How to Fix Adobe Photoshop Not Enough Memory (RAM) Error
The “Not enough memory” or “Could not complete the command because there is not enough memory (RAM)” error is one of the most common problems in Adobe Photoshop. This error appears even when you have plenty of RAM available. Here is how to fix it permanently.
Why Does Photoshop Show “Not Enough Memory”?
- Photoshop memory allocation is set too low
- Scratch disk is full or nearly full
- Too many history states stored in memory
- Large canvas size with many layers
- Other programs using RAM simultaneously
- 32-bit Photoshop on a 64-bit system
Fix 1: Increase Photoshop Memory Allocation
This is the most effective fix:
- Open Photoshop
- Go to Edit → Preferences → Performance
- Under Memory Usage, increase the slider to 80-90%
- Click OK
- Restart Photoshop
For example, if you have 16 GB RAM, Photoshop should use at least 12-13 GB.
Fix 2: Set Up Multiple Scratch Disks
Photoshop uses your hard drive as temporary memory (scratch disk). If it is full or slow, you get the memory error:
- Go to Edit → Preferences → Scratch Disks
- Check all available drives (C:, D:, E:, etc.)
- Make sure at least 40 GB free space is available on each scratch disk
- Uncheck “Use as Scratch Disk” for USB drives and network drives
- Click OK and restart Photoshop
Fix 3: Reduce History States
Every action you undo in Photoshop uses memory. Reducing history states frees RAM:
- Go to Edit → Preferences → Performance
- Under History States, reduce from 50 to 20-30
- Click OK
Fix 4: Close Other Applications
Photoshop competes with other programs for RAM:
- Close web browsers (Chrome is a big RAM consumer)
- Close Microsoft Office apps
- Close background apps using Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
- Disable unnecessary startup programs
Fix 5: Use 64-bit Photoshop
If you are using 32-bit Photoshop, it can only use up to 4 GB RAM maximum. Switch to 64-bit:
- Open Adobe Creative Cloud
- Find Photoshop
- If you see an option to install 64-bit version, do it
- Uninstall the 32-bit version
- Install the 64-bit version
Fix 6: Clear Photoshop Cache
Accumulated cache can slow down Photoshop:
- Go to Edit → Purge → All
- This clears undo history, clipboard, and caches
- You can also set up automatic cache cleaning in Performance settings
Fix 7: Optimize Canvas and Layer Settings
If you work with large files:
- Flatten layers you no longer need (Layer → Flatten Image)
- Reduce canvas size if possible
- Use Smart Objects instead of keeping multiple copies of layers
- Save and close files you are not actively working on
Fix 8: Increase Virtual Memory (Windows)
- Right-click “This PC” → Properties → Advanced System Settings
- Performance → Settings → Advanced tab
- Virtual Memory → Change
- Uncheck “Automatically manage”
- Set to Custom size: Initial 8192 MB, Maximum 16384 MB
- Click Set → OK → Restart
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much RAM do I need for Photoshop?
Minimum 8 GB for basic editing, 16 GB for photo editing, and 32 GB for professional work with large files and many layers.
Why does Photoshop use so much RAM?
Photoshop loads every pixel of your image into RAM for fast editing. Large images (40+ megapixels) with many layers can easily use 10+ GB of RAM.
Does switching from HDD to SSD help with the memory error?
Yes! An SSD makes the scratch disk much faster, which helps Photoshop manage memory more efficiently. Use an SSD as your primary scratch disk.
Conclusion
The quickest fix for Photoshop memory errors is to increase memory allocation to 80-90% in Performance settings and set up multiple scratch disks with plenty of free space. These two changes solve the problem for 90% of users. Need more help? Leave a comment below.
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