Hi everyone,I'm experiencing persistent freezing and severe performance issues in Photoshop 2026 on Windows 11, and I'm hoping someone can help me identify the cause.System specifications OS: Windows 11 Home, build 26300 CPU: Intel Core i7-13700KF GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti (12 GB VRAM) RAM: 32 GB NVIDIA driver: 617.42 Photoshop: 2026 (27.x) The problemThe New Document window sometimes freezes immediately after opening. If I wait long enough, it may eventually become responsive and allow me to create a document.The problem also occurs while editing existing PSD files. Photoshop may work initially, but after a while the interface becomes extremely sluggish or freezes temporarily. Sometimes Windows reports that Photoshop is not responding, but it can recover after waiting. This makes it very difficult to work normally.I also experienced similar sluggishness with Photoshop Beta. Rolling back to an earlier Photoshop version improved the situation slightly, but did not resolve it. I previously experienced similar issues with Adobe Acrobat, although I cannot confirm that the cause was identical.What I have tried so far Disabled and re-enabled GPU acceleration. This appeared to help temporarily, but the problem returned. Performed a clean NVIDIA driver reinstall using DDU. Tested Photoshop Beta and an earlier Photoshop release. Reset Photoshop preferences. Cleared the Photoshop font cache. Changed the Windows power plan and disabled Intelligent Standby List Cleaner (ISLC). Investigated installed fonts and possible virtual display drivers. None of these steps has permanently fixed the issue.Additional observationsDuring one diagnostic session, Photoshop's memory usage increased rapidly to approximately 15–16 GB of working-set memory, while its private memory reached approximately 23 GB. Total system RAM usage rose to around 78%. Photoshop's responsiveness temporarily changed to “Not Responding” and later recovered.The GPU temperature remained around 46–49°C, and VRAM usage was nowhere near the card's 12 GB capacity. I have not found evidence of the GPU or disk reaching maximum utilization during the observed freezes.I have also used several Windows gaming/FPS optimization tweaks, including service and registry changes. I'm unsure whether any of them could be contributing to the problem.My questions Has anyone experienced similar Photoshop freezing or UI responsiveness problems on Windows 11 with an NVIDIA GPU, particularly in Photoshop 2026/27.x? Could this be related to GPU compositing, OpenCL, Windows graphics components, memory management, or Windows optimization tweaks? Are there any specific diagnostic logs or tests that could help identify the underlying cause? I would appreciate any suggestions beyond the usual steps of reinstalling Photoshop, resetting preferences, or reinstalling the graphics driver, as I have already tried these.Thank you!

Participant

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Photoshop 2026/27.x Freezes During Editing on Windows 11 with RTX 4070 Ti — GPU and Clean Driver Reinstall Didn't Help

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Hi everyone,

I'm experiencing persistent freezing and severe performance issues in Photoshop 2026 on Windows 11, and I'm hoping someone can help me identify the cause.

System specifications

OS: Windows 11 Home, build 26300
CPU: Intel Core i7-13700KF
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti (12 GB VRAM)
RAM: 32 GB
NVIDIA driver: 617.42
Photoshop: 2026 (27.x)

The problem

The New Document window sometimes freezes immediately after opening. If I wait long enough, it may eventually become responsive and allow me to create a document.

The problem also occurs while editing existing PSD files. Photoshop may work initially, but after a while the interface becomes extremely sluggish or freezes temporarily. Sometimes Windows reports that Photoshop is not responding, but it can recover after waiting. This makes it very difficult to work normally.

I also experienced similar sluggishness with Photoshop Beta. Rolling back to an earlier Photoshop version improved the situation slightly, but did not resolve it. I previously experienced similar issues with Adobe Acrobat, although I cannot confirm that the cause was identical.

What I have tried so far

Disabled and re-enabled GPU acceleration. This appeared to help temporarily, but the problem returned.
Performed a clean NVIDIA driver reinstall using DDU.
Tested Photoshop Beta and an earlier Photoshop release.
Reset Photoshop preferences.
Cleared the Photoshop font cache.
Changed the Windows power plan and disabled Intelligent Standby List Cleaner (ISLC).
Investigated installed fonts and possible virtual display drivers.

