User Guide Cancel

Troubleshoot graphics processor (GPU) and graphics driver issues

  1. Photoshop User Guide
  2. Introduction to Photoshop
    1. Dream it. Make it.
    2. What's new in Photoshop
    3. Edit your first photo
    4. Create documents
    5. Photoshop | Common Questions
    6. Photoshop system requirements
    7. Get to know Photoshop
  3. Photoshop and other Adobe products and services
    1. Work with Illustrator artwork in Photoshop
    2. Work with Photoshop files in InDesign
    3. Substance 3D Materials for Photoshop
    4. Use the Capture in-app extension in Photoshop
  4. Photoshop on the iPad (not available in mainland China)
    1. Photoshop on the iPad | Common questions
    2. Get to know the workspace
    3. System requirements | Photoshop on the iPad
    4. Create, open, and export documents
    5. Add photos
    6. Work with layers
    7. Draw and paint with brushes
    8. Make selections and add masks
    9. Retouch your composites
    10. Work with adjustment layers
    11. Adjust the tonality of your composite with Curves
    12. Apply transform operations
    13. Crop and rotate your composites
    14. Rotate, pan, zoom, and reset the canvas
    15. Work with Type layers
    16. Work with Photoshop and Lightroom
    17. Get missing fonts in Photoshop on the iPad
    18. Japanese Text in Photoshop on the iPad
    19. Manage app settings
    20. Touch shortcuts and gestures
    21. Keyboard shortcuts
    22. Edit your image size
    23. Livestream as you create in Photoshop on the iPad
    24. Correct imperfections with the Healing Brush
    25. Create brushes in Capture and use them in Photoshop on the iPad
    26. Work with Camera Raw files
    27. Create and work with Smart Objects
    28. Adjust exposure in your images with Dodge and Burn
    29. Auto adjustment commands in Photoshop on the iPad
    30. Smudge areas in your images with Photoshop on the iPad
    31. Saturate or desaturate your images using Sponge tool
    32. Content aware fill for iPad
  5. Photoshop on the web (not available in mainland China)
    1. Common questions
    2. System requirements
    3. Keyboard shortcuts
    4. Supported file types
    5. Introduction to the workspace
    6. Open and work with cloud documents
    7. Generative AI features
    8. Basic concepts of editing
    9. Quick Actions
    10. Work with layers
    11. Retouch images and remove imperfections
    12. Make quick selections
    13. Image improvements with Adjustment Layers
    14. Add a fill layer
    15. Move, transform, and crop images
    16. Draw and paint
    17. Draw and edit Shapes
    18. Work with Type layers
    19. Work with anyone on the web
    20. Manage app settings
    21. Generate Image
    22. Generate Background
    23. Reference Image
  6. Photoshop (beta) (not available in mainland China)
    1. Get started with Creative Cloud Beta apps
    2. Photoshop (beta) on the desktop
    3. Generate background with descriptive text prompts
  7. Generative AI (not available in mainland China) 
    1. Common questions on generative AI in Photoshop
    2. Generative Fill in Photoshop on the desktop
    3. Generate Image with descriptive text prompts
    4. Generative Expand in Photoshop on the desktop
    5. Generative Fill in Photoshop on the iPad
    6. Generative Expand in Photoshop on the iPad
    7. Generative AI features in Photoshop on the web
  8. Content authenticity (not available in mainland China)
    1. Content credentials in Photoshop
    2. Identity and provenance for NFTs
    3. Connect accounts for creative attribution
  9. Cloud documents (not available in mainland China)
    1. Photoshop cloud documents | Common questions
    2. Photoshop cloud documents | Workflow questions
    3. Manage and work with cloud documents in Photoshop
    4. Upgrade cloud storage for Photoshop
    5. Unable to create or save a cloud document
    6. Solve Photoshop cloud document errors
    7. Collect cloud document sync logs
    8. Invite others to edit your cloud documents
    9. Share files and comment in-app
  10. Workspace
    1. Workspace basics
    2. Preferences
    3. Learn faster with the Photoshop Discover Panel
    4. Create documents
    5. Place files
    6. Default keyboard shortcuts
    7. Customize keyboard shortcuts
    8. Tool galleries
    9. Performance preferences
    10. Use tools
    11. Presets
    12. Grid and guides
    13. Touch gestures
    14. Use the Touch Bar with Photoshop
    15. Touch capabilities and customizable workspaces
    16. Technology previews
    17. Metadata and notes
    18. Touch capabilities and customizable workspaces
    19. Place Photoshop images in other applications
    20. Rulers
    21. Show or hide non-printing Extras
    22. Specify columns for an image
    23. Undo and history
    24. Panels and menus
    25. Position elements with snapping
    26. Position with the Ruler tool
  11. Web, screen, and app design
    1. Photoshop for design
    2. Artboards
    3. Device Preview
    4. Copy CSS from layers
    5. Slice web pages
    6. HTML options for slices
    7. Modify slice layout
    8. Work with web graphics
    9. Create web photo galleries
  12. Image and color basics
    1. How to resize images
    2. Work with raster and vector images
    3. Image size and resolution
    4. Acquire images from cameras and scanners
    5. Create, open, and import images
    6. View images
    7. Invalid JPEG Marker error | Opening images
    8. Viewing multiple images
    9. Customize color pickers and swatches
    10. High dynamic range images
    11. Match colors in your image
    12. Convert between color modes
    13. Color modes
    14. Erase parts of an image
    15. Blending modes
    16. Choose colors
    17. Customize indexed color tables
    18. Image information
    19. Distort filters are unavailable
    20. About color
    21. Color and monochrome adjustments using channels
    22. Choose colors in the Color and Swatches panels
    23. Sample
    24. Color mode or Image mode
    25. Color cast
    26. Add a conditional mode change to an action
    27. Add swatches from HTML CSS and SVG
    28. Bit depth and preferences
  13. Layers
    1. Layer basics
    2. Nondestructive editing
    3. Create and manage layers and groups
    4. Select, group, and link layers
    5. Place images into frames
    6. Layer opacity and blending
    7. Mask layers
    8. Apply Smart Filters
    9. Layer comps
    10. Move, stack, and lock layers
    11. Mask layers with vector masks
    12. Manage layers and groups
    13. Layer effects and styles
    14. Edit layer masks
    15. Extract assets
    16. Reveal layers with clipping masks
    17. Generate image assets from layers
    18. Work with Smart Objects
    19. Blending modes
    20. Combine multiple images into a group portrait
    21. Combine images with Auto-Blend Layers
    22. Align and distribute layers
    23. Copy CSS from layers
    24. Load selections from a layer or layer mask's boundaries
    25. Knockout to reveal content from other layers
  14. Selections
    1. Get started with selections
    2. Make selections in your composite
    3. Select and Mask workspace
    4. Select with the marquee tools
    5. Select with the lasso tools
    6. Adjust pixel selections
    7. Move, copy, and delete selected pixels
    8. Create a temporary quick mask
    9. Select a color range in an image
    10. Convert between paths and selection borders
    11. Channel basics
    12. Save selections and alpha channel masks
    13. Select the image areas in focus
    14. Duplicate, split, and merge channels
    15. Channel calculations
  15. Image adjustments
    1. Replace object colors
    2. Perspective warp
    3. Reduce camera shake blurring
    4. Healing brush examples
    5. Export color lookup tables
    6. Adjust image sharpness and blur
    7. Understand color adjustments
    8. Apply a Brightness/Contrast adjustment
    9. Adjust shadow and highlight detail
    10. Levels adjustment
    11. Adjust hue and saturation
    12. Adjust vibrance
    13. Adjust color saturation in image areas
    14. Make quick tonal adjustments
    15. Apply special color effects to images
    16. Enhance your image with color balance adjustments
    17. High dynamic range images
    18. View histograms and pixel values
    19. Match colors in your image
    20. Crop and straighten photos
    21. Convert a color image to black and white
    22. Adjustment and fill layers
    23. Curves adjustment
    24. Blending modes
    25. Target images for press
    26. Adjust color and tone with Levels and Curves eyedroppers
    27. Adjust HDR exposure and toning
    28. Dodge or burn image areas
    29. Make selective color adjustments
  16. Adobe Camera Raw
    1. Camera Raw system requirements
    2. What's new in Camera Raw
    3. Introduction to Camera Raw
    4. Create panoramas
    5. Supported lenses
    6. Vignette, grain, and dehaze effects in Camera Raw
    7. Default keyboard shortcuts
    8. Automatic perspective correction in Camera Raw
    9. Radial Filter in Camera Raw
    10. Manage Camera Raw settings
    11. Open, process, and save images in Camera Raw
    12. Repair images with the Enhanced Spot Removal tool in Camera Raw
    13. Rotate, crop, and adjust images
    14. Adjust color rendering in Camera Raw
    15. Process versions in Camera Raw
