How To Fix Photoshop Lag

Are you experiencing slow performance from Photoshop while working on an important project? This can be extremely frustrating for graphic designers. But don’t worry, there are ways to resolve the lag and improve the overall efficiency. Check out these helpful tips for fixing Photoshop lag:

1. Increase RAM Allocation

Photoshop is a heavy application and it needs plenty of RAM to function without lagging. You can increase the amount of RAM allocated to Photoshop by adjusting the settings on your computer. In Photoshop, go to Edit > Preferences > Performance and increase the ‘Memory Usage’ percentage. It’s recommended to set it between 50-75% of the total RAM on your computer.

2. Reduce History States

Photoshop keeps track of your edits and actions in the history states. The more history states you have, the more memory Photoshop requires. Reducing the number of history states can free up some memory and reduce lag. Navigate to Edit > Preferences > Performance and reduce the number of ‘History States’.

3. Turn off Auto-Recovery Save

The auto-recovery save feature is useful, but it can slow down Photoshop. If you’re experiencing lag, consider turning it off by going to Edit > Preferences > File Handling and unchecking ‘Automatically Save Recovery Information Every’.

4. Adjust Cache Levels

Cache levels determine how Photoshop caches images for faster performance. You can adjust the cache levels in Photoshop by going to Edit > Preferences > Performance and adjusting the ‘Cache Levels’. A lower value, around 1 or 2, is recommended.

5. Purge Memory

If Photoshop is still lagging, you can free up some memory by purging. This can be done by going to Edit > Purge and selecting ‘All’. Note: This will delete all your history states, so make sure you’ve saved your work before purging.

By implementing these tips, you can significantly improve Photoshop’s performance, making it less likely to lag in the future. Remember, Photoshop is a powerful tool that requires sufficient resources to function optimally. It’s important to ensure your computer’s hardware meets the minimum requirements for running Photoshop, including having enough RAM and a powerful enough processor.

Happy editing!