After the most recent update, Topaz Photo is taking up over 70 gigabytes on my MBP’s internal storage which is making things extremely cramped.
Can Topaz Photo be moved to an external drive?
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Hi Michael.
Although possible it’s definitely not recommended as this can cause other issues and you’ll have to move the AI models every time you Install an update because, the Models are reinstalled during the Installation Process.
Topaz Photo takes up a significant amount of hard drive space primarily because it stores massive AI Models files directly on your computer.
Unlike many other apps that process data solely in the cloud, Topaz performs all its AI thinking locally.
This allows you to use it offline and ensures better privacy, hence, it comes at the cost of your storage space.
Having said that, Topaz are aware of the problem and their Boffins are going to introduce a Model Management Setup in the near future that allows you to only Download and Install the Models you require.
Hope this helps
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It would be so nice having only required models, and download models only if I choose a specific one.
Like Topaz Video does.
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I completely agree. It is quite absurd that we are forced to move the entire Application Bundle to an external drive just to save space.
Why not simply allow users to define a custom path for the “Models” folder in the Preferences, like most professional photo software?
The application should stay in the /Applications folder for stability and plugin compatibility, while the 70 GB of heavy AI models should be stored on our external SSDs.
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Did ask Gemini about it.
I don’t know if this does work like that.
"
Absolutely! Here is the step-by-step guide for macOS in English. The process uses Symbolic Links (Symlinks), which act as a “pointer” so that Topaz thinks the files are still on your system drive while they are actually stored on your external drive.
- Locate and Move the Folder
First, you need to find where Topaz stores the heavy model data.
- Open Finder.
- Press Shift + Command + G and paste the following path:
/Library/Application Support/Topaz Labs LLC/ - Inside, you will see folders for your apps (e.g., Topaz Video AI, Topaz Photo AI).
- Move (Drag and Drop) the models folder from that location to your external drive or secondary partition (e.g., to a folder named ExternalSSD/TopazData/models).
Note: Make sure you move the folder, not just copy it. The original location must be empty/deleted before you create the link.
- Create the Symlink via Terminal
Since a standard macOS “Alias” won’t work for system-level paths, we use the Terminal.
-
Open Terminal (Cmd + Space, type “Terminal”).
-
Type the following command structure (but don’t hit Enter yet):
sudo ln -s “/Source/Path/on/External/Drive” “/Original/Path/on/System/Drive”
Example Command:
If you are moving models for Topaz Photo AI, the command looks like this:
sudo ln -s “/Volumes/YourDriveName/TopazModels” “/Library/Application Support/Topaz Labs LLC/Topaz Photo AI/models” -
sudo: This runs the command as an admin. You will be prompted for your Mac password (you won’t see characters as you type, just hit Enter when done).
-
ln -s: The command to create a Symbolic Link.
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Quotes: Use double quotes around the paths to handle any spaces in folder names.
- Pro-Tip: Drag & Drop for Accuracy
To avoid typing long paths manually:
- Type sudo ln -s (ensure there is a space at the end).
- Drag the new folder from your external drive directly into the Terminal window. It will paste the path for you.
- Add a space, then drag the parent folder from your internal drive (the one where the models used to be) into the Terminal and manually type /models at the end of that path.
- Hit Enter.
- Verification
If successful, a new folder icon with a small curved arrow will appear in the original Topaz Labs LLC directory. This indicates the shortcut is active.
Important Reminders:
- Drive Connection: Your external drive must be plugged in before you launch the Topaz app. If it’s missing, the app might crash or start re-downloading models to the internal drive.
- Drive Name: If you rename your external hard drive, the link will break and you will have to repeat the process with the new path."
This should be at the top of the list for Topaz Photo. I recently deleted the old Topaz apps (30+ gb) to free up storage on my computer. The next day, Topaz Photo installed updates, chewed through that space and more. After exchanging messages with Support, it seems that there’s no way to manage an app taking up 70gb of space without uninstalling it
Hi.
Have you Downloaded and installed the latest version because, you can now choose here’s the information for you
Recommended & On-Demand Model Downloads
Installing Topaz Photo has always meant downloading every model upfront, including large specialized models that most people use rarely. This made the installation very slow and storage-heavy before you could even open an image.
The reason comes down to model size. The core editing models covering Denoise, Sharpen, Upscale, Face Recovery, Lighting, and Color are compact and cover the vast majority of workflows. The generative models are significantly larger and produce strong results, but they are designed for rarer and more specific image situations. Bundling everything together meant new users were waiting through a long download for models that are less commonly used in their workflow.
The installer now allows you to decide which models to download.
Recommended models includes all the analysis and core GAN models: everything you need for Denoise, Sharpen, Upscale, Face Recovery, Lighting, and Color. Download is fast and the full standard editing experience is available immediately.
All models includes Remove, Super Focus, Dust & Scratch, Wonder, Upscale - Recover v3, and Upscale - Standard MAX.
If you choose recommended models and later use a feature that requires a model you don’t have, the application will download it automatically on demand. No need to reinstall or manually manage anything.
NOTE: the processing ETA for generative models on the first use will be inaccurate due to the models downloading.
If you plan to use the app offline or know you will need the generative models regularly, we recommend selecting all models at install
Hope this helps
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Hi – thank you so much for that info. Support had said that a feature to address this issue might be coming soon. I didn’t realize that it would be coming this soon – that’s great to hear.
Two questions:
- What version is this update available in? I don’t see an update available – I’m running v1.3.3
- What’s the size difference in the application between the two choices?
Thanks again.
Topaz Photo v1.4.0
Released March 27th, 2026
Installers:
Windows : Download
Snapdragon : Download
Apple Silicon Mac : Download
Intel Mac : Download
FYI, when I tell Topaz Photo to look for updates, it says 1.3.3 is the current version.
That’s interesting because on my version it says the latest version is Topaz Photo 1.4.0 I don’t know if this is the issue but, do you by any chance have an active VPN or Add Blocker which could be interfering with your internet connection to Topaz
Hope this helps
