Yes – with caveats.
The installation process is far from seamless. But once operational, Neural Filters save hours of manual retouching. Photo Restoration alone justifies the effort for archival work.
Adobe has improved local model stability in 2023 compared to 2022, but cloud filters remain frustratingly dependent on your internet speed and Adobe’s server load.
Bottom line: Install them if you have a modern GPU and patience for one round of troubleshooting. If you rely on offline work, stick to the local filters and ignore the cloud-only ones.
Have a Neural Filters installation horror story or success? Share it in the comments below.
Article last updated: March 2023
Applies to: Adobe Photoshop 2023 (v24.0 – v24.4)
To install and use Neural Filters in Adobe Photoshop 2023, follow these steps to download them directly within the application. Neural Filters are cloud-based and are not included in the initial software installation. Prerequisites
Sign In: You must be signed into an active Adobe Creative Cloud account within Photoshop to access and download these filters.
Internet Connection: A stable connection is required to download the filter data (some files can be several hundred MBs). Installation Guide
Open Photoshop 2023: Launch the application and open an image or select a specific layer you wish to edit. Access the Neural Filters Menu: Navigate to the top menu bar.
To install Neural Filters in Photoshop 2023 (version 24.x), you must typically download them from within the application while signed into an active Adobe account. Because these filters use machine learning models, they are not bundled with the initial installation to save local disk space. Standard Installation Steps adobe photoshop neural filters 2023 install
Sign In: Open Photoshop and ensure you are signed into your Adobe Creative Cloud account.
Access the Menu: Open any image and go to Filter > Neural Filters. Download Filters:
In the Neural Filters workspace, look for filters with a Cloud icon.
Click the cloud icon for each filter you want (e.g., Skin Smoothing, Photo Restoration, or Colorize) to start the download.
Activate: Once the download completes, toggle the switch to "On" to apply the filter. Offline / Manual Installation (Workaround)
If your filters fail to download or you are working offline, you can manually place the filter files in the correct directory. Photoshop Neural Filters powered by AI - Adobe
In Adobe Photoshop 2023, Neural Filters are not installed as part of the standard application package. Instead, they are downloaded on demand from the cloud to save local storage space Standard Installation Steps To install and activate filters for the first time: Launch Photoshop and open any image. Navigate to the top menu and select
To install Neural Filters in Adobe Photoshop 2023, you typically download them directly within the application's interface. These filters are AI-powered and often require a cloud connection for initial installation and processing. Standard Installation Steps
Open Photoshop: Ensure you are logged into your Adobe Creative Cloud account.
Access the Menu: Open an image, then navigate to Filter > Neural Filters. Yes – with caveats
Choose Filters: In the Neural Filters panel, select All Filters to see available options like Skin Smoothing or Colorize.
Download: Click the cloud icon next to the specific filter you want to use to begin the download.
Enable: Once the download is complete, toggle the switch to turn the filter on and adjust its settings. Troubleshooting Common Issues
If the "Neural Filters" option is grayed out or the download fails, try these fixes:
Check Sign-in Status: Go to Help > Sign In to verify you are authenticated.
Layer Selection: Ensure you have an active image layer selected in the Layers panel; the filters won't work on empty layers.
Clear the Cache: If downloads hang, you can manually reset the plugin data. Close Photoshop and navigate to:
Windows: C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\UXP\PluginsStorage\PHSP\24\Internal\com.adobe.nfp.gallery\PluginData.
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/UXP/PluginsStorage/PHSP/24/Internal/com.adobe.nfp.gallery/PluginData.
Internet Restrictions: Check that your firewall or VPN isn't blocking Adobe's servers, as these filters require stable connectivity. Have a Neural Filters installation horror story or success
Installing Neural Filters in Adobe Photoshop 2023 is a multi-step process that typically requires an active Adobe account and an internet connection, as these AI-powered features are hosted on the cloud to save local storage space. Standard Installation Steps
To access and install these filters directly within the application: Open the Workspace
: Launch Photoshop 2023 and open any RGB image (Neural Filters do not work with CMYK or other color modes). Navigate to Filters : Go to the top menu and select Filter > Neural Filters Download Individual Filters
: A list of available filters (such as Skin Smoothing, Smart Portrait, or Photo Restoration) will appear. Filters that are not yet installed will show a cloud icon . Click the cloud icon or the button to begin the installation. Activation
: Once the download is complete, use the toggle switch next to the filter name to activate it. Troubleshooting Common "Not Working" Issues
If the filters are grayed out or fail to download, try these common fixes:
To enable offline:
The Magic: Upscales low-resolution images while inventing detail. Best for: Security stills or old web images. It is not magic (it can create false textures), but it is shockingly good for faces and text.
Neural Filters run on cloud AI processing and local downloads. During the install, Photoshop must download model files (which can be 500MB to 2GB). You cannot install them offline. You need: