Solving the 'Scratch Disk Full' Error in Adobe Photoshop

Precautionary Steps Before Troubleshooting

Before embarking on the troubleshooting process to fix the "scratch disks are full" error on your Mac, you should take a few precautionary measures. These steps will ensure your data remains safe and you do not lose valuable information.

Back up Your Mac

The first step is to back up all data present on your Mac. This step is crucial, as it can help you recover and restore data if anything goes wrong during the troubleshooting process. Use the built-in Time Machine tool for an easy and convenient backup process.

Save Any Ongoing Projects

To avoid discontinuing any ongoing work, save every project or any other important task you are currently working on. Doing this lets you quickly resume your work once the problem is fixed.

Clear Photoshop Cache

Often, the "scratch disks are full" error can be caused by a cache overload from Photoshop. You can clear the Photoshop cache to free up your Mac's disk space. Regular cleaning of the Photoshop cache will help prevent the error from recurring.

Consider Third-Party Disk Management Tools

If cache clearing does not solve the problem, you may use third-party disk management tools. Softwares like CleanMyMac X by MacPaw, designed specifically for Mac cleanup, can help. It allows you to schedule regular cleaning processes for Photoshop cache and other system junk. This process is automatic and will help prevent the "scratch disks are full" error from recurring.

Increasing RAM and Changing Scratch Disk Location

Addressing RAM allocation and adjusting the scratch disk location are two critical methods to avoid the "scratch disks are full" error. This can help improve your Mac's function and Photoshop's performance.

Allowing Adobe Photoshop more RAM

Enhancing the amount of RAM Photoshop can use can quickly fix scratch disk issues. By allowing Photoshop to utilize more RAM, more temporary files can be stored on the RAM space of your scratch disks. Open Photoshop on your computer, and in the top menu, select Photoshop > Preferences > Performance. Under the Memory Usage section, there's an adjuster for you to manually set how much RAM you want Photoshop to use.

Adjust the Location of Scratch Disk

Changing the location where Photoshop stores its temporary files or the scratch disk can also be beneficial. Navigate to Photoshop > Preferences > Scratch Disks. Here, you can choose a new location for your scratch disk. When launching the Photoshop application, hold Command + Option to adjust the scratch disk location. This scope for selecting different scratch drives gives you more space and reduces error message occurrence.

Deleting Temporary Files to Save Space

Photoshop usually creates and stores temporary files that consume your scratch disk space. Deleting these files can free up some valuable space on your computer.

Removing Temporary Files Created by Photoshop

You can manually search and remove Photoshop's temporary files on your Mac. Open a Finder window and search for files with the ".tmp" extension, usually started with "pst." These are temporary files created by Photoshop and can be safely deleted.

Delete Hidden Temporary Files

In addition to the apparent temporary files, Photoshop also generates some hidden temporary files. Finding and deleting these concealed files can be tricky, but doing so can significantly help save some extra space. Make sure to carefully navigate through the system folders to avoid deleting any vital files.

Resetting Adobe Photoshop to Factory Settings

Another way to fix the "scratch disks are full" error is to reset Adobe Photoshop to its default or factory settings. This is often considered the nuclear option, as it will revert changes you have made since the installation, including color settings and custom workspace configurations. So, it's crucial to note that this action requires a restart, and all ongoing projects need to be saved before proceeding with the resetting process.

Navigate to Photoshop > Preferences > General

Launch Photoshop on your Mac, and from the menu, navigate to Photoshop > Preferences > General. This will open the general settings panel for Photoshop, where you can adjust settings related to the interface, performance, and more.

Select Reset Preferences on Quit

In the general settings panel, you will find an option titled "Reset Preferences on Quit." Select this option, and a dialogue box will prompt asking for confirmation. By choosing "OK," Photoshop will reset all the preferences that you have set since installation once you close the application.

Restart the App

After resetting the preferences, the final step is to restart Photoshop. You can also reset Photoshop preferences using keyboard shortcuts. Simply hold Command + Option + Shift upon launching the application. A dialog box will appear, prompting you to delete the Photoshop settings file. Click on "Yes" to proceed and restart Photoshop. After relaunching, check whether this has fixed the scratch disk error.

Additional Tips

Extra knowledge on the underlying causes and potential fixes for the "scratch disks are full" error can be beneficial. Here are some more tips on understanding this issue and preventative measures to keep it from recurring.

The Main Cause for Scratch Disk Full Error

The "scratch disks are full" error often arises due to insufficient disk space. This lack of space may be due to the disk where Photoshop is installed being consumed by temporary files, a large Photoshop cache, or user permissions and access restrictions. Sometimes, the error may pop up due to incorrect scratch disk settings.

Methods to Open Photoshop when Scratch Disk is Full

If Photoshop can't open due to a full scratch disk, one immediate solution would be to increase the storage space on your Mac. This can be accomplished by deleting unnecessary files, clearing caches, or using digital cleaning tools like CleanMyMac X. An alternative approach is to increase Photoshop's RAM usage, adjust the location of the scratch disk, or, in worst-case scenarios, reset Photoshop to factory settings. Remember to always save your work before making any changes to your system.

Considering an External Drive for More Storage

External hard drives or disk drives can also be a practical solution to this issue. Transferring some of your files to an external hard drive allows you to free up some crucial space on your Mac's internal drive. This new space can then be used for Photoshop's temporary files, allowing the application to run smoothly. Cloud storage solutions like Dropbox and iCloud can be another viable option to handle storage issues.