    16. Make local adjustments in Camera Raw
  17. Image repair and restoration
    1. Remove objects from your photos with Content-Aware Fill
    2. Content-Aware Patch and Move
    3. Retouch and repair photos
    4. Correct image distortion and noise
    5. Basic troubleshooting steps to fix most issues
  18. Image enhancement and transformation
    1. Replace sky in your images
    2. Transform objects
    3. Adjust crop, rotation, and canvas size
    4. How to crop and straighten photos
    5. Create and edit panoramic images
    6. Warp images, shapes, and paths
    7. Vanishing Point
    8. Content-aware scaling
    9. Transform images, shapes, and paths
  19. Drawing and painting
    1. Paint symmetrical patterns
    2. Draw rectangles and modify stroke options
    3. About drawing
    4. Draw and edit shapes
    5. Painting tools
    6. Create and modify brushes
    7. Blending modes
    8. Add color to paths
    9. Edit paths
    10. Paint with the Mixer Brush
    11. Brush presets
    12. Gradients
    13. Gradient interpolation
    14. Fill and stroke selections, layers, and paths
    15. Draw with the Pen tools
    16. Create patterns
    17. Generate a pattern using the Pattern Maker
    18. Manage paths
    19. Manage pattern libraries and presets
    20. Draw or paint with a graphics tablet
    21. Create textured brushes
    22. Add dynamic elements to brushes
    23. Gradient
    24. Paint stylized strokes with the Art History Brush
    25. Paint with a pattern
    26. Sync presets on multiple devices
    27. Migrate presets, actions, and settings
  20. Text
    1. Add and edit the text
    2. Unified Text Engine
    3. Work with OpenType SVG fonts
    4. Format characters
    5. Format paragraphs
    6. How to create type effects
    7. Edit text
    8. Line and character spacing
    9. Arabic and Hebrew type
    10. Fonts
    11. Troubleshoot fonts
    12. Asian type
    13. Create type
  21. Filters and effects
    1. Use the Blur Gallery
    2. Filter basics
    3. Filter effects reference
    4. Add Lighting Effects
    5. Use the Adaptive Wide Angle filter
    6. Use the Oil Paint filter
    7. Use the Liquify filter
    8. Layer effects and styles
    9. Apply specific filters
    10. Smudge image areas
  22. Saving and exporting
    1. Save your files in Photoshop
    2. Export your files in Photoshop
    3. Supported file formats
    4. Save files in graphics formats
    5. Move designs between Photoshop and Illustrator
    6. Save and export video and animations
    7. Save PDF files
    8. Digimarc copyright protection
  23. Color Management
    1. Understanding color management
    2. Keeping colors consistent
    3. Color settings
    4. Duotones
    5. Work with color profiles
    6. Color-managing documents for online viewing
    7. Color-managing documents when printing
    8. Color-managing imported images
    9. Proofing colors
  24. Web, screen, and app design
    1. Photoshop for design
    2. Artboards
    3. Device Preview
    4. Copy CSS from layers
    5. Slice web pages
    6. HTML options for slices
    7. Modify slice layout
    8. Work with web graphics
    9. Create web photo galleries
  25. Video and animation
    1. Video editing in Photoshop
    2. Edit video and animation layers
    3. Video and animation overview
    4. Preview video and animations
    5. Paint frames in video layers
    6. Import video files and image sequences
    7. Create frame animations
    8. Creative Cloud 3D Animation (Preview)
    9. Create timeline animations
    10. Create images for video
  26. Printing
    1. Print 3D objects
    2. Print from Photoshop
    3. Print with color management
    4. Contact Sheets and PDF Presentations
    5. Print photos in a picture package layout
    6. Print spot colors
    7. Print images to a commercial printing press
    8. Improve color prints from Photoshop
    9. Troubleshoot printing problems | Photoshop
  27. Automation
    1. Creating actions
    2. Create data-driven graphics
    3. Scripting
    4. Process a batch of files
    5. Play and manage actions
    6. Add conditional actions
    7. About actions and the Actions panel
    8. Record tools in actions
    9. Add a conditional mode change to an action
    10. Photoshop UI toolkit for plug-ins and scripts
  28. Troubleshooting
    1. Fixed issues 
    2. Known issues
    3. Optimize Photoshop performance
    4. Basic troubleshooting
    5. Troubleshoot crash or freeze
    6. Troubleshoot program errors
    7. Troubleshoot scratch disk full errors
    8. Troubleshoot GPU and graphics driver issues
    9. Find missing tools
    10. Photoshop 3D | Common questions around discontinued features

