P: (Win) Consumes RAM during import and fails to release afterwards

[perfect_goal1587]

I notice that LR eats all memory when you start importing images.

When opened, it takes about 1.5-3GB ram. Then import 100 images, and RAM shoots up to +17GB

Iv been doing some tests with smaller raw files, same thing, always goes up to 17GB ram usage. The folder i imported as test contains only 5GB of raws, and LR uses more then twice that amount to import those images? When you delete the images, 17GB ram is still in use. Then tested less images, like 30, and memory still goes up, but less, around 5GB ram extra, for images that on disk only take around 1GB. Importing more images, like +300 will not make memory to increase more then 17GB.

Solution? Import images, restart LR to clear memory, edit... and ram usage will stay "normal" around 6GB during edit after some testing. Thats 10GB less then just doing an import. Whats up with that?

Im on 13.5 btw

[Moved from ‘Bugs’ to ‘Discussions’ by moderator, according to forum rules.]

[steveisa054]

I associate the memory problems with the masking because that is where I notice it mainly. But I will keep this in mind, and see if I also can see huge memory allocations (>15 GB) when I am not working with the masking. Denoise is interesting. It takes a file in the more compact RAW format and creates a new image file which is much larger in a format where each color channel for each pixel is described by its own huge number on its own. So my 40 MB unenhanced image may become a 200+ MB enhanced image. I guess that also must have an effect on memory allocations.

[Flapjack7]

It must be a bug or memory leak because Lr worked just fine till last update (i think when the problem started).

[steveisa054]

I have started up Lightroom a little while ago, and edited two photos, but not using any masks yet. I did do a Lightroom denoise on one of them. Opening up Task Manager, I see that Lightroom is being itself for me, it is currently using almost 10 GB of ram. I also happen to have Photoshop open (from editing the first of the two photos) because I did not shut it down afterwards. And here is how the top few posts of my task manager currently looks, sorted for memory usage. The interesting thing to note (and this is a Windows 11 PC) is that my current memory consumption is 42% of a total of 64 GB ram. I seem to have a lot of Windows related processes taking up small amounts of memory, and I don't really try to figure out if they are needed, I just leave them be. But the point is, when working with both Lightroom and Photoshop, I am usually always up near a total memory usage of 25 to 32 GB ram. This is why I am happy that I put 64 GB into my new PC, and why I was really struggling with my old PC with only 32 GB ram. So I don't know how anyone who uses Windows as operating system is dealing with editing using Lightroom if they only have 16 to 32 GB ram installed.

[SFsix]

I have the same issue in MacOS.

Just take a look, 64GB RAM installed and LRc uses 150GB haha

Someone suggested trying to reset LrC preference files:  https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/setting-preferences-lightroom.html

[SFsix]

I have the same issue on MacOS.

Just got my new MacBook Air. And while exporting 120 EOS R7 CR3 images LrC memory usage climbs to a staggering 42GB.

That can't be normal? On my old iMac with 64GB it even climbed to 150GB. I only do basic edits, exposure, highlights and shadows, color profile and that's it. No denoise. No masks. 

[steveisa054]

I just want to point out that when my Lightroom memory allocation rises over 15 or 20 GB it is when I am only working on one single image file of about 40 MB in size as an unenhanced DNG file. I only edit one image at a time. Now that my new PC has 64 GB ram (and a graphic card with 12 GB ram), Lightroom is working much better for me. But the memory allocation goes up over 18 GB often when working on an image, and so each time I notice this happening (Lightroom controls become very laggy), I shut down and restart Lightroom. That is my work around for now.

[sheldong26810370]

Has this been submitted as "bug" by anyone yet?

[Mannyyyyyyy]

I have the same thing happenening to me in regular Lightroom (not classic). The AI Denise feature is a sure fire way to get this to happen. I'm running a 4070 Ti Super GPU and 64 gb of RAM and yet Lightroom will fully use all that RAM as time goes on. Definitely appears to be a memory bug.

