Inspiring

Photoshop BETA hijacks all associated file types in Windows 10

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
December 26, 2019
22 replies
9463 views

I installed Photoshop beta on Windows 10, which I regret insofar that all my file types are now hijacked by Beta. All my Photoshop files are now associated with beta. When I click any PSD file, beta opens. I cannot change file association in Windows 10, as Windows doesnt "see" regular Photoshop and wants to open the Windows App Store (for all other filetypes besides PSD normally associated with Photoshop).

Any ideas how I can have Beta installed without this Photoshop filetype nightmare?

Windows

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

"it's perfectly reasonable for their installer to mess with file associations..."

==========

Free BETAS are incomplete apps. Basically, you're getting a fledgling test product, not the real deal.

For this reason, I don't put BETAS on my production machine unless I'm fully prepared to deal with the consequences. It's best to keep BETAS on a spare device where it won't interfere with normal workflow.

Hope that helps.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

Ben J. Cote

Participating Frequently

Oh, I absolutely agree with your comment! Adobe is just doing an amazing job here. Of course, it's perfectly reasonable for their installer to mess with file associations—who doesn't love their workflow being completely disrupted? And with the incredibly reasonable subscription prices we all gladly hand over each month, it’s not like they have the resources to hire a single person to address this. Clearly, they’ve mastered the art of ignoring customer feedback. Bravo, Adobe, bravo!

Pete.Green

Community Manager

Hi folks,

Apologies for the trouble with file associations during install and beta installations. We've made some changes here, so with this latest release and hopefully going forward you shouldn't run into any more file association issues when installing new versions, beta versions, or uninstalling. Hopefully this fixes it for you!

Please let us know if there are any strange behaviors you notice and we can further look into it.

Cheers,

PG

RG631971

Known Participant

Apparently, this is an old problem that ultimately has never been resolved. Every time there is a PS update, it somehow messes up the file associations. For example, beta version will become the default. In and of itself, this would not be so bad. The totally irresponsible aspect of it is the user is not able to remake the association desired through normal windows processes. Regardless of techninque I try that works for all the other software I have checked, picking PS exe from the Photoshop 2025 directory, which its icon properties indicates is the program, still results in a different version running. Now, never going to tell me that as talented as the programmers at Adobe obviously are, this could not be addressed and fixed. Seems all other software, or at least the vast majority, is capable of it. So one logically has to ask what is Adobe leveraging in their approach to again just be a pain for their user base? This issue has been raised many times in this forum and I have yet to find an answer that solves the problem. Appreciate any insight anyone can provide.

D Fosse

Community Expert

The underlying problem is that when you update - and choose to remove the old version! - that old version is removed after the new one is installed. Sequence matters.

And so the file associations established in the new version install, are broken again when the old one is subsequently removed. It takes the file associations with it on the way out.

This is very easy to avoid in the future. If you decide that you want to remove the old version, do that first, before initiating the new install. Then you will never have any problems. If you have several versions installed, always follow strict version order both ways. Think of it as tennis balls in a plastic tube, open only at the top.

Yes, I agree that this is basically a problem with the CC installer. It shouldn't be a problem to change the order of operations so that it removes old versions first.

thompsoncd

Participating Frequently

I just installed Photoshop 2025 and like each new year's update, I lose my file associations, my XenceLabs Quick Keys, my Canon print plugin and etc.

I'd love it if Adobe could find a way to allow us to update and not lose all of these file and app associations. It is a bit of a pain to get everything working again.

D Fosse

Community Expert

Yeah, that can happen, There is a simple and easy way to avoid losing the file associations: Before installing the new version, uninstall the old.

If it's already happened, uninstall/reinstall should normally fix it, or you can set them manually in Windows settings.

Long version: Sequence matters. The way Windows works (and probably MacOS too), the last installer activity will always take file associations. That makes sense; when you install a new version you presumably want to have that as the default app. And when you uninstall, those file associations need to be returned to the operating system.

So far so good, but the problem is when you uninstall an old version with a newer one still in place. The old version takes file associations with it, leaving them orphaned.

And that's how the CC installer apparently works. It installs the new, then uninstalls the old. It should be the other way round. They should always be installed in version order, and uninstalled in reverse version order.

As for plugins, they should always be installed from the original installer.

ArtOfPendleton

Participant

So I just installed Windows 10 (I know, but Windows 11 won't open all my older software) on a new hard drive and re-installed my CC Photography Plan apps. But when I try to associate photo files so they'll open in Photoshop CC, the Photoshop 2024 icon does not show up, unless I install Photoshop Beta -- not regular Photoshop. So I uninstalled Beta and I can't get the OS to recognize Photoshop 2024 as an option, even when I directly select it in the File association window. Is there a fix for this, or do I just have to drag every file into Photoshop as I go?

