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CREATIVE CLOUD

Photoshop crashed? How to recover unsaved files.

Few things are more stressful than watching Photoshop freeze or crash right before a client deadline. Whether you are designing a brand logo, editing campaign visuals, or finalising social media creatives, losing hours of work can throw your entire schedule off track. No matter the reason, the scenario is always the same: you think your project is gone and panic sets in.

Don’t worry. In most cases, you can recover your unsaved Photoshop files. This guide explains how to restore your work using Auto Save, backup folders, and cloud recovery options. We’ll also show you how to prevent this from happening again.

Explore Photoshop

A graphic designer looking frustrated by Photoshop crashing on her workspace and possible loss of files.

How to recover unsaved Photoshop files after a crash.

Restart Photoshop.

The first thing you should do is restart Photoshop. Oftentimes, the app automatically opens a list of files to recover.

Relaunch Photoshop.
Click on “Open” on the right file to recover and open it.
Use File > Save As to save the file with a new name in a different location to prevent further loss.

Manually locate the auto save folder.

If Photoshop doesn’t automatically prompt you with a recovered file, you can manually look for the recovery files on your computer. This is the typical file path for the Photoshop backup file location:

On Windows: C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [Version]\AutoRecover
On macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [Version]/AutoRecover

Look for files ending in “.psb” or “.tmp” — these are temporary recovery files that can often be opened in Photoshop. You might need to enable hidden items in your File Explorer or Finder if you can’t find them.

Check the cloud.

If your project was saved in Adobe Creative Cloud, there’s a good chance it can be recovered easily. To restore a previous version:

Go to https://assets.adobe.com and sign in.
Navigate to Files > Your Work.
Select your project and click Version History to view previous saves.
Restore an earlier version if needed.
You can also check the Deleted section for recently removed files.

You can try Creative Cloud for free for 7 days to see how it works and get access to more creative solutions.

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Why does Photoshop crash or freeze?

Photoshop is a powerful tool, but it also relies on your system’s stability. A crash or freeze can happen for several reasons, and understanding these causes helps prevent file corruption or data loss in the future. Here are some of the most common culprits:

Sudden power outages: Losing electricity mid-edit can abruptly shut down Photoshop, interrupting file saving or rendering processes.
System crashes during saving: If your computer freezes or restarts while Photoshop is writing data, the file may become partially saved or corrupted.
Photoshop freezing during save operations: Large files, heavy filters, or memory-intensive edits can cause temporary lockups that lead to crashes.
Unstable or slow network connections: If you’re saving files to a shared drive, server, or cloud location, a dropped connection can interrupt the saving process.
Hardware issues: Damaged cables, failing hard drives, or faulty RAM modules can all cause system instability that affects Photoshop performance.
Automatic operating system updates: Sudden OS restarts or background updates can disrupt Photoshop’s operations, especially if files are open or unsaved.
Non-genuine software: Pirated or unofficial versions of Photoshop often crash or freeze due to missing updates and security patches. This is why it’s wise to always use genuine Creative Cloud apps for stable and reliable performance.

File corruption in Photoshop is relatively rare, but when it does happen, it’s often linked to one of the issues above. Identifying the root cause helps you recover your files safely and prevents the same problem from happening again.

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How to prevent file loss in the future.

Recovering unsaved Photoshop files can save the day, but the best strategy is to prevent data loss before it happens. With a few simple habits and settings, you can protect your projects from crashes, corruption, or accidental deletions.

Enable auto save.

The auto save (also known as auto recovery) function automatically stores a copy of your project at regular intervals. So even if Photoshop suddenly closes or your system restarts, you can usually restore your most recent work instead of starting from scratch.

Here’s how to do it:

Open Edit > Preferences > File Handling (Windows) or Photoshop > Preferences > File Handling (macOS).
Under File Saving Options, ensure that Automatically Save Recovery Information Every: is checked.
Choose how often Photoshop should save recovery data.
Once Auto Save is active, Photoshop will attempt to open the most recent Auto-Saved version the next time you relaunch the program after a crash.

Save to the cloud.

By syncing your files online, you make sure that your work is always backed up and available from any device. Even when your computer system fails, you can rest easy knowing your files are safe on the cloud. You can use Creative Cloud or third-party cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox.

Back up manually.

Keeping copies of your files on an external hard drive or USB stick can give you another layer of protection against unexpected crashes. This is especially helpful when you’re working on high-value projects or working on different devices.

Update your software.

One of the most common causes of crashes is outdated software. With every new Photoshop release includes bug fixes, performance improvements, and better file handling stability, so make it a habit to check for updates.

Monitor system performance.

Photoshop relies heavily on RAM, storage space, and processing power. When these resources are insufficient, crashes happen. To optimise Photoshop performance, you can close unused programs while working on larger files, increase allocated memory, adjust cache levels, and manage scratch disks.

Keep creating with confidence.

Crashes can happen, but your creativity does not have to stop with them. By setting up Auto Save, backing up your files, and keeping your software up to date, you can safeguard your work and recover quickly when the unexpected occurs. Genuine Adobe Photoshop is built with reliability and security in mind, helping reduce the risk of data loss through automatic recovery options and protection against malware or system instability. Stay creative, stay prepared, and let Photoshop keep your ideas safe while you focus on bringing them to life.

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Frequently asked questions.

How often should I set Photoshop to auto-save?

Every 5 minutes is ideal for frequent edits. Shorter intervals reduce data loss but might slightly affect performance.

Can I recover Photoshop files if Auto Save was turned off?

You can try checking your system’s temporary files or the last manual save location. However, if Auto Save was disabled and no backup exists, recovery is unlikely.

Are auto-saved Photoshop files deleted automatically?

Once Photoshop is closed normally, temporary Auto Save files are usually deleted. That’s why frequent manual saves are essential.

Is the auto save feature also available in Premiere or Illustrator?

Yes. Here’s how you can enable it:

In Illustrator: Go to Edit > Preferences > File Handling & Clipboard (or Data Recovery) and check the box for "Automatically save recovery information”.
In Premiere: Go to Edit > Preferences > Auto Save and enable automatic project backups.

Where can I find the Premiere and Illustrator backup file location?

You can locate Premiere’s auto-save and backup files by opening File > Project Settings > Scratch Disks. In the window that appears, look for the Project Autosave path. Then, open that folder in your file explorer to access your saved backup files.

Illustrator backup files are located in the DataRecovery folder within your user's Adobe Illustrator Settings folder.

On Windows: C:\Users[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator [Version] Settings\en_US\x64\DataRecovery
On Mac: ~/Library/Preferences/Adobe Illustrator [Version] Settings/en_US*/DataRecovery

Does Creative Cloud automatically back up my PSD files?

Yes. If you’re working with cloud documents in Photoshop, your files are automatically and regularly saved and backed up to Adobe Creative Cloud in real time. The default auto-save interval is ten minutes in Photoshop on your computer, which can be change in Preferences > File Handling.

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