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HubertusausBerlin
HubertusausBerlin
Inspiring
April 3, 2026
Question

Also Photoshop 27.5 freezes immediately after using Wacom brushes

  • April 3, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 44 views

Hello community, dear experts

 

I'm very frustrated. After the release of Photoshop 27.5, I was hoping I could finally use my Wacom brushes with the latest version.

After updating from Photoshop 27.3.1 to 27.4, this was no longer possible despite extensive experimentation (https://community.adobe.com/questions-712/photoshop-2026-friert-nach-update-27-4-0-15-sofort-ein-1550933)

 

Unfortunately, the problem persists in version 27.5:

Freshly installed, opened. One brush stroke, brush size adjusted with the slider: Photoshop freezes.

Constantly reproducible.

 

I also followed ​@AxelMatt  advice and installed the older Wacom driver that works with his (older) tablets – same result. Even with this driver, Photoshop freezes during the aforementioned action.

Photoshop doesn't seem to actually crash, but simply becomes unresponsive. I then have to wait, switch back and forth between the desktop and the program, and then the program responds again, allowing me to at least close it (though I still can't use the brushes).

Something has changed since version 27.4; I haven't been able to work with my Wacom pen tablets since then… Version 27.3.1 works perfectly.

 

Could this be investigated? Does anyone have any advice? I need the tablets for my work…
 

Best regards, Hubertus

 

What I've already tried:

• Uninstalled and reinstalled Photoshop 27.4: No change.

• All preferences reset, fresh installation without old preferences

→ Photoshop 27.3.1 works perfectly

 

Settings:

• Photoshop 2026 (27.4.0.15)

• Windows 11 (25H2)

• Graphics: Nvidia RTX 4090 (latest graphics studio driver)

• Wacom Intuos Pro (PTH 860 + PTH 660) (latest driver: 6.4.12_3 + check older version: 6.4.10-3)

• Using Wintab instead of Windows Ink (https://helpx.adobe.com/de/photoshop/kb/enable-optional-extensions-photoshop-cc.html#Howtoenableextensions) – otherwise, pressure sensitivity in Photoshop won't work.

• All system information seems fine

      1 reply

      HubertusausBerlin
      HubertusausBerlinAuthor
      Inspiring
      April 4, 2026

      Hello Community.

      After some experimentation (see below if you're interested), I've found a solution (for me) to the problem:

      Apparently, newer Photoshop versions from 27.4 onwards no longer work with WinTab – but, and this is the good news, they work perfectly with Windows Ink (as of now).

      Print control also now works with Windows Ink, so the WinTab interface is no longer needed in Photoshop. That’s great! 🤓👍

       

      If you're interested – here's my test series:

       

      Test 1 (Working with the pen – Wacom tablet connected – Wacom Center open / driver running – Photoshop with WinTab extension):

      A tablet connected, Wacom Center open, driver running (settings apply to both "All Applications" and "Photoshop"). Driver check: OK

      • Open new document – ​​OK

      • Create new layer in the Layers panel with the pen – OK

      • Select brush tool with pen, draw a line – OK

      • Change brush size in the Brush Settings panel with pen – FAILED (Photoshop freezes)

       

      - Switch to Wacom Center

      - Switch back to Photoshop: Photoshop responds again and can be closed. However, as soon as the brush size is changed again in the Brush Settings panel, the program freezes again.

       

      Test 2 (Working with the mouse – Wacom tablet connected – Wacom Center open / driver (Working with Photoshop with WinTab extension):

      A tablet is connected, Wacom Center is open, and the driver is running (settings apply to both "All Applications" and "Photoshop"). Driver check: OK

      • Open new document – ​​OK

      • Create new layer in the Layers panel with the mouse – OK

      • Select brush tool with the mouse, draw a line – OK

      • Change brush size in the Brush Settings panel with the mouse – FAILED (Photoshop freezes)

       

      - Switch to Wacom Center

      - Switch back to Photoshop: Photoshop responds again and can be closed. However, as soon as the brush size is changed again in the Brush Settings panel, the program freezes again.

       

      Test 3 (Working with the MOUSE – NO Wacom tablet connected – Wacom Center OPEN / Driver running – Photoshop with WinTab extension):

      NO tablet connected, Wacom Center open. But since no tablet is connected, no tablet is detected. Driver check: OK

      • Open new document – ​​OK

      • New layer Create a new layer in the Layers panel using the mouse – OK

      Select the Brush tool with the mouse and draw a line – OK

      • Change the brush size in the Brush Settings panel using the mouse – FAILED (Photoshop freezes)

       

      - Jump to the Wacom Center

      - Jump back to Photoshop: Photoshop responds again and can be closed. However, as soon as the brush size is changed again in the Brush Settings panel, the program freezes again.

       

      Test 4 (Working with the MOUSE – NO Wacom tablet connected – Wacom Center CLOSED – Photoshop with WinTab extension):

      NO tablet connected, Wacom Center CLOSED:

      • Open a new document – ​​OK

      • Create a new layer in the Layers panel using the mouse – OK

      • Select the Brush tool with the mouse and draw a line – OK

      • Change the brush size in the Brush Settings panel using the mouse – initially, several brush strokes are possible, but then again: FAILED (Photoshop freezes)

       

      - Jump to the Wacom Center

      - Jump back to Photoshop: Photoshop responds again and can be closed. However, as soon as an attempt is made to change the brush size in the Brush Settings panel, the program freezes again.

       

      Test 5 (Working with the MOUSE – NO Wacom tablet connected – Wacom Center CLOSED – Photoshop with WinTab extension):):

      NO tablet connected, Wacom Center CLOSED:

      • Open new document – ​​OK

      • Create new layer in the Layers panel with the mouse – OK

      • Select brush tool with the mouse, draw a line – OK

      • Change brush size in the Brush Settings panel with the mouse – initially several brush strokes are possible, but then here too: FAILED (Photoshop freezes)

       

      - Jump to Wacom Center

      - Jump back to Photoshop: Photoshop responds again and can be closed. However, as soon as an attempt is made to change the brush size in the Brush Settings panel, the program freezes again.

       

      Test 6 (Working with the MOUSE – NO Wacom tablet connected – Wacom driver UNINSTALLED – Photoshop has the WinTab extension, but since there's no Wacom Center and Windows Ink is disabled (Windows Ink is active):

      NO tablet connected, Wacom Center CLOSED:

       

      • Open new document – ​​OK

      • Create new layer in the Layers panel with the mouse – OK

      • Select brush tool with the mouse, draw a line – OK

      • Change brush size in the Brush Settings panel with the mouse – OK!

       

      Test 7 (Working with the pen – all tablets connected – Wacom drivers installed – WinTab extension OFF – Windows Ink ENABLED)!)

      • Open new document – ​​OK

      • Create new layer in the Layers panel using the pen – OK

      • Select the brush tool with the pen and draw a line – OK

      • Change brush size in the Brush Settings panel using the pen – OK!

       

      Conclusion:

      There is a problem with the new Photoshop in combination with Wacom/WinTab. However, with Windows Ink, everything now works perfectly (according to current testing) – including pressure sensitivity, which was previously only possible with WinTab (for me).

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