Memory leak / crash on M1 Macs

[adaml60096233]

When syncing a large catalog (downloading all originals), Lightroom uses more and more memory (60 GB or more) until the entire system crashes. This problem occurs on multiple M1 Macs that I've tried. The computers all have at least 16 GB of RAM. 

I've tried disabling GPU support, and I've reduced the cache size to the recommended 10 GB, but the problem remains. My catalog is on an external hard drive, not part of any cloud syncing. I've tried deleting and creating the catalog fresh, but the problem persists. The problem does not happen on computers that are already synced. The problem happens on both MacOS Sonoma and Ventura. 

[adaml60096233]

I am opening a new thread for this issue, since it was never addressed: Lightroom repeatedly crashes with huge memory usag...

[adaml60096233]

For months now I've been having an issue where I can't leave Lightroom open to sync.

I have a catalog with about 50,000 photos, around 900 GB. I like to store all the originals on an external hard drive. Lightroom starts up and starts downloading the photos to the external drive, but progressively lags worse and worse as its system memory usage goes up and up, 30 GB or higher. Eventually all other apps start to fail, I get warnings about memory usage, and the entire system crashes.

This happens consistently when Lightroom is open for long enough and syncing (not even being used). I have tried recreating the catalog from scratch. I have tried setting up a completely new hard drive. I have tried setting all the cache sizes to minimum, and to maximum. I have tried enabling GPU, and disabling GPU. Nothing stops this from happening eventually.

The included screenshot is from just before a crash. Lightroom is open and not doing anything aside from syncing. Memory usage inevitably builds up to 30+ GB before the entire system crashes. 

System: M1 iMac, 16 GB RAM

Platform: MacOS Sonoma 14.2.1

Lightroom 7.1.2

[adaml60096233]

I also reported this back in November but got no responses: https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-ecosystem-cloud-based-discussions/memory-leak-crash-on-m1-m...

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

We’ve reviewed the email address you use with this forum and find no crash reports in our system.

Did you see a crash dialog?

Do you use a different email address when filling out the crash report?

Was the crash dialog Adobe’s? Apple’s?

Additionally, please go to Help>System Info… and provide us with your software's exact installed version number. 

[adaml60096233]

I meant reported through the forums, referenced by the thread I linked here. There is no crash dialog, either Adobe or Apple. Lightroom's memory usage builds and builds and builds until the entire system hangs, then crashes. I've seen memory usage of 60 GB or higher before the crash. Upon restart, there's an Apple system message about how the system was restarted due to an error, but no other information. 

[adaml60096233]

Exact version is 7.1.2 arm64 [ 20231210-1901-9bac95f ] (Dec 10 2023), though again, this problem has been persistent for months across a few versions. 

[adaml60096233]

Some more screenshots for reference. Both were taken about 5 minutes after starting the program. It's doing nothing but syncing, but memory usage already up to 20 GB and system already starting to slow down a bit. 

 

 

[adaml60096233]

Any updates on this issue? It prevents me from using the app entirely. 

[adaml60096233]

Bumping again due to lack of updates. @Rikk Flohr: Photography, has there been any progress on this bug? Again, it's stopping me from being able to use the program effectively. 

[adaml60096233]

Can we get an update on this please? Forum search shows this is a widespread issue with Apple Silicon. I just did a clean install on a brand new M4 iMac and exact same thing -- memory usage skyrockets while syncing until everything crashes. I can't use the app at all as a result of this bug. 

[anthonyhibbert]

Just wanted to add my voice to this - Lightroom completely unusable on desktop and laptop due to skyrocketing memory usage within a minute. Have tried fresh installs and nothing works.

Why isn't there an official response to this?

[adaml60096233]

Since there is clearly no interest in fixing this serious bug in a very expensive piece of software for the time being, I've found a workaround. The memory leak only happens when initially syncing large libraries -- 1.1 TB in my case -- so if the photos can be downloaded some other way, Lightroom will recognize them and then function normally. 

1. Download and install Lightroom Downloader: https://lightroom.adobe.com/lightroom-downloader

2. Point Lightroom Downloader to the "originals" folder of your offline copies. There should be many folders within, organized by year. 

3. Let Lightroom Downloader run as long as it can. In my experience it always crashes right at the end (of course). 

4. Once all or at least most of the photos are downloaded, Lightroom can be started up. It will sync any remaining photos and identify all the downloaded photos, during which time the memory leak issue does not come up (mine maxed out around 3 GB of RAM usage). The program can then be used normally.