Problem opening raw files from ACR to Photoshop

Since upgrading to the 2023 versions of Bridge & Photoshop I have a problem opening files from ACR if I have used the new masking feature. It creates the new little .acr file but something isn't working. I click open and it won't. The first time I got an error message "file-format module cannot parse". I tried masking another file and it just won't open into Photoshop at all. It WILL open if I drag it from file explorer. Is there a new setting or something that I am missing? Thank you for your help.  Kc

PS I'm using Windows 10 on a PC.