Are you constantly interrupted by the dreaded “Not Enough Memory (RAM)” error in Photoshop? Whether you’re editing high-resolution photos or working with complex layers, this error can bring your creative flow to a halt. It’s one of the most common and frustrating issues faced by Photoshop users, especially on systems with limited hardware resources.
But don’t worry—this error is usually easy to fix once you understand what’s causing it. In this guide, we’ll walk you through proven methods to resolve the Photoshop memory error, optimize your performance settings, and get back to editing without the interruptions.
What Is the “Not Enough Memory (RAM)” Error in Photoshop?
Adobe Photoshop drains too much of your system’s RAM. When Photoshop can’t get quite as much RAM as it wants, it will throw the error “Could not complete your request because there is not enough memory (RAM).”
This typically happens when you apply filters, open large files, or render a lot of heavy graphics.
Why Is This Error Happening?
There are a number of reasons why you might receive the Not Enough Memory Photoshop error:
- Not enough RAM on your PC
- Incorrect Photoshop memory allocation Editor settings in Photoshop are wrong.
- Outdated Photoshop version
- Background apps are too much.
- Corrupt Photoshop preferences
- GPU or scratch disk conflicts
1. Enhance Adobe Photoshop’s Limit of Use of More RAM
By default Photoshop doesn’t use all of its available RAM. Here’s how to increase it:
- Open Photoshop.
- Navigate to Edit > Preferences > Performance.
- In Memory Usage, raise the setting to 70–85 percent.
- Press OK and relaunch Photoshop.
- Photoshop will be able to use more memory in this case, and you may experience that the error occurs less frequently.
2. Terminate Unwanted Background Apps
Heavy apps running in the background also eat up your memory, leaving less room for Photoshop.
- To free up RAM:
- Hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc to call up Task Manager.
- Close down programs that are not Photoshop.
- Do not use Chrome, video editors, or emulators while Photoshop is running.
Sometimes simply clearing memory can fix the Not Enough Memory in Photoshop error right away.
3. Clean Unused Clipboard & History Data
Clipboard and history are retained in Photoshop, which spends RAM.
- To clear it:
- Click Edit > Purge > All.
- Confirm the pop-up.
This may free temporary memory and help alleviate errors during edits or filter application.
4. Reset Photoshop Preferences
The reasons for memory corruption can be due to incorrect preferences.
- To reset preferences:
- Press and hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift immediately upon launching Photoshop.
- A dialog box asking, Are you sure you want to clear settings?” will pop up—click Yes to clear settings.
- It fixes general undetermined memory allocation issues in Photoshop.
5. Manage Scratch Disks
When Photoshop has eaten all the RAM you can give it, it begins to use part of your hard drive as virtual memory (scratch disk). When it is full, RAM error may occur.
Fix it by:
- Choose Edit > Preferences > Scratch Disks.
- Choose a drive that has 20–50 GB of free space.
- Click OK, and close down Photoshop.
- Verify that if it is the only disk added, your local disk (C:) is not full.
6. Update Photoshop to the Most Recent Version
Some earlier versions of Photoshop may have memory issues.
To update:
- Open the Creative Cloud app.
- Locate Photoshop and click Update.
- Updating your software regularly will get rid of the bugs that trigger RAM errors.
7. Upgrade Your System RAM
If you are frequently dealing with large files and multiple layers, 8 GB of RAM probably won’t cut it.
Recommended RAM for Photoshop 2025:
- Minimum: 8 GB
- Recommended: 16 GB or more
- Increasing the RAM will provide a permanent solution to the Photoshop Not Enough Memory RAM Error, particularly for older devices.
Bonus Tip: Try Lighter File Formats
Try reducing file size by:
- Flattening layers
- Saving in .PNG or .JPG during drafts
- Making the most of Smart Objects
- This will reduce the jumping around and make Photoshop a little more responsive.
Final Thoughts
The “Not Enough Memory (RAM)” error is one of the more frustrating messages you can run into with Photoshop. By tweaking preferences, erasing temporary files, and consolidating available RAM, you can ensure that your workflow is fast and undisturbed.
Do these things in order, and if you continue to have the issue, it may be time to start thinking about a hardware upgrade.
Read:-How to Fix Adobe Photoshop Error Code 202 on Windows 10