Per Berntsen

Community Expert

Try setting the file associations in Adobe Bridge, which comes with your subscription.

Edit > Preferences > File Type Associations.

H

Hjorthmedh

Known Participant

I have both photoshop and photoshop beta installed. I want to have normal photoshop as default app, but every time there is a Beta update, it becomes the new default.

So I have to change default app in Finder every time there is an update. Would be great that if Photoshop Beta is freshly installed it becomes default app, but if it is already installed and just gets an update it does not become the default app.

D Fosse

Community Expert

The last installed version will always take over file associations. That includes updates. That's just how it works in Windows.

As long as you have them both installed, you can easily reassign file associations in Windows Settings.

Problems can happen if you uninstall a version that is currently not holding file associations. Don't do that. When installing/uninstalling, always follow strict version order, and start with the one currently holding file associations. Last in, first out.

Peter A Lund

Inspiring

Hey,

can we pls discuss, why after installing the beta version of photoshop this becomes the primal app to open all images.

I would love if we can agree that we should not change it from the original photoshop version that is installed.

I have to always change this every single time and its anoying me a lot.

I want to open the beta on purpouse not by accident.

I am working on macOS (version 14)

And it does not matter the machine I am working on.

cheers Peter

rejoice in the way things are.When you realize there is nothing lacking,the whole world belongs to you.>Be content with what you have;rejoice in the way things are.When you realize there is nothing lacking,the whole world belongs to you.

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

The beta version has the higher version number so it seems logical that it »assumes« it takes precedence.

What »single time« are you talking about? Opening an image or installing/updating the Beta version?

Because one can set the »Open with«-application for all images of a file format (»Change All«), but one may have to repeat that after installing/updating the Beta version.

Installing the Beta version is a choice; if it interferes with your work you may want to evaluate whether it is beneficial for you.

Peter A Lund

Inspiring

Yes ,

I know that I can do this.

But why cant we change this?

We can make suggestion.

rejoice in the way things are.When you realize there is nothing lacking,the whole world belongs to you.>Be content with what you have;rejoice in the way things are.When you realize there is nothing lacking,the whole world belongs to you.

toddb30644149

Participant

This is one of the MOST AGGRAVATING issues that's been going on since the introduction of Photoshop BETA. Adobe, why can't you fix this? I don't want to use BETA, so why do you force all my file formats to default back to it every time I update Photoshop?! STOP IT!!! I have to go in and do INFO on all my file formats and change them back, EVERY TIME! You give us AI capabilities, but you can't fix this?! It's ridiculous.

toddb30644149

Participant

Sorry, I meant to add, I'm on a Mac too...OS 14.3.

W

warren0057

Known Participant

Hi
I would appreciate your help.
I use: windows 10 . PS CC 2024 version 25.3.1 (the latest )
Since I have uninstalled PS Beta, my .psd file is no longer associated with PS ( see attached screenshot). before I posted this topic, I have already looked at a similar problem in the previous discussion. There were 4 solutions ( see below). Solution 1 & 2 won't work as have tried. Solution 4 , change registry, I am not so comfortable to have a go. This leaves me solution 3 , uninstall CC and reinstall . my question is, will i loose the plug ins, 3 party filters , brushes that I have installed in the past if uninstall and reinstall CC. I know this might sound a very naive question, but I am not an expert, so it is better to ask rather regret. many thanks for your help, guys

Windows

Solution 1: Use the Open With dialog box to establish the file association

Solution 2: Use Windows control panel to establish the file association

Solution 3: Uninstall and reinstall the Creative Cloud apps

Solution 4: Set a default path in the Registry

Myra Ferguson

Community Expert

You could try using Bridge to change the file type association (Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Adobe Bridge > Preferences (macOS), and select File Type Associations):

https://helpx.adobe.com/bridge/using/view-files-bridge.html

W

warren0057

Known Participant

Thank you so much Myra. I tried your suggestion, but it did not work. Perhaps the only option that I have is to uninstall and re-install the PS CC but my question is; after reinstallation, will I loose features like imported brushes, 3rd party plug-in, filters etc ?

Show more replies

Windows

Solution 1: Use the Open With dialog box to establish the file association

Solution 2: Use Windows control panel to establish the file association

Solution 3: Uninstall and reinstall the Creative Cloud apps

Solution 4: Set a default path in the Registry

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