Learn how to resolve issues caused by defective, unsupported, or incompatible GPU or graphics driver.

GPU problems with Photoshop could manifest in a variety of ways, including:

  • Photoshop displays the GPU compatibility screen just after launch
  • Performance issues, incorrectly rendered windows or objects, canvas flashes/flickers, visual artifacts in Photoshop
  • Photoshop crashes or hangs upon launch
  • Image canvas flashes or flickers
  • Photoshop's menu bar is missing
  • Slow screen drawing when zooming in or out
  • Partial screen redraws, including remnants of images from other windows
  • Some graphic elements of Photoshop tools, like the crop handles, or transform controls lose color or look different than usual
  • Your image is filled with a bright green color

Read the full article to learn how to setup your GPU for high performance in Photoshop.

GPU compatibility check

With the Photoshop 23.0 release or later, you can run the graphics processor compatibility check to ensure your GPU is compatible. To do so, go to Help > GPU Compatibility and see the report dialog that opens.

A typical GPU compatibility check report when your GPU is compatible for use.
A typical GPU compatibility check report when your GPU is compatible for use. Here minimum VRAM requirement isn't met.

A typical GPU compatibility check report when your GPU is turned off for use.
A typical GPU compatibility check report when your GPU is turned off for use.

Caution:

We have this known issue where the dialog could report that 'Your graphics processor is incompatible.' If you're running Windows on an Intel-based system with the 'Microsoft OpenCL/OpenGL Compatibility Pack' installed, the solution is to uninstall the compatibility pack and restart the computer.

Unsupported workflows

Some configurations are known to be problematic for GPU use in Photoshop. Avoid all the following, which are not supported currently:

  • Out-of-date hardware or software

Adobe supports Photoshop only when your Mac is running one of the last three system updates from Apple. See the troubleshooting steps 2 and 3 below for instructions on how to update to the latest version of macOS and Photoshop and how to proceed if your computer is losing support for current versions of the operating system.

  • Virtual Machines

Running Photoshop under virtual machines (VMs) is not tested extensively nor officially supported. Virtualization configurations often use software-based GPU drivers that are configured below Photoshop specifications. Do not use Photoshop in virtual machines or connect remotely to Photoshop running on different hardware. At the very least, your GPU should be turned off in these scenarios.

  • 3D Rendering Issues

3D features are being phased out of Photoshop. If you notice rendering problems (e.g., text extrusions or updates not appearing on screen) with files that contain 3D content, that is expected. Consider evaluating Adobe’s Substance line of 3D products.

  • Plugging/unplugging displays

If you run Photoshop while changing display configurations (e.g., plugging in an external monitor without quitting Photoshop), your windows may draw in the wrong place on screen or fill with a solid green color. If you need to attach a new display to your computer, quit Photoshop, attach the display, then start Photoshop.

Verify if GPU is causing Photoshop issues

Unsure if your graphics processor or driver is the cause of the issue you're facing with Photoshop? Disabling the GPU acceleration will help you narrow down the cause of the issue.

  1. Navigate to Edit > Preferences > Performance (Windows) or Photoshop > Preferences > Performance (macOS).
  2. Uncheck Use Graphics Processor
  3. Restart Photoshop. 