None of these steps has permanently fixed the issue.

Additional observations

During one diagnostic session, Photoshop's memory usage increased rapidly to approximately 15–16 GB of working-set memory, while its private memory reached approximately 23 GB. Total system RAM usage rose to around 78%. Photoshop's responsiveness temporarily changed to “Not Responding” and later recovered.

The GPU temperature remained around 46–49°C, and VRAM usage was nowhere near the card's 12 GB capacity. I have not found evidence of the GPU or disk reaching maximum utilization during the observed freezes.

I have also used several Windows gaming/FPS optimization tweaks, including service and registry changes. I'm unsure whether any of them could be contributing to the problem.

My questions

Has anyone experienced similar Photoshop freezing or UI responsiveness problems on Windows 11 with an NVIDIA GPU, particularly in Photoshop 2026/27.x?
Could this be related to GPU compositing, OpenCL, Windows graphics components, memory management, or Windows optimization tweaks?
Are there any specific diagnostic logs or tests that could help identify the underlying cause?

I would appreciate any suggestions beyond the usual steps of reinstalling Photoshop, resetting preferences, or reinstalling the graphics driver, as I have already tried these.

Thank you!

J

Jhon vike

Participating Frequently

Since GPU changes haven’t resolved it, I’d investigate the Windows optimization tweaks next—restore documented changes using their backups rather than applying more registry fixes. Also try launching Photoshop while holding Shift to skip optional and third-party plugins. Share Help > System Info with personal details removed, including memory allocation and scratch-disk free space. The memory spike alone doesn’t establish a GPU fault or memory leak.

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avid_Euphoriaaa94

Participating Frequently

1. Disable Advanced GPU Settings in Photoshop:

• Go to Preferences > Performance.
• Uncheck Multithreaded Compositing.
• Click Advanced Settings under Graphics Processor Settings and uncheck GPU Compositing.
• Restart Photoshop.

2. Revert Windows Optimization Tweaks:
• Restore all custom registry tweaks, service modifications, and FPS optimization settings back to Windows defaults (these frequently cause memory leakage and DWM/UI freezes).

3. Intel 13th Gen CPU Stability Fix:
• Update your motherboard BIOS to the latest version featuring the Intel microcode patch (0x12B or newer) and set BIOS power settings to Intel Default Profiles.

4. Re bind Wacom/Tablet Drivers:
• If using a tablet, open Wacom Tablet Properties, remove Photoshop from the Application list, and re add it.

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By Elovra Kessanixx

V

Veli Sefa_BOYACI4776Author

Participant

Thank you, I'll try these, but it was working even though I had tweaked it before?

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Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

617.42 is a gaming driver. Photoshop typically doesn’t like gaming drivers. I’d swap to the Studio driver.

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V

Veli Sefa_BOYACI4776Author

Participant

Yes, I know, but I used to be able to use Photoshop with game drivers and game tweaks.

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D Fosse

Community Expert

Gaming tweaks sounds like a clear smoking gun here. Reverse all of those, then try again.

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V

Veli Sefa_BOYACI4776Author

Participant

Maybe, but the app of a million-dollar company shouldn't be broken by these tweaks.

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justlearn

Community Expert

@Veli Sefa_BOYACI4776 On my PC, I have Windows 11 with an NVIDIA driver and have no issues with Photoshop 2026 and the other apps on Adobe (Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat and Premiere). The one thing that I did differently, and I just received this new rebuilt PC, is that I installed the apps from Creative Cloud Desktop App.

It does sound like you have done the above and beyond. If I can suggest one thing, I would uninstall Photoshop again and then run Adobe Cleaner Tool to clean up the corrupt files, https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/creative-cloud/apps/troubleshoot/diagnostics-repair-tools/run-creative-cloud-cleaner-tool.html. Once that is done, delete the previous download that had Photoshop and empty your trash can or recycle bin. Then go back to Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop app, and download a ‘fresh’ and ‘new’ Photoshop for your computer..

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m

V

Veli Sefa_BOYACI4776Author

Participant

Unfortunately, that didn't work, but thanks for the suggestion!

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