Why Is Photoshop Not Opening in Windows 10?

September 24, 2023 photoshop

Are you facing the frustrating issue of Photoshop not opening on your Windows 10 computer? Don't worry; you're not alone. Many users have reported encountering this problem, but luckily, there are several potential solutions to get Photoshop up and running again.

Possible Causes of Photoshop Not Opening

Before we delve into the solutions, it's essential to understand the possible causes behind this issue. Here are a few common reasons why Photoshop may fail to open:

Corrupted Preferences: Over time, Photoshop's preference files can become corrupted, preventing the software from launching.
Incompatible Plugins: If you have recently installed a plugin that is not compatible with your version of Photoshop or Windows 10, it could cause conflicts and prevent the program from opening.
Outdated Graphics Driver: A graphics driver that is outdated or incompatible with Photoshop can lead to various issues, including failure to launch.
Insufficient Memory: If your computer does not meet the minimum system requirements for running Photoshop or if there is not enough available memory, it may result in the program failing to open.

Potential Solutions

Solution 1: Resetting Photoshop Preferences

If corrupted preferences are causing the problem, resetting them can often resolve the issue. To do this, follow these steps:

Close Photoshop if it is currently running.
Navigate to the following directory: C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [version]\Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings.
Rename the file named Adobe Photoshop [version] Prefs.psp to something like Adobe Photoshop [version] Prefs_old.psp.
Restart Photoshop. It should now open without any issues.

Solution 2: Removing Incompatible Plugins

If you suspect that a plugin is causing the problem, you can remove it and see if Photoshop opens correctly. Follow these steps:

Navigate to the plugins folder, typically located at: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [version]\Plug-Ins\.
Move all the plugins out of this folder to a temporary location on your computer.
Restart Photoshop and check if it opens without any problems.
If Photoshop launches successfully, it means one of the plugins was causing the issue. You can try reinstalling them one by one to identify the problematic plugin.

Solution 3: Updating Graphics Drivers

An outdated or incompatible graphics driver can cause compatibility issues with applications like Photoshop. To update your graphics driver, follow these steps:

Press Windows key + X and select "Device Manager" from the menu.
In the Device Manager window, expand the "Display adapters" category.
Right-click on your graphics card and select "Update driver".
Choose the option to search automatically for updated driver software.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.
Once the update is finished, restart your computer and try opening Photoshop again.

Solution 4: Allocating More Memory to Photoshop

If your computer does not have enough available memory, it can prevent Photoshop from opening. To allocate more memory to Photoshop, follow these steps:

Close Photoshop and any other unnecessary applications.
Right-click on the Photoshop shortcut and select "Properties".
In the Properties window, go to the "Compatibility" tab.
Check the box that says "Run this program as an administrator".
Click on "Change settings for all users" and check the box that says "Run this program in compatibility mode for:".
Select your operating system version from the drop-down menu.
Click "OK" to save the changes.

Conclusion

Photoshop not opening can be a frustrating problem, but with these potential solutions, you should be able to get it working again. Start by resetting your preferences or removing incompatible plugins. If those don't work, try updating your graphics drivers or allocating more memory to Photoshop. Hopefully, one of these solutions will resolve the issue and allow you to get back to editing your images seamlessly on Windows 10!