Add keyword tags to photos

The Keywording panel of the Library module lets you add keyword tags to photos by either typing a new keyword tag or applying keyword tags from a keyword set. You can also add keyword tags to photos by dragging photos to keywords in the Keyword List panel. And you can apply keyword tags to photos using the Painter tool. See Add or remove keywords using the Painter tool.

When you add keyword tags to photos, the changes are stored in Lightroom, but the keywords aren’t saved to the files unless the Automatically Write Changes Into XMP option is selected in the Catalog Settings dialog box. To save the keywords to the files manually, choose Metadata > Save Metadata To File.

  1. To apply keywords to more than one photo at a time, select them in the Grid view. Or, select a single photo in the Filmstrip in Loupe, Compare, or Survey view.
    Note: If more than one photo is selected in the Filmstrip in Loupe, Compare, or Survey view, the keywords will be added only to the active photo.
  2. Do any of the following:

    • Type keyword tags in the field labeled Click Here To Add Keywords in the Keyword Tags area of the Keywording panel. Separate keyword tags using commas.

    • Click a keyword tag in the Keyword Suggestions area of the Keywording panel. Keyword suggestions are based on a variety of criteria, including existing keywords applied to the selected photo and to other photos captured within a relatively close period of time.

    • Click a keyword tag from a keyword set in the Keyword Set area of the Keywording panel.

    • Click the target box to the left of a keyword tag in the Keyword List panel. A check mark indicates the selected photo contains that keyword tag.

    • (Grid view only) Drag selected photos to keyword tags in the Keyword List panel. Or, drag a keyword tag from the Keyword List panel to the selected photos.

    Note: Keyword tags can also be added to photos as they are imported into Lightroom.

When keyword tags are added to photos, the Keyword List panel updates to reflect the total number of photos that use the tag.