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RG631971
RG631971
Known Participant
August 18, 2026

P: (Windows) Photoshop v27.9.1 Crashes at launch: OpenCLOn12.dll exception 0xc0000409 (possible Windows/NVIDIA driver conflict)

  • August 18, 2026
  • 125 replies
  • 1209 views

Simply went to open Photoshop.  Intro screen came up and little blue wheel was spinning but then it just stopped, no messages, etc.  Went through various potential solutions on Adobe and on the internet.  Nothing worked. Finally uninstalled and reinstalled through Creative Cloud.  Had put it in “Run as Administrator” in trying to solve the problem.  Changed that and Photoshop ran once.  When attempting to reopen it again, it would not run.  Lightroom works.  The Beta version of PS works.  

      Pinned Reply By Sameer K

      Hi everyone! This thread is now designated as the main thread for tracking and consolidating similar and related reports. I have shared this with the team for their review.

      Based on detailed investigations and feedback from affected contributors, we understand that the issue may be stemming from external sources (non-Adobe).

      Here are two of the user-reported workarounds you can try:

      • Uninstall the Microsoft OpenCL/OpenGL Compatibility Pack: Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed Apps > search for "OpenCL, OpenGL and Vulkan Compatibility Pack" > Uninstall. This removes the broken OpenCLOn12.dll translation layer entirely, forcing Photoshop to use NVIDIA's native OpenCL driver instead.
      • Uninstall Windows Update KB5121003: Go to Windows Settings > Windows Update > Update History > Uninstall updates > remove KB5121003. This rolls back the Aug 12 update that introduced the NVIDIA driver conflict and triggered the D3DMappingLayers auto-update.

      Will circle back to update, or post new notes from the team soon.

      Thanks!
      Sameer K

      125 replies

      Show previous replies
      Tim Vizhouse Studio
      Participant
      August 25, 2026

      photoshop does not open after todays 27.9.1 update, it crashes at the Measuring Memory step.  I already have the most current nvidia studio driver installed

      Community Expert
      AxelMattCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      August 25, 2026

      See here if it’s help:

       

      P: (Windows) Photoshop v27.9.1 Crashes at launch: OpenCLOn12.dll exception 0xc0000409 (possible Windows/NVIDIA driver conflict) | Adobe DME

       

       

      My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 9 - PureRAW 6 - Topaz Photo AI
        Community Expert
        AxelMattCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 25, 2026

        Unfortunately you haven't given us any information about your system. Therefore, all proposed solutions are a look into the crystal ball.

        Do you get an error message? If yes, please post the message word-by-word.

         

        See here if it’s help: 

        P: (Windows) Photoshop v27.9.1 Crashes at launch: OpenCLOn12.dll exception 0xc0000409 (possible Windows/NVIDIA driver conflict) | Adobe DME

        My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 9 - PureRAW 6 - Topaz Photo AI
        BrunoSouth
        Known Participant
        August 25, 2026

        Windows 11 
        I do not get any error message. I get the Adobe Photoshop Intro banner, then bum, nothing. 

        Community Expert
        AxelMattCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 26, 2026

        ​@BrunoSouth Do you’ve see and checked the linked thread and the workarounds inside?

         

        My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 9 - PureRAW 6 - Topaz Photo AI
        BrunoSouth
        Known Participant
        August 25, 2026

        Hi. I am trying to open Photoshop. The app dialog box with the illustration will emerge, but nothing happens afterwards. I tried with different versions, uninstalling, etc..nothing PS simply won´t open. 

         

        Thank you 

        준민32556345igcj
        August 25, 2026

        최근 업데이트 이전까지 실행이 잘 됐었는데 업데이트 이후 어느 순간부터 이렇게 실행창만 떴다가 사라지면서 실행이 되지 않습니다. 인터넷에서 찾은 해결 방안으로 환경설정 초기화, 관리자 권한 실행, 그래픽 드라이브 업데이트, 재설치 등 다양한 방법을 시도해 보았으나 전혀 차도가 없었습니다. 포토샵 외 다른 프로그램(일러스트레이터, 프리미어프로, 애프터이펙트 등)은 제대로 실행되기에 오직 포토샵만의 문제인 듯 하여 이렇게 문의글을 올려봅니다. 혹, 저와 같은 문제를 겪으신 분이 계시다면 부디 해결 방안을 꼭 말씀 부탁드립니다.

        saarangp
        saarangp
        Participating Frequently
        August 24, 2026

        I may have found a workaround (that actually works) -

        None of the solutions listed here and on the Internet helped me get around this issue (reset settings, remove settings file, re-install, rollback, etc.)

        I fixed it by changing the compatibility mode to Windows 8
        Right click the Photoshop.exe → Properties → Compatibility tab → check ‘Run this program in compatibility mode for:’ and select Windows 8 from drop down list.

        This makes Photoshop a little slow (slightly) and increases CPU usage a bit for a few seconds after opening...but at least it opens and works (till Adobe / Nvidia / Microsoft fix the issue.)

        Screenshot for compatibility settings
         

        johna36029910
        Participant
        August 22, 2026

        After this update, photoshop 2026 loads the splash screen it disappears the nothing happens. No error or crashes. Tried everything(Win 11), still same. 

        Srishti Bali
        Community Manager
        Srishti BaliCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        August 25, 2026

        Hi ​@johna36029910 

         

        I’m sorry to hear about this. There is a known issue affecting Windows. Please check out the workaround shared here: 

         

        Let us know how it goes.

        Thanks, Srishti Bali | Community & Engagement Strategist, Digital Imaging | Adobe
          BHSal
          BHSal
          Known Participant
          August 26, 2026

          Sorry but why roll it out if there's inown issues with the most common operating system? We're paying customers, not beta testers. 

            defaultm0262y8v52gd
            Participant
            August 22, 2026

            Probably the start of the end of Adobe Photoshop.

            [abuse removed by moderator]

            paiser01
            Participating Frequently
            August 21, 2026

            Uninstall the Microsoft OpenCL/OpenGL Compatibility Pack

            Dit werkt bij mij, probleem opgelost.

            HarsAchary
            Participant
            August 21, 2026

            I found a workaround that fixed the exact same OpenCLOn12.dll / 0xc0000409 crash for me.

            The crash was coming from Microsoft's OpenCL™, OpenGL®, and Vulkan® Compatibility Pack, specifically OpenCLOn12.dll.

            I went to:

            Windows Settings → Apps → Installed apps → OpenCL™, OpenGL®, and Vulkan® Compatibility Pack → Uninstall

            Then I restarted Windows, and Photoshop launched normally again with GPU enabled.

            So if you're experiencing the same OpenCLOn12.dll crash, I'd recommend trying this before reinstalling Photoshop or Windows. It worked for me on the same Windows 11 25H2 / NVIDIA setup.

              Superkraut51
              Participant
              August 22, 2026

              Works perfect for me, thanks so much. Was a little worried here, since there is not a easy way to contact Adobe with problems like this. 

              For the money we pay monthly, one would expect some point of contact .

              However, HarsAcharay, THANK YOU so much !!!!!🙏🏻👍🙏🏻

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