Photoshop "Not Enough Memory (RAM)" Error

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Give Photoshop more memory

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   1. Edit > Preferences > Performance (Photoshop > Settings > Performance on Mac)
   2. Raise the Memory Usage slider (guides suggest roughly 70-80% of RAM; some users set higher if nothing else is running)
   3. Restart Photoshop
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Free memory

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   1. Close browsers, video editors and other heavy apps
   2. Edit > Purge > All
   3. Lower History States (try 20-30) and Cache Levels
   4. Convert or rasterize unused smart objects, merge layers
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Update software

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   1. Update Photoshop in the Creative Cloud app
   2. Update your graphics driver from NVIDIA/AMD/Intel or Apple software updates
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Try the save workaround

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   1. If the error appears on Save for Web, use File > Save As or Export As instead
   2. Reduce image dimensions or bit depth before exporting
   Did this fix it? Yes No

5. 5. Hardware check

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   1. 16GB is a practical minimum for modern Photoshop; 32GB for large multi-layer files
   2. Add RAM if the error persists on every large file
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

Messages like "Could not complete your request because there is not enough memory (RAM)" when opening, saving, running filters or using generative tools, sometimes while Task Manager still shows free RAM.

Why it happens

• Other memory-hungry apps open at the same time
• Photoshop memory usage capped well below installed RAM
• Huge images or documents with many layers and smart objects
• Too many history states and cache levels
• Outdated Photoshop build or graphics driver
• Not enough physical RAM for the file size

This guide also covers

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• could not complete your request because there is not enough memory
• photoshop not enough ram error
• photoshop out of memory

Other Adobe Photoshop errors

• How to Cancel Adobe Photoshop Subscription (and the Early Termination Fee)
• Photoshop "Scratch Disks Are Full" Error
• Photoshop Generative Fill Not Working
• Photoshop Generative Fill "Violates User Guidelines" Error
• Photoshop Generative Credits Run Out (Firefly Credits Limit)
• Photoshop Keeps Crashing or Won't Open
• Photoshop GPU Errors: Graphics Processor Not Detected or Crashing
• Photoshop "Could Not Complete Your Request Because of a Program Error"