If the problem persists, continue troubleshooting by performing the troubleshooting steps as outlined below:

Troubleshoot GPU and Graphics driver

Windows

  1. Update your graphics driver

    Updating your graphics driver can fix many issues, such as crashing, incorrectly rendered images, and performance problems. Get driver updates directly from the video card manufacturer.

    NVIDIA drivers | AMD drivers | Intel drivers

    Note:
    • Be sure to choose the correct driver. Notebook drivers sometimes have a different name than similar desktop drivers.
    • If you are experiencing flickering or stuttering responsiveness within Photoshop, and you have a GPU that supports G-Sync, turn G-Sync off for Photoshop using the NVIDIA control panel.
    • Some video adapter manufacturers have other software that requires updating in addition to the video driver. Read the update instructions carefully, and contact the video adapter manufacturer if you don't understand the instructions.
  2. Check your Cache Levels setting

    If you've set your Cache Levels to 1 in Photoshop preferences, you may experience performance issues with features that take advantage of the graphics processor.

    Reset the Cache Levels to the default setting, which is 4:

    1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Performance
    2. Set Cache Levels to 4
    3. Quit and relaunch Photoshop

    After relaunching Photoshop, retry the steps that caused the problem.

  3. Reset your preferences

    Resetting preferences returns Graphics Processor settings to their default status.

    See Restore preference files to default

    After resetting your preferences, launch Photoshop and retry the steps that caused the problem.

  4. Change your Advanced Settings for Open CL

    a. Choose Edit > Preferences > Performance

    b. In the Performance panel, click Advanced Settings

    c. Disable Open CL

    d. Quit and restart Photoshop for the change to take effect

    Note:

    With the August 2021 (v22.5) release, the Advanced Drawing Mode selector has been removed. For earlier versions, set Drawing Mode to Basic in step c (above).

  5. Enable Older GPU mode (pre-2016) setting

    (Optional) For Windows users only: 

    1. Choose Edit > Preferences > Technology Previews
    2. Enable Older GPU mode (pre-2016)
    3. Quit and restart Photoshop for the change to take effect

    This preferences forces Photoshop to fall back to an alternate rendering engine. While this is recommended for older GPUs, sometimes newer GPUs could become more stable with this option selected.

  6. Configuring computers with multiple graphics cards

    Ultralight laptops and low end desktops, often use an integrated graphics card that uses less power to preserve battery and shares memory with your CPU.

    Higher end computers often have a discrete, dedicated graphics card that uses its own memory (VRAM), has greater processing power, and doesn't eat up RAM. If your GPU preference is disabled and you cannot enable it, verify your monitor is connected to the high-powered GPU and not the built-in port on your computer. Also, higher end laptops ofter use two graphics cards, an integrated one when you're using the battery, and a discrete graphics card when you're plugged into an outlet.

    If your system has more than one graphics card, ensure that Photoshop has been assigned the High-Performance graphics card rather than Integrated Graphics or Power-Saving graphics card for the best experience. Changing these settings on laptops will increase battery usage. See Quick Tips on setting up GPU for high performance in Photoshop.

    nVidia

       See how to setup your NVIDIA GPU for high performance in the quick tutorial below.

    1. Right-click anywhere on the desktop and choose the NVIDIA control panel.
    2. Click Manage 3D settings.
    3. Click Program Settings and add Photoshop.exe and sniffer.exe. Change the Preferred graphics processor to High-performance NVIDIA processor.

    Note: Nvidia provides a choice between Studio and Game-ready drivers. Preferably, you should use Studio drivers.

    AMD

       See how to setup your Intel & AMD GPUs for high performance in the quick tutorial below.

    1. Right-click anywhere on the desktop and choose the AMD Catalyst Control Center or Configure Switchable Graphics.
    2. Click Browse and choose High Performance instead of Power Saving.

  7. Disable the less powerful graphics card

    If the above step does not resolve issues when using more than one graphics card, consider disabling one of the graphics cards. Before disabling the onboard graphics card, please ensure you have the video output of your monitor connected to the dedicated graphics card.

    To disable a graphics card, use the Device Manager on Windows. In the Device Manager, right-click the card's name and choose Disable.

    Note:
    • Please use caution and bear in mind that disabling the graphics card may lead to system instabilities.
    • Read the instructions carefully, and contact the video adapter manufacturer directly if you don't understand the instructions.