[Ian Lyons]

@Mannyyyyyyy 

If you haven't done so already, I recommend that you create your own thread on the Lightroom Ecosystem forum (link provided below) In addition to describing your issue, you should attach a copy of your 'System Info, which can be obtained from the Lightroom > Help > System Info menu item.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-ecosystem-cloud-based/ct-p/ct-lightroom?page=1&sort=latest_...

[Ganji12]

Hi Evreryone.

Same problem here and i spend 2x1 hours with adobe technicien doing mess on my computer for no result.

There is any official response from adobe? Are they working on this problem?

Personnaly i have this probleme since 1 years and it appears as soon i start working with mask.

[steveisa054]

I hope they are working on it. I am not following it anymore. Gave up. Hoping they realize what an annoying situation it is and do something. For me, the situation has gotten moderately better. With 64 GB Ram, my Lightroom slows down and gets laggy when the memory allocation gets above 15 GB, but it no longer freezes my PC. When this happens, I just restart Lightroom. I also try not to use the pixel based masks as much, I might use a radial gradient instead of selecting the subject. But again, with 64 GB ram, things work better. I do not have difficulties with Topaz apps not being able to run quickly or at all as I had when I only had 32 GB ram.

[sheldong26810370]

I tried to post this issue in the the BUGS section and it was removed.  I haven't seen any interest in this by the Adobe contact in this forum.  I don't get it.

[MattPointZero]

I have upped my ram to 96gb of DDR5 6600 to try and help, but in reality I have just been favouring capture one instead.  Really annoying

[sheldong26810370]

96 GB is really overkill for LrC unless you are running multiple other programs that use a lot of memory at the same time.  OCing the ram to 6600 Mhz will do little to improve LrC's performance, but will decrease your system's stability.

[MattPointZero]

it's 6600 rated ram and it SHOULD be overkill for LRC - but that is the issue.  When LRC eats memory like crazy, it's not overkill.  System is stable.

[sheldong26810370]

for DD5 6600Mhz is OC via XMP.  The higher speed wil make little difference in LrC or other content type programs.

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/impact-of-ddr5-speed-on-content-creation-performance-2023...

[MattPointZero]

It's incidental - I wanted to up my ram (which was DDR5 64gb 5600 across two sticks) to more memory - but 4 sticks of ram were unstable when I tested 128gb, and the easiest upgrade I could do with two ram slots filled was 96gb - which happened to be 6600 

[sheldong26810370]

in order to get 6600 Mhz you had to enable XMP, correct?

[MattPointZero]

yes - but also when running 64gb at 5600

[sheldong26810370]

XMP = OC

[MattPointZero]

It's not the relevant part of the post.  The point is I put more ram in partly because LRC is using more than it should. 

[Ganji12]

New version, new feature and same problem...

My never go down and i have freeze as soon i use local adjustement or AI..

[steveisa054]

I am constantly seeing posts on Facebook discussing which MAC laptop is best for Lightroom, and it seems that a MAC user can be happy with only 16 GB ram. Is there really such a great difference between Windows and MAC with regard to this issue with Lightroom memory usage?

[D Fosse]

@steveisa054 

The problem here is shared system memory.

All MacBooks and most Windows laptops have an integrated GPU that doesn't have its own onboard VRAM - instead the GPU uses system memory from a shared pool. That's something you need to consider, because the GPU can use a lot.

And then you may get competition for resources. The operating system may have allocated, say 12 GB for the GPU, and then suddenly LrC needs 10. And it doesn't get it, because the OS won't release it.

I can't imagine any Mac user can be happy with 16 GB RAM total. They can't do very demanding work. In these situations, 32 should be considered minimum, 64 better.

And note that this is an even more urgent consideration in Photoshop.

[steveisa054]

That may be true of Windows laptop users but there are a good many responses, me included, which are using Windows on stationary PC's with dedicated GPU ram on a graphics card. I couldn't start with only 16 GB motherboard ram, but it sounds like MAC users can.