targets you can hit without looking. A phone running SofaDeck is that target pad, free, from across the desk or the sofa with the photos on a TV.
Tip: Lightroom Classic's Caps Lock auto-advance moves to the next photo after each flag or rating, so with it on, P, X and the stars are all you need.
Set it up in 5 steps
- Install SofaDeck on the PC or Mac running Lightroom Classic and pair your phone.
- Add Key buttons: P, X, U, 1–5, ← and →.
- Add G (Grid), E (Loupe) and D (Develop), plus F for full-screen preview.
- Add a Caps Lock button to turn on auto-advance.
- Click into Lightroom once so the keys land there, then cull from the phone.
Buttons to add for Lightroom Classic
| Button | What it sends | What it does | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pick | Key: P | Flags the photo as a pick. | Free |
| Reject | Key: X | Flags it as rejected. | Free |
| Unflag | Key: U | Removes the flag. | Free |
| ★ 1–5 | Keys: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 0 | 1 to 5 set the star rating, 0 clears it. | Free |
| Color label | Keys: 6, 7, 8, 9 | 6 red, 7 yellow, 8 green, 9 blue. | Free |
| Previous / next photo | Keys: ←, → | ← and → move through the filmstrip. | Free |
| Auto-advance | Key: Caps Lock | Caps Lock on: Lightroom moves on after each flag or rating. | Free |
| Grid / Loupe | Keys: G, E | G grid view, E loupe view. | Free |
| Develop | Key: D | Opens the Develop module. | Free |
| Before / after | Key: \ | Toggles before and after in Develop. | Free |
| Full-screen preview | Key: F | Shows the photo full screen. | Free |
| Undo | Hotkey: Ctrl + Z | Undo the last flag or edit. | Pro |
| Export | Hotkey: Ctrl + Shift + E | Opens the Export dialog. | Pro |
Lightroom Classic's default shortcuts (Help → Library Module Shortcuts shows the list). On a Mac, Cmd replaces Ctrl. The cloud-based Lightroom app uses different keys. Free covers one page of 12 buttons (pick the keys you use most).
Or just say it
Tap the microphone on the phone (or type in the say-or-type bar) and SofaDeck runs the command on the PC. Any button also runs by saying its label. The full voice command list has the rest.
| Say | What happens |
|---|---|
pick / reject | Runs the button with that label. |
press 5 | Taps a single key by voice. |
type <words> | Types a keyword or caption into the focused field. |
What's free and what needs Pro
Everything in the table above is free except Undo, Export. Pro is from $6.99 once for every phone you pair, with no subscription, and adds unlimited pages, hotkey combos, macros and Smart pages that switch the phone to your Lightroom Classic page when Lightroom Classic comes to the front (Windows). SofaDeck also offers a 7-day Pro trial.
Limits, honestly
- No sliders or dials for Develop adjustments; SofaDeck is buttons only.
- Keys go to the window in front; click into Lightroom once.
- No Lightroom plugin, so buttons don't show the current rating or flag.
- The phone doesn't show the photo; look at the monitor (or use Screen view in Pro).
SofaDeck runs on Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit) and on the Mac (macOS 11 Big Sur or later, on Apple silicon or Intel). The phone needs only a browser: iPhone or Android, no app to install, on the same Wi-Fi as the PC.
Other ways to control Lightroom Classic from your phone
Editing consoles such as Loupedeck / Logitech's creative consoles, and Stream Deck with a Lightroom plugin, add dials for Develop and app-aware buttons. MIDI controllers with a bridge plugin are a cheap route for sliders. For culling, a free phone deck already covers every key you need.
Lightroom Classic is a trademark of its owner. SofaDeck is made by Dixon App Studio and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Lightroom Classic. Shortcuts listed are the app's defaults at the time of writing and can change.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
Yes for culling: P, X, U, 0–9, the arrows, G, E, D, F, \ and Caps Lock are single keys. Ctrl shortcuts like Undo and Export need Pro.
Does it work with Lightroom (not Classic)?
It sends keys to any app, but the cloud-based Lightroom app has different shortcuts. Check its shortcut list and make buttons for those.
Can I cull from the sofa with photos on the TV?
Yes: run Lightroom on the PC connected to the TV and use the phone as the remote.
Related
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