P: How to fix Photoshop Scratch Disks Full Error?

[samarthsrivastav]

I am running Photoshop CC on my MacBook Air with macOS Sierra. Every time I attempt to open Photoshop through any means, the following message appears: "Could not initialize Photoshop because the scratch disks are full", and Photoshop does not open. I tried clearing space from my Mac in general including several GB worth of apps and removing several cache files, but nothing seems to work. I also tried holding down the command and option keys to reveal the Scratch Disk Preferences, and it lets me select the Startup and MacIntosh HD. Again, nothing worked. Anyone know how to fix this message, and/or clear scratch disk space?

{Moderator note: Edited the thread title PS-65057}

[Test Screen Name]

What doesn't work? Please be detailed. 

[GraphicsGeezer]

Photoshop won't start because my scratch disc is full. It says I can change the scratch disc by pressing Command-Option while launching it. But that doesn't work. Photoshop sees no other scratch discs even though I have an 8Tb disc nearly empty and ready to go.

Now I can't use Photoshop. Any help?

[NIKE5CBE]

THANK YOU!!!!

[postrophe]

Hi

What OS are you using ? Mac or Windows

Is the external drive formatted for the right OS you are using ?

Pierre

[davidvham]

Hey,

It should be I can read and write on it. I am using Mac OS.

[Mohammad.Harb]

In preferences , there is a Tab for Scratch disk,  Drive " I " in the shot below is my external Hard drive

[lmrw]

I have the problem of the external SSD not showing as an option. I have reset PS preferences, the HD is formatted to ExFAT and it still wont show as an option. 

[neilw16219252]

I too am having the same issue.  I used to be able to choose my External Hard drive for my Scratch Disk - but it no longer allows me.  *Yes I know I only have 6.02GB of free space left.

I'm running a Mac Book Pro using Creative Cloud.  Photoshop Version 20.0.6

Any ideas appreciated.  🙂

[yesenial63743961]

This is exactly what is happening to me as well. Did you find an answer to this?

[Test Screen Name]

yesenial, you use Disk Utility to format disks in macOS. ALL INFO ON THE DISK WILL BE LOST FOREVER. 

[Test Screen Name]

lmrw, why did you format as exFAT?

Neil, how is your disk formatted?

[Nathalie Esther]

You are HEAVEN sent. Thank you!

[DanDan-10]

Open Photoshop as administrator.

[ashleyj2019]

I cannot open photoshop because it says scratch disk full. I know of the shortcut (ctrl+alt) and have used it before to set my scratch disk to almost empty drives. I've tried the same thing again as photoshop is starting up but it does nothing and i still get the "scratch disks full" error message. It has opened in the past so I don't know what happened. I need this to work for school in a couple of weeks so any help is appreciated!

[JJMack]

Try resetting your Photoshop preferences. Start Photoshop immediately press and hold Shift+Alt+Ctrl. If done in time Photoshop should pop up a dialog asking if you want to delete your preferences. Reply yes delete them.  Photoshop should then open using an new set of Adobe default preferences. If your system startup disk is full Photoshop may no start for there need to be free space on the drive tor Temp files and scratch space,  You system performance  will be poor not what it should be.  Your OS new to use temp space too.

[ashleyj2019]

It worked! Thank you!

[ironchef_marc]

I have the same problem. Suddenly PS won't launch and gives me a series of scratch disk errors but my disks aren't full. (LR and other programs run fine)

So before I delete my preferences where are they so I can make a copy of them. The idea of having to recreate all my settings is not that appealing.

[JJMack]

Try holding down Ctrl+ALT and keep them held down and start Photoshop.  You should be able to  then change Photoshop's scratch disk configuration.

[ironchef_marc]

Thank you I was able to launch it

[ironchef_marc]

Yeah except when I did Ctrl + ALT I now realize I lost all my prefs, keyboard shortcuts and customization etc. hence my question to where that was located to make a copy.

[JJMack]

That should not have happened.  It sounds like you reset your preferences. Did you get this popup starting Photoshop while holding Alt+Ctrl? I changed mine fron C:\ to F:\ still has all my settings.

[JJMack]

If you have a system bbackup you user Id Photoshop preferences are stored in the following file system tree. Normally a hidden folder.

Use you ID not mine

[ironchef_marc]

Yes that's what I got but somehow it affected my prefs

[NemesisLAN]

CTRL + ALT worked for me thx.

[AIMEE6]

I tried the Shift+Alt+Ctrl and it didnt work, the other way didnt work either, I tried it many times, the scratch disk message just keep popping up.