    After performing the troubleshooting steps above, you can confirm the results by enabling the Use Graphics Processor option in the Preferences > Performance panel and retrying the steps that caused the problem.

macOS

  1. Restart your computer

    Some issues can occur directly after installing or upgrading the Adobe Creative Cloud application and/or Photoshop. Restart your system after a fresh update or install of Adobe software and see if symptoms clear up.

  2. Update macOS

    Apple includes GPU drivers in the system software and frequently adds bug fixes in updates. If you have a system update or security patch awaiting, install them and restart the Mac. If your computer does not let you install the latest version of macOS, then your computer hardware is falling behind current specifications for the operating system, and by extension, Photoshop. It may be necessary to use an older version of Photoshop that coincided with your final operating system version’s release date. To learn more, see:

  3. Update Photoshop

    All the most recent bug fixes are included in the latest version of Photoshop, and if your computer meets all current requirements for macOS and Photoshop, it should be the most stable.

    Update Photoshop

    As noted above, if your computer can no longer install the latest version of macOS, then you may want to have the last known working version of Photoshop installed at the time of your operating system, plus the latest version in case you are able to use it as well. See these steps to install multiple versions of Photoshop.

  4. Creative Cloud issues

    If you experience crashes, particularly on opening new files, sometimes the Creative Cloud application can be the source. Refer to the following documents for help installing or troubleshooting the Creative Cloud desktop app:

  5. Turn off the GPU

    Try turning the GPU off in Photoshop preferences to check whether problems go away with the GPU turned off. Go to Photoshop > Preferences > Performance and uncheck Use Graphics Processor, then restart Photoshop. 

    • If the problems do NOT clear up after turning off the GPU, then your problem is more generic in nature. Try these tips.
    • If problems go away with the GPU disabled, then you may opt to work without the GPU, or try some of the other steps below to straighten things out.

    Re-enable the Use Graphics Processor option in the Preferences > Performance panel, restart Photoshop and try some of the following suggestions.

  6. Camera Raw issues

    Adobe Camera Raw uses the graphics processor differently than Photoshop. If you experience crashes, performance issues, or incorrectly rendered windows or objects, redraw issues or artifacts specifically when opening files in Adobe Camera Raw, then see Camera Raw graphics processor (GPU) FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).

  7. Turn off Automatic Graphics Switching

    If you are using a MacBook or MacBook Pro, go to System Preferences > Energy Saver, and turn off Automatic Graphics Switching. Restart Photoshop and see if the symptoms still occur.

    Automatic Graphics Switching.

  8. Turn off OpenCL

    1. Choose Photoshop > Preferences > Performance
    2. In the Performance panel, click Advanced Settings
    3. Uncheck the ‘Use OpenCL
    4. Restart Photoshop
    Disable Open CL

  9. Check your Cache Levels setting

    If you have set your Cache Levels to 1 in Photoshop preferences, you may experience performance issues with features that take advantage of the graphics processor.

    Reset the Cache Levels to the default setting, which is 4:

    1. Choose Photoshop > Preferences > Performance
    2. Set Cache Levels to 4
    3. Restart Photoshop

    After relaunching Photoshop, retry the steps that caused the problem.

  10. Reset Photoshop preferences

    Resetting preferences returns Graphics Processor settings to their default status.

    See Restore preference files to default

    After resetting your preferences, launch Photoshop and retest for errors. Sometimes preferences files can become corrupted, and a refresh can resolve a wide range of issues.

Additional information

Graphics hardware error messages

When you first launch Photoshop, you might encounter some hardware error messages:

Camera Raw issues

Adobe Camera Raw uses a graphics processor differently than Photoshop. If you experience crashes, performance issues, or incorrectly-rendered windows or objects, redraw issues or artifacts, specifically when opening files in Adobe Camera Raw.

See Camera Raw graphics processor (GPU) FAQ

Have a question or an idea?

Ask the Community

If you have a question to ask or an idea to share, come and participate in the Adobe Photoshop community. We'd love to hear from you!

 Adobe

Get help faster and easier

New user?

Adobe MAX 2024

Adobe MAX
The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Adobe MAX

The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Adobe MAX 2024

Adobe MAX
The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Adobe MAX

The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online