By You’ve just imported your photos and noticed unfamiliar XMP or XML files sitting next to your RAW images—these are sidecar files, and understanding them could save you hours of lost editing work.
Sidecar files are separate text documents that store all your editing instructions, metadata, and adjustments without touching your original image file. When you adjust exposure in Lightroom, add keywords, or apply color corrections, programs like Adobe Camera Raw, Capture One, and Photo Mechanic save these changes to a sidecar rather than embedding them into your RAW file. Think of them as instruction manuals that tell your …
