how to add luts in capcut + free luts

adding a custom .cube lut in capcut only works in capcut desktop (windows and macos). the mobile app has no import button: if you've been hunting through the filters panel for one, it isn't hidden, it doesn't exist.

there is a cloud-sync workaround people share for getting a desktop lut onto your phone, covered below. it isn't reliable, so this guide also covers two mobile routes that do work.

does capcut support custom lut files?

partly, and the split matters:

• capcut desktop (windows and macos) — yes, imports .cube files
• capcut mobile (ios and android) — no custom import. built-in filters and adjustment sliders only

capcut also can't export a lut on either platform. it applies them; it has never been able to create them.

how to import a lut in capcut desktop

1. open capcut desktop → open or create a project
2. import a clip and drag it onto the timeline
3. in the media panel (top left), click the adjustments tab
4. select lut
5. click import and choose your .cube file
6. drag the imported lut from the panel onto the clip on your timeline
7. use the intensity slider to dial the strength back — most creative luts sit better at 70–90%

imported luts stay in your library, so each file only needs importing once.

the cloud-sync workaround

this is the widely shared way to get a desktop lut onto capcut mobile:

1. log in: sign into the same capcut account on capcut desktop and capcut mobile
2. apply it on desktop: in capcut desktop, add your .cube under the adjustments tab (steps above) and apply it to a placeholder clip or image
3. save a preset: save those colour adjustments as a preset in your cloud space
4. find it on mobile: in capcut mobile, open a project, go to filters → presets, choose your cloud space, and apply the preset

does it actually work? we couldn't confirm it. the one guide we found that tested it first-hand (createthat) says the custom lut preset doesn't come across to mobile, and capcut doesn't document it as a feature. it may depend on your app versions, or capcut may have changed it since.

so try it on a test clip first. if the preset shows up but the colour doesn't match what you saw on desktop, the lut didn't sync: use one of the routes below instead.

what to do on capcut mobile instead

two things genuinely work.

1. use capcut's own filters and adjust sliders

this is what the mobile app is built around, and it's better than its reputation suggests. tap your clip → adjust, and you get exposure, contrast, saturation, temperature, highlights and shadows. combined with the built-in filters at reduced intensity, you can get a long way.

fix exposure and white balance first, then apply a filter on top. that ordering matters more than which filter you pick.

2. grade the file before capcut ever sees it

the more reliable route: do the colour work first, then bring the finished file in.

grade your photo or video frame in luttie in a browser tab, export the graded image or clip, and import that into capcut. the look is already baked in, so capcut's lack of lut import stops mattering — you're handing it a file that's already graded.

this is also the only way to get a specific, reusable look onto mobile footage without a desktop in the loop.

creating a lut for capcut desktop

if you're on desktop and want a custom .cube, capcut can't make one — it has no lut export.

build it in luttie's free editor instead: drop in a frame, adjust curves, colour wheels and hsl, then export a .cube file and import it into capcut desktop with the steps above. the same file also works in davinci resolve, premiere pro and final cut pro.

what lut format does capcut use?

.cube, on desktop. it's the same format resolve, premiere and final cut read, so one file covers all of them.

capcut does not support .3dl or .csp. convert those to .cube first.

summary

• capcut mobile: no custom lut import. built-in filters and adjust sliders only
• capcut desktop: adjustments → lut → import, then drag onto the clip
• the desktop → cloud space → mobile preset workaround isn't reliable: test it on a clip before you depend on it
• capcut can't export a lut on any platform
• to get a specific look on mobile, grade the file in luttie first and import the graded result

where to get luts for capcut desktop

• free .cube lut library — cinematic, film and portrait looks, no account needed
• pro lut packs — film emulation, wedding, portrait and camera log bundles
• make your own — drop in a frame, grade it, export a .cube

related

• how to use luts in premiere pro
• how to use luts in davinci resolve
• what is a lut file?