Improve Photoshop speed and stability with Performance preferences

Select Preferences > Performance to optimize how Photoshop uses your system's resources, like memory, cache, graphics processor, and displays. Adjust the settings, depending on how you use the app and the types of creative workflows you follow.

Other settings, like Scratch Disks, also impact the speed and stability of Photoshop.

Improve the performance of Photoshop by increasing the amount of memory and RAM allocated to the app. In the Performance preferences dialog, check Memory Usage to see how much RAM is available and the recommended allocation range for Photoshop. 

By default, Photoshop uses 70% of available RAM. To adjust this, use the Memory Usage slider or enter a value in the Let Photoshop Use box. Restart the app for changes to take effect.

To find the optimal allocation, adjust in 5% increments and monitor the Efficiency Indicator. 

This comprehensive breakdown shows all UI elements in the Performance Preferences dialog for optimizing Photoshop on high-end systems with substantial memory allocation and GPU acceleration.

Adjust cache levels

Cache basics

Photoshop uses image caching to boost performance when working with high-resolution documents. You can configure up to eight cached levels and choose from four cache tile sizes based on workflows.

Increasing cache levels improves the app's responsiveness, although it may lead to slightly delayed image loading. The cache tile size determines how much image data Photoshop processes.

Larger tile sizes work best for intensive tasks like applying filters and smaller tile sizes work best for actions like brush strokes and fine edits. 

Cache presets

Select a cache preset in the Performance preferences that best suits your workflow.

• Web/UI Design: Select this option when using Photoshop for web, app, or screen design. It's appropriate for documents with numerous layers of low-to-medium pixel dimension assets.
• Default/Photos: Select this option when using Photoshop to retouch or edit images captured using a mobile or digital camera.
• Huge Pixel Dimensions: Select this option when working extensively with heavy images, like panoramas and matte paintings.

Cache levels

The default cache level value in Photoshop is 4. For more control, set cache levels manually based on file size and editing needs.

• For small files (around 1 megapixel or 1280 X 1024 pixels and 50 layers or more, set Cache Levels to 1 or 2. Setting Cache Levels to 1 disables image caching, and only the current screen image is cached.

• For large files (around 50 megapixels or more) set Cache Levels at higher than 4 to speed up redrawing.

Tip: Some Photoshop features may not deliver optimal results when cache levels are set to 1.

Limit history states

Reducing the number of history states can save scratch disk space and improve performance, especially when working with large files.

Photoshop can store up to 1,000 history states, and the default is 50. The amount of space used depends on how many pixels an operation changes:

• Small edits (like a brush stroke or adjustment layer) use very little space.

• Larger operations (like applying a filter to the entire image) use significantly more.

To adjust this setting, select Preferences > Performance and then lower the History States value from the History & Cache section.

Set graphics processor (GPU) settings

If you encounter any issues working with the above features, see Graphics processor (GPU) troubleshooting.

GPU preferences

To adjust GPU settings, select Preferences > Performance.

If Photoshop detects a graphics card, its name and model will appear below Detected Graphics Processor in the Graphics Processor Settings section of the Performance section.

• If your graphics card is supported, the Use Graphics Processor checkbox will be enabled and checked by default.
• If your graphics card isn't supported, the checkbox will be grayed out and not checked by default.
• If your graphics card is supported but the Use Graphics Processor checkbox is unchecked, it is because Photoshop may have disabled it due to a crash caused by a faulty graphics driver or configuration. For more information, refer to Troubleshoot Photoshop graphics processor (GPU) and graphics driver issues.

Manage scratch disks

Photoshop uses scratch disks (your hard drive space) as temporary memory when system RAM is low. If you frequently see “scratch disk full” errors or experience slow performance, consider changing or adding a scratch disk.

To do this, select Preferences > Scratch Disks, and select a drive with ample free space (ideally an internal SSD). Restart Photoshop for the changes to take effect.