How to Fix “Scratch Disks Are Full” in Photoshop (Step-by-Step Guide)

Introduction

Are you seeing the frustrating “Scratch Disks Are Full” error in Photoshop? This common issue occurs when Photoshop runs out of space on the designated scratch disk, making it slow or even unusable. But don’t worry! In this guide, we’ll walk you through multiple solutions to free up space, optimize your settings, and keep Photoshop running smoothly.

What Does “Scratch Disks Are Full” Mean?

A scratch disk is a temporary storage drive Photoshop uses when RAM is insufficient. When the scratch disk fills up, Photoshop struggles to perform tasks, resulting in the error. This typically happens due to large file sizes, limited disk space, or misconfigured settings.

How to Fix “Scratch Disks Are Full” in Photoshop

Method 1: Clear Photoshop’s Temp Files

1. Close Photoshop.
2. Navigate to C:\Users\[Your Name]\AppData\Local\Temp (Windows) or /private/var/tmp/ (Mac).
3. Delete files starting with “Photoshop Temp”.
4. Restart Photoshop and check if the issue is resolved.

Method 2: Change or Add a New Scratch Disk

1. Open Photoshop and go to Edit > Preferences > Scratch Disks (Windows) or Photoshop > Preferences > Scratch Disks (Mac).
2. Check available drives and select one with more space.
3. Click OK and restart Photoshop.

Method 3: Free Up Space on the Scratch Disk

• Delete unnecessary files and empty your Recycle Bin or Trash.
• Use disk cleanup tools like CCleaner or Storage Sense (Windows) or Disk Utility (Mac).
• Move large files to an external drive.

Method 4: Adjust Photoshop’s Cache Levels

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Performance.
2. Under History & Cache, set Cache Levels to at least 4 for better performance.
3. Click OK and restart Photoshop.

Method 5: Increase RAM Allocation for Photoshop

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > Performance.
2. Increase the Memory Usage slider to allocate more RAM.
3. Click OK and restart Photoshop.

Method 6: Disable Auto Recovery Saving

1. Go to Edit > Preferences > File Handling.
2. Uncheck Automatically Save Recovery Information Every X Minutes.
3. Click OK.

Method 7: Reset Photoshop Preferences

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Shift (Windows) or Cmd + Option + Shift (Mac) while launching Photoshop.
2. Click Yes when prompted to reset preferences.

Method 8: Upgrade Your Storage or Use an SSD

• If your hard drive is nearly full, consider upgrading to a larger storage drive.
• SSDs (Solid-State Drives) are much faster than traditional HDDs and improve Photoshop’s performance.

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Conclusion

The “Scratch Disks Are Full” error can be frustrating, but with the right steps, you can fix it quickly. By clearing temp files, optimizing settings, and managing storage properly, you can keep Photoshop running smoothly. Try these methods and get back to creating stunning designs!

Tags

#Photoshop #ScratchDiskFull #PhotoshopError #FixPhotoshop #DigitalDesign #AdobePhotoshop #GraphicDesign #PhotoEditing #PhotoshopTips