How to Fix Neural Filters Not Working or Greyed Out in Photoshop 2026

Struggling with Neural Filters in Photoshop 2026? If they’re greyed out, not downloading, or showing errors like “temporarily disabled,” you’re not alone. This step-by-step tutorial covers the most common fixes for version 27.x, based on Adobe’s official troubleshooting and user reports.

We’ll focus on quick, easy solutions to get your AI-powered tools like Photo Restoration, Skin Smoothing, and Generative Fill back online. Make sure you always back up your preferences before starting.

Before You Begin: Quick Checks

• Ensure you’re using Photoshop 2026 (v27.0 or later). Go to Help > About Photoshop to confirm.
• Verify your image is in RGB mode and 8-bit/channel (Image > Mode > RGB Color; Image > Image Size > 8 Bits/Channel). Neural Filters don’t work in other modes.

• Have a stable internet connection – many filters require cloud downloads.
• Update your graphics drivers via your GPU manufacturer’s site (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).

Method 1: Sign In and Restart Photoshop

Sometimes, a simple sign-out fixes authentication issues.

1. Go to Help > Sign Out.
2. Quit Photoshop completely (check Task Manager on Windows or Activity Monitor on Mac).
3. Relaunch Photoshop and sign back in with your Adobe ID.
4. Try accessing Filter > Neural Filters again.

If it still fails, proceed to the next step.

Method 2: Download or Redownload Filters

Filters might not have downloaded properly.

1. Open Filter > Neural Filters.
2. In the Neural Filters panel, toggle on any greyed-out filter – it should prompt a download.
3. If downloads fail, close Photoshop and clear your browser cache (or try a different browser if using Creative Cloud app).
4. Relaunch and retry.

Method 3: Clear the Neural Filters Cache

This resets corrupted filter data without affecting your work.

1. Quit Photoshop.
2. Navigate to the cache folder:
   • Windows: C:\Users[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\UXP\PluginsStorage\PHSP\27\Internal\com.adobe.nfp.gallery\PluginData
   • Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/UXP/PluginsStorage/PHSP/27/Internal/com.adobe.nfp.gallery/PluginData
3. Delete or rename the “PluginData” folder.
4. Relaunch Photoshop—it will recreate the folder and prompt redownloads.

Pro Tip: If you’re on beta, repeat for the “Photoshop Beta” folder.

Method 4: Reset Photoshop Preferences

Corrupted prefs often cause greyed-out features.

1. Quit Photoshop.
2. Relaunch while holding Shift + Ctrl + Alt (Windows) or Shift + Cmd + Option (Mac).
3. When prompted, select “Yes” to reset preferences.
4. Test Neural Filters on a new document.

Method 5: Update Photoshop and Check for Beta Issues

1. Open the Creative Cloud desktop app.
2. Go to Updates and install any available Photoshop patches (v27.1+ often fixes AI bugs).
3. If using beta filters like Photo Restoration, note they can be temporarily disabled by Adobe due to errors—check Adobe forums for status updates.
4. As a last resort, reinstall Photoshop via Creative Cloud (uninstall first, then reinstall).

Additional Tips for Persistent Issues

• Offline Fix: If internet is spotty, some users report success with manual filter installs, but stick to official methods to avoid risks.
• System Requirements: Ensure your OS is compatible (Windows 10/11 or macOS Ventura+). Disable antivirus temporarily if downloads block.
• Test on a New File: Create a blank RGB document and try filters there to rule out image-specific problems.
• If nothing works, visit Adobe’s community forums or contact support with your error details.

That’s it! I hope these methods help you solve the neural filter issues. Happy editing!