What causes "Lightroom AI Denoise Very Slow"?

GPU with less than 8 GB of video memory or without ML acceleration Outdated or unstable graphics driver Laptop using integrated graphics instead of the dedicated GPU Older Lightroom version that doesn't use the Apple Neural Engine Running Denoise on many photos at once

How do I fix "Lightroom AI Denoise Very Slow"?

1. Update the graphics driver: Install the latest driver; for NVIDIA use the Studio driver If the newest driver is unstable, try one from about six months earlier Users report times dropping from 4-8 minutes to 1-3 minutes after updating 2. Make sure the dedicated GPU is used: Open Preferences > Performance and check which GPU is listed On dual-GPU Windows laptops, set Lightroom to High performance in Windows Graphics settings, or disable the integrated GPU Try setting Use Graphics Processor to Custom instead of Auto 3. Update Lightroom: Install Classic 15.4 or later; on Apple silicon Macs Denoise uses the Neural Engine 15.5 fixed Denoise paste failing when another copy/paste starts 4. Batch smarter: Apply Denoise only to keepers after culling Run large batches when you don't need the computer, e.g. overnight 5. Upgrade the GPU if it's old: Adobe recommends at least 8 GB of VRAM, NVIDIA RTX with Tensor Cores on Windows, or Apple silicon with plenty of memory One user cut Denoise from 32 minutes to 25 seconds per photo with a GPU upgrade

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Lightroom AI Denoise Very Slow

Workaround available Mac, Windows, iPad Updated October 21, 2026

Quick answer

Denoise is GPU-bound: on a recent GPU it takes seconds per photo, on an older laptop minutes or even 30+ minutes. Update the graphics driver, make sure the dedicated GPU is used, and on Apple silicon update to Classic 15.4+, which runs Denoise on the Neural Engine.

Most likely fix: Update the graphics driver.

Symptoms

Denoise shows an estimate of several minutes per photo, batch Denoise takes hours, the computer becomes unresponsive, or Lightroom locks up while processing.

Why it happens

GPU with less than 8 GB of video memory or without ML acceleration
Outdated or unstable graphics driver
Laptop using integrated graphics instead of the dedicated GPU
Older Lightroom version that doesn't use the Apple Neural Engine
Running Denoise on many photos at once

How to fix it

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

1. Update the graphics driver
1. Install the latest driver; for NVIDIA use the Studio driver
2. If the newest driver is unstable, try one from about six months earlier
3. Users report times dropping from 4-8 minutes to 1-3 minutes after updating
2. Make sure the dedicated GPU is used
1. Open Preferences > Performance and check which GPU is listed
2. On dual-GPU Windows laptops, set Lightroom to High performance in Windows Graphics settings, or disable the integrated GPU
3. Try setting Use Graphics Processor to Custom instead of Auto
3. Update Lightroom
1. Install Classic 15.4 or later; on Apple silicon Macs Denoise uses the Neural Engine
2. 15.5 fixed Denoise paste failing when another copy/paste starts
4. Batch smarter
1. Apply Denoise only to keepers after culling
2. Run large batches when you don't need the computer, e.g. overnight
5. Upgrade the GPU if it's old
1. Adobe recommends at least 8 GB of VRAM, NVIDIA RTX with Tensor Cores on Windows, or Apple silicon with plenty of memory
2. One user cut Denoise from 32 minutes to 25 seconds per photo with a GPU upgrade

This guide also covers

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