P: PS 27.1 Launch Error: Could not apply the saved panel configuration, resetting to default

Hi @Sameer K 

Have experienced an identical problem to the other users within the past week. 

Link to my Photoshop 2026 settings.

Many thanks

Photoshop bug.JPG

Hey guys, I've been having the exact same problem for a few days now. It's resetting my panels (history panel and macro panel). I have a very simple setup, and I have no idea why anything might be incompatible with the settings. Please fix this!

It keeps happening...

I've used the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool a wipe everything. Uninstall PS, LR, Bridge, etc., and reinstall everything again.

At first it seems to work, but it still happens the same issue days after.

Is Adobe even interested in solving this issue?? 

It's quite annoying that there is no support from Adobe.

I'm seriously considering canceling my license and trying Affinity if this isn't resolved soon.

I tried that -- didn't work.

I too have this issue and as others have stated, I have ZERO interest in returning Photoshop to a "new out of the box state". My keyboard shortcuts, preferences to make this work the way I want and look the way I want via workspace and palattes I'm NOT resetting all the Settings after 20 some years of using this software. 

That being said, I've moved the settings folder and confirmed that the "Could not apply the saved panel configuration, resetting to default." goes away after resetting settings. I put the folder back and message comes back. The main thing I notice is after start up the only real thing that changs is workspace but I can use the Reset feature to bring the layout back. I did try removing that .psw files for the workspace to get workspaces back to a default state but still get error. Even if I don't reset the workspace but leave it in default view and quit and restart i get the error. 

The PSErrorLog.txt contains this after each launch:

2025:12:11 10:46:12 : Version : : Adobe Photoshop 27.1.0 20251117.r.17 2758080
2025:12:11 10:46:12 : 1e6ee71193934518 : 4601 : REQUIRE failed
2025:12:11 10:46:12 : Stack : : {"load":[{"Adobe Photoshop 2026":"0x102ac8000"},{"dyld":"0x181b91000"}],"offsets":[{"Adobe Photoshop 2026":[52276140,100222544,100221896,90940568,90941444,100200920,87961144,100904036,100181388,15208]},{"dyld":[36180]}]}

And also, this forum is buggy. I can't edit my previous reply to correct the word "Adobe" ... clicking on the edit button does nothing.

But I did find that I can copy the URL that the button was supposed to go to, and that works. 

@Sameer K here's my Adobe Photoshop 2026 Settings folder. I get this same error opening Photoshop (27.1.0), on macOS Tahoe (26.1 (25B78)), 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pErtcAEK2tSCR_Jx0ms-CBvH1v0RNUzi&usp=drive_fs 

(MacOS) Finally, I found a solution. I've just deleted "MachinePrefs.psp" file in the Settings folder (forcing PS to regenerate it on next start), and now everything works normally again.

Hi All! @DanielPlateado, @Aron33234409lp4x, & @EwgenFeaghley. I've consolidated your reports. The issue affects macOS & Windows. As @D Fosse shared, the issue can arise from corrupt preferences. We'd like to investigate this further. 

When you see this error, please go to the following locations on macOS & Windows:

• Windows 10/11: Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
• You can press Press the Windows key > Enter 'Run' > Enter %APPDATA%\Adobe
• MacOS: Library > Preferences > Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
• Hold down the Option key in the Finder when using the Go menu. The library will appear below the current user's home directory.

Compress or zip this entire folder. Then, upload the zip file to any cloud file-sharing service and share a public link with us here, or via direct message on my profile. 

I'm looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks!

I had the same issue on macOS this morning…

Pretty annoying.