10 Reasons Why Photoshop Is Running Slow (And How to Fix Them)

10 Reasons Why Photoshop Is Running Slow (And How to Fix Them)

1. Not Enough RAM

Photoshop is memory-hungry — especially with big files or multiple layers.

  • Cause: Less than 8GB of RAM or too many apps open.

  • Fix: Close unused programs. Upgrade to 16GB+ RAM if possible. In Photoshop, go to:

    Edit > Preferences > Performance → Allocate more RAM (70–85%).

2. Large File Sizes or Too Many Layers

  • Cause: High-resolution images (300+ DPI), smart objects, or hundreds of layers.

  • Fix:

    • Flatten or merge layers when you can.

    • Convert smart objects to raster layers if edits are done.

    • Use “Save As” to reduce file clutter.

3. Slow or Full Hard Drive

  • Cause: Photoshop uses a “scratch disk” (your storage drive) for temporary files.

  • Fix:

    • Free up space on your C: drive (or primary disk).

    • Set a different scratch disk:

      Edit > Preferences > Scratch Disks → Select a faster or empty drive.

4. Outdated Graphics Driver (GPU)

  • Cause: Slow or incompatible graphics card driver.

  • Fix:

    • Update your GPU driver (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel).

    • In Photoshop:

      Edit > Preferences > Performance → Enable Use Graphics Processor.

5. Heavy Plugins or Extensions

  • Cause: Third-party plugins can hog resources.

  • Fix:

    • Disable unnecessary extensions via:

      Window > Extensions

    • Or remove them completely from the Plugins folder.

6. High Undo History States

  • Cause: Photoshop keeps many history steps in RAM.

  • Fix:

    • Reduce history states:

      Edit > Preferences > Performance → Set History States to 20–30 (default is 50).

7. Using Too Many Fonts or Brushes

  • Cause: Hundreds of installed brushes, fonts, or presets slow down startup and performance.

  • Fix:

    • Delete unused custom brushes.

    • Manage fonts using Font Book (Mac) or Font Manager (Windows).

8. Outdated Photoshop Version

  • Cause: Older versions may have bugs or lack modern performance improvements.

  • Fix:

    • Update via Creative Cloud to the latest version.

9. Antivirus or Background Apps

  • Cause: Antivirus software or background syncing (e.g. OneDrive, Dropbox) slows down performance.

  • Fix:

    • Pause cloud syncing while using Photoshop.

    • Add Photoshop to your antivirus’s “exceptions” list.

10. Too Many Open Files or Tabs

  • Cause: Each open PSD file consumes memory.

  • Fix:

    • Keep fewer documents open at once.

    • Save and close projects you're not actively working on.

🛠️ Bonus Tips to Speed Up Photoshop:

  • Use SSD storage instead of HDD

  • Turn off animated zoom (Preferences > Tools)

  • Set the interface color theme to Basic/Standard

  • Reset Photoshop preferences (press Ctrl+Alt+Shift on launch)

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