Lightroom Classic GPU FAQ

When configured (Preferences > Performance), Lightroom Classic can use a compatible graphics processor (also called a graphics card, video card, or GPU) to speed up tasks of displaying and adjusting images in the Develop module, the Library module's Grid view, Loupe view, and Filmstrip. Features like Select Subject, Select Sky, and Enhance Details are also accelerated by the GPU. Using a compatible GPU can provide significant speed improvements on high-resolution displays, such as 4K and 5K monitors.

What are the minimum system requirements for GPU features in Lightroom Classic?

Your graphics processor must meet the minimum system requirements (see below) to be used by Lightroom Classic. We also recommend choosing a graphics card with a GPU Compute benchmark score of 2000 or greater.

System requirements to use GPU for display

Windows

• Windows 10 (64-bit) 1909 or later
  
• GPU with support for DirectX 12. To find out the version of DirectX on your system, see this Microsoft documentation.
• Intel GPUs: Skylake GPU or later is required.

macOS

• macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later 
• GPU with Metal support. To find out if your computer supports Metal, see this Apple documentation.

System requirements to use GPU for image processing

Ensure all the GPU for display system requirements are met.

System requirements to use GPU for Export

Ensure all the system requirements for image processing are met.

For additional details, see System requirements | Lightroom Classic.

Suggestions for choosing a graphics card

For best performance, use a discrete graphics card that has the GPU Compute benchmark score of 2000 or greater. 

How do I determine if Lightroom Classic is accessing the graphics card?

When Lightroom Classic is able to use the GPU, you'll find that the Use Graphics Processor check box is selected in Preferences.

• (macOS) Lightroom Classic > Preferences > Performance
• (Windows) Edit > Preferences > Performance

In preferences, the name of the GPU available to Lightroom Classic and its available video memory is displayed. If no information is displayed, then you may need to install a new driver for your GPU, or your hardware or operating system does not meet the minimum system requirements.

GPU acceleration in Lightroom Classic

Introduced in Lightrooom Classic 8.4 (August 2019 release)

In Lightroom Classic, the current status of GPU acceleration is displayed just below the GPU name. Your system may automatically support limited or full acceleration. If your system automatically supports limited acceleration, you can enable full acceleration using the Custom option.

Acceleration may also be turned off automatically if your system does not support it or due to an error. If acceleration is turned off and an error message appears, it could be due to GPU hardware, driver version, or operating system not meeting the system requirements.

You can select one of the following options from the Use Graphics Processor drop-down to turn the GPU acceleration on/off.

Select this option to automatically determine the correct level of GPU support based on your system's hardware and operating system configuration. This is the default option.

Select this option to choose the level of GPU support manually.

• Use GPU for Display
• Use GPU for Image Processing
• Use GPU for Export

Select this option to turn off the GPU acceleration.

How do I determine the make and model of my graphics card?

To determine your graphics card make and model, launch Lightroom Classic and choose Help > System Info to view the information for your graphics processor.

Does Lightroom Classic take advantage of more than one graphics processor or graphics card?

Lightroom Classic currently doesn't take advantage of more than one graphics processor. Using two graphics cards does not enhance Lightroom Classic's performance.

Multiple graphics cards with conflicting drivers can cause problems with graphics processor accelerated features in Lightroom Classic.

For best results, connect two (or more) monitors into one graphics card.