Skip to main content
datieray
datieray
Participant
April 4, 2026

Can't do anything in Photoshop & there is crazy lag

  • April 4, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 25 views

Using Photoshop 2026 on Mac mini running Mac OS Tahoe 26.4 & I can't do anything... currently trying to use the eraser tool on a mask to refine some edges but I either get the spinning beach ball of death or nothing happens at all. Even just trying to make the selection to create the mask, every time I clicked the mouse it was just a spinning beach ball. I can't get anything done… I’m getting spinning beach balls just trying to close Photoshop. 

 

My Mac mini is fully up to date, I have updated all Creative Cloud apps to most current version, and I restarted my computer… the problem has persisted through all of this.

    2 replies

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 4, 2026

    As Derek has suggested, we need to know what we are dealing with to make any kind of assessment.

    Is Photoshop the only app that you have open?

    How many images are open in Photoshop?

    What is the image size in pixels?

    How many layers? 

    What is its bit depth?

     

    If you only have the one drive, use Finder to look at the drives root directory, and see how many Photoshop Temp files are there, and what size they are?  This one is crucial as Photoshop might be paging through that file (or files) and drives are not as fast as RAM.

     

    BTW  Check for orphaned Photoshop temp files.  These can get left behind if Photoshop does not close properly, and they use a of drive space.  If they don’t have todays date, then you can delete them.

    Derek Cross
    Community Expert
    Derek CrossCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 4, 2026

    Try resetting the Preferences back to the factory defaults. You can do that under the General tab in Photoshop Settings then closing and reopening the application.

    datieray
    datierayAuthor
    Participant
    April 4, 2026

    thanks for the assist but no luck… reset preferences, closed Photoshop & as soon as I open a file & try to click on anything, spinning beach ball. If I don’t get one then there is a delay of a good 30-60 seconds where my pointer is still the tool then turns back into the arrow & never makes the changes… absolutely insane lag & it’s maddening. Even just trying to close the file, clicking on the red X produces a beach ball or nothing happens.

    Derek Cross
    Community Expert
    Derek CrossCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 4, 2026

    How much RAM and spare hard disk capacity do you have?

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices