Photoshop Beta should not automatically take over default file associations on macOS

I would like to share feedback about the installation behavior of Photoshop Beta on macOS.

I install Photoshop Beta for one reason: to test new and experimental features. I do not install it as a replacement for the stable release of Photoshop. However, after installing or updating Photoshop Beta, it appears to take over file associations that were previously assigned to the regular Photoshop application. As a result, image files that I intentionally configured to open with Photoshop suddenly start opening with Photoshop Beta instead.

This is frustrating for several reasons.

First, Photoshop Beta is, by definition, a testing environment. I want to try new features there selectively, not have it become my primary production app for day-to-day work. The stable version and the beta version serve different purposes, and Adobe should respect that distinction.

Second, on macOS there is no simple central screen where users can restore all file-type associations at once. Reverting this behavior means manually changing the default app again for multiple file types one by one, such as JPG, PNG, TIFF, PSD, and others. That creates unnecessary extra work for users who never asked for their default app behavior to change.

Third, this feels like a decision being made for the user without clear consent. If Adobe wants to offer Beta builds for testing, that is perfectly reasonable. But changing existing default file associations without an explicit opt-in crosses a line in terms of user control and predictability.

I strongly believe Photoshop Beta should never automatically replace the stable Photoshop app as the default opener for files that were already associated with Photoshop, unless the user explicitly chooses that behavior.

A much better approach would be one of the following:

Do not change any existing file associations when Photoshop Beta is installed.
Show a clear prompt during installation, asking whether Photoshop Beta should become the default app for supported file types.
Add a setting in Creative Cloud or Photoshop Beta such as:
“Do not change default file associations”
“Keep stable Photoshop as the default application”
“Use Beta only when launched manually”

This would give users proper control and would better match the purpose of beta software.

In short, I am happy to test Photoshop Beta features, but I do not want Photoshop Beta to take over my normal workflow or silently replace the stable version as my default Photoshop app.

Please consider changing this behavior and adding an explicit user choice.