LrC using too much application memory

[bjornv6254151]

LrC is using huge amount of application memory, even when the app is only open and I'm not using it. According to the Acitivty Monitor it is currently using 233 GB while I'm not using it. It results in warning messages that I'm running our of application memory and it has also resulted in a crash.

I've seen that there are also other users experiencing the same (or similar) issue. However, so far I have not found a solution. I should stress my knowledge of computers is quite limited. Usually I manage to resolve software issues with a search online, but so far I haven't.

The only practical solution now is to close LrC and restart, but I did not have this issue before and would think there must be something wrong that can be resolved?

Is there anyone who knows how to solve this issue or where to find guidance solving this issue?

- Mac Studio

- Apple M2 Max

- 64 GB

- Sonoma 14.6.1

- LrC 13.5

Lightroom Classic version: 13.5 [ 202408062022-6258095b ]
License: Creative Cloud
Language setting: en-NL
Operating system: Mac OS 14
Version: 14.6.1 [23G93]
Application architecture: arm64
Logical processor count: 12
Processor speed: NA
SqLite Version: 3.36.0
Built-in memory: 65.536,0 MB
Dedicated GPU memory used by Lightroom: 188,6MB / 49.152,0MB (0%)
Real memory available to Lightroom: 65.536,0 MB
Real memory used by Lightroom: 17.666,0 MB (26,9%)
Virtual memory used by Lightroom: 1.335.293,7 MB
Memory cache size: 2.410,4MB
Internal Camera Raw version: 16.5 [ 1953 ]
Maximum thread count used by Camera Raw: 5
Camera Raw SIMD optimization: SSE2
Camera Raw virtual memory: 34MB / 32767MB (0%)
Camera Raw real memory: 37MB / 65536MB (0%)

Cache1:
NT- RAM:0,0MB, VRAM:0,0MB, Combined:0,0MB

Cache2:
m:2.410,4MB, n:0,0MB

U-main: 200,0MB

Standard Preview Size: 1440 pixels
Displays: 1) 4096x2304

Graphics Processor Info:
Metal: Apple M2 Max
Init State: GPU for Export supported by default
User Preference: Auto
Enable HDR in Library: OFF

Application folder: /Applications/Adobe Lightroom Classic

Installed Plugins:
1) AdobeStock
2) Aperture/iPhoto Importer Plug-in
3) DxO PhotoLab 5
4) DxO PhotoLab 5 Importer
5) DxO PhotoLab 6
6) DxO PhotoLab 6 Importer
7) Flickr
8) Nikon Tether Plugin

Config.lua flags:

[arthurp44861373]

Same problem.
M1 Max 64 GB.
Mac OS Sonoma 14.6.1
Lightroom 13.5.1

It's super buggy, a shame. 

[JohnxGough]

I have a similar problem. My MacBook Air with 16 GB of memory had been happily running Lightroom classic until about 5 weeks ago. I then started seeing the system has run out of application memory.

Lightroom Classic is always the culprit, working well when first starting, but gradually taking more and more memory even if it is just open in the backgound. I have gone back a version, but that didn't work. I have installed LRc 14.0.1 and am using Sonoma 14.6.1

[bjornv6254151]

For me the cause of the extreme use of memory appeared to be a problem with the sync function (for lightroom mobile). A few files could not be synced. After removing these items from the sync queue, the extreme use of memory stopped. 

[juan_0965]

Same problem as well....

[Jao vdL]

Try creating a fresh catalog and importing some images. Does it still do this? 

[juan_0965]

Thanks for your response.

New catalog does not hog memory,  but is still a little bit sluggish, but not as bad.

I found that stopping the sync in the original catalog stopped the memory hog and by resuming the sync, LR starts hogging memory again . I can recreate the issue by syncing/unsyncing on the original catalog but the newer one does not show the issue regardless the sync status.

Will rebuilding the sync data on the original one will fix this?.

[Jao vdL]

It's worth a try. It is indeed known that under some circumstances syncing can cause a major memory leak especially when you both sync and have automatic writing of xmp sidecars turned on. I thought the biggest cause of this was fixed in lr 14 but apparently not!

[corama.mx]

rebuilding the data did nothing...I went to the extreme of using "Delete All Synced Data". So far it works, only 3GB of memory used while syncing again and Lr is a kind of fast with the original catalog... now I have to rebuild all my folder structure in LR Mobile lol!

[Jao vdL]

Glad something helped! 

[corama.mx]

yes thanks!!
Now there is another issue.... everytime I need to flag or delete an image... it takes like 2 minutes to flag it or to allow me to delete it. It shows "Gathering Information" and LR does not allow any other operation to be performed until it finishes. After deleting the image, it stays on the navigator for another minute until it dissapears. I tried optimizing the catalog, reinstalled 14.0.1 and rolled back to 14.0. Issue still there... any clues?

[Jao vdL]

I believe this is also due to a bad interaction between syncing images and automatic writing of xmp sidecars

[corama.mx]

Turned off automatic writing and it speed things up indeed. Thanks again!

[juan_0965]

Called victory too fast.... even without writing to xmp is back again to a crawl... flagging, star rating or moving images to a different folder take 1-2 minutes again. Basically Library module is unusable. Memory or CPU are behaving normal... just LR does not do anything for 60-90 seconds and then makes the desired operation

[corama.mx]

Called victory too fast.... even without writing to xmp is back again to a crawl... flagging, star rating or moving images to a different folder take 1-2 minutes again. Basically Library module is unusable. Memory or CPU are behaving normal... just LR does not do anything for 60-90 seconds and then makes the desired operation

[Jao vdL]

Very strange and infuriating. Hopefully Adobe picks up on these problems soon.

[JohnxGough]

I created a new catalog and this appears to work although as someone else says, it is still a little slow sometimes. 

I believe I can import my old catalog to this new one. In the dialog that is displayed, I choose to add new images without moving them.

Is this what you would recommend?