How Much RAM Do You Need For Photoshop? (To Run Smoother)

How much RAM for Photoshop is a common question asked by those who are new to the software.

In general, you need a minimum of 8GB of RAM for Photoshop. 

However, Adobe recommends at least 16GB of RAM, while industry professionals suggest at least 32GB.

There are a variety of other factors to consider in addition to these requirements, such as application, bit depth, and compression, among other things.

In this guide, you’ll learn how much RAM is needed for Photoshop and how to determine what’s best for your application.

Don’t own Photoshop yet? Here’s how to get it.

Is 4GB RAM enough for Photoshop?

No, Adobe states a minimum requirement of at least 8GB of RAM for Photoshop.

And what’s required isn’t the same as what’s recommended — Adobe suggests 16GB of RAM or more, depending on your specific use.

You’ll also want to keep in mind how much RAM is required by your system overall, as well as your photo editing software, for optimal performance.

Is 6GB RAM enough for Photoshop?

No, Adobe stands firm on its 8GB requirement for both Windows and Mac.

Regardless of your processor, Adobe recommends using at least 16GB of RAM to avoid any performance issues.

Is 8GB RAM enough for Photoshop?

Yes, technically. 8GB is the minimum amount of RAM required by Photoshop.

However, your application, file size, and system must also be considered when determining how much RAM is best.

A typical system uses 6GB of RAM just to run, so you won’t get optimal performance from any photo editing software with only 8GB of RAM.

Is 16GB RAM enough for Photoshop?

16GB of RAM is more than what’s required for Photoshop, and it’s actually what Adobe recommends.

Because Photoshop is a top-tier photo editor with a large appetite for CPU, it can eat up resources very quickly.

Many digital photo editing experts feel 16GB of RAM is an egregious underestimate and encourage at least 32GB of RAM.

Is 32GB RAM enough for Photoshop?

Yes. While 32GB is more than what’s required and recommended by Adobe, professionals urge users to have 32GB of RAM available for Photoshop to avoid delays.

If you consistently work with files larger than 1GB, you’ll want 64GB of RAM.

Does Photoshop need 64GB of RAM?

This depends on the size of your files. As noted above, if you typically work with PSD files larger than 1GB once opened, you’ll want at least 64GB of RAM to run Adobe Photoshop smoothly.

How can I see the size of my file in Photoshop?

Start by opening your file in Photoshop.

Then navigate to the Info Panel, which will bring you to a menu with Info Panel Options, such as document size, document profile, and more.

Click Document Sizes.

You may be shown two numbers: the figure on the left is the flattened file size once you’ve exported it, while the figure on the right represents the PSD file with every layer.

The number on the right is the one you need to pay attention to in order to determine how much RAM you need for Photoshop.

Why is Photoshop 2023 so laggy? (And how to make it run smoother)

If you don’t have enough RAM, your computer won’t have sufficient memory to use Photoshop. This will result in delayed filtering and cause all photo editing tools to lag.

To fix this, we’d first recommend freeing up RAM. A few quick options to take some of the weight off RAM include uninstalling unnecessary software, restarting your computer to clear apps running in the background, and seeing if your apps are up to date.

If you still experience lags after allowing for increased RAM, check that your computer or laptop meets the minimum system requirements.

Adobe suggests increasing the amount of RAM dedicated to Photoshop for better speed and performance.

This can be checked by going to Preferences and then Performance.

Here, you’ll see how much RAM is dedicated to Photoshop, as well as the ideal range recommended by Adobe.

After that, Adobe recommends adjusting your performance preference within Photoshop, which lets you play around with different combinations of cache, displays, graphics processors, and memory for ideal performance.

How do I fix ‘Photoshop not enough RAM”?

Don’t worry if you receive the dreaded error message informing you there isn’t enough RAM to run Photoshop.

As noted above, simply closing some apps running in the background is generally all it takes to free up enough RAM to run Photoshop.

If that still isn’t enough, go back to performance preferences and slide the memory usage value up to 100%.

If your computer prohibits you from selecting the 100% value, try 95%.

What are the System Requirements for Photoshop?

Does Photoshop take up a lot of memory?

 Yes. Adobe reports that by default, Photoshop leverages up to 70% of your available RAM.

 As stated earlier, you can easily change how much RAM is allocated to Photoshop by simply navigating to Preferences and then Performance.

Adobes directs users to adjust in 5% increments and monitor performance to gauge what allocation works best for your system.

What CPU is best for Photoshop?

Intel Core i9-12900KS 12th Generation Processor has been voted the best CPU for Photoshop by many users.

The other cutting-edge leader is the AMD Ryzen 5000 Series Processors, which also deliver great performance at a reasonable price.

Is Core i5 enough for Photoshop?

Yes. As long as your laptop or computer has at least an Intel Core i3 with 64-bit support, you can easily edit images in Photoshop, so a Core i5 is more than enough.

Adobe notes that Photoshop just requires 64-bit support from an Intel or AMD processor.

• What is the best Intel Core i7 Windows laptop?

Is RAM or processor more important for Photoshop?

Both are very important pieces to the Photoshop puzzle.

Your CPU choice will affect how well your system streams, but more RAM keeps complex programs like Photoshop running smoothly, so both serve important purposes when photo editing.

Do I need a graphics card for Photoshop?

Yes. A supported GPU, located inside the graphic card, is required for Photoshop.

If you’re messing around with 3D graphics, a graphics card will be your trusty teammate in optimizing photo editing in Photoshop.

Adobe supports a long list of graphics cards to ensure all users have the best Photoshop experience.

What graphics card do you need for Photoshop?

Window users will need a GPU with at least 1.5 GB of GPU memory and DirectX 12 support.

Mac users will need a GPU with 1.5 GB of GPU memory and metal support.

• What is the best laptop for Photoshop?

How Much RAM for Adobe Photoshop | Final Words

Because RAM expands the number of tasks able to be performed by the CPU, it’s an insanely critical component in using Photoshop.

The amount of RAM you have determines how well Photoshop and all its amazing tools will operate.

So, before installing Photoshop and editing photos, we encourage Creative Cloud subscribers to dive into their systems and applications and check whether they need more RAM to get the software running at its best.

Still unsure? Leave us a question below, or check out our article, which explains why your Photoshop scratch disk is full.