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dear.circe
Participant
June 7, 2026
Answered

file cannot be opened because it was moved or delete

  • June 7, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 40 views

The file was saved. Tried opening it from Photoshop Home, and it says that “file cannot be opened because it was moved or deleted”. The file was not moved nor deleted. Checked my trash for my mac and photoshop itself but the file is not in there either. I tried opening other psd files I have as well just in case and it says the same thing. Please help.

    Correct answer D Fosse

    Do not rely on the Home screen for file management. It does not maintain a live link to the document - it is merely a passive catalog pointer to an address on your disk, regardless of whether the file is still there or not.

     

    Anything done to the file outside of Photoshop will cause the link to break, and the file no longer be accessible from the home screen. Updating, renaming or moving the file will cause the link to break. 

     

    Use a proper file browser like Windows Explorer or Bridge, and note where the file is saved, which folder on disk it is physically in.

     

    The home screen is intended as a convenience feature to let you quickly pick up where you left off before lunch, nothing more.

    4 replies

    kglad
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 7, 2026

    where did you save the file?

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    June 7, 2026

    Do not rely on the Home screen for file management. It does not maintain a live link to the document - it is merely a passive catalog pointer to an address on your disk, regardless of whether the file is still there or not.

     

    Anything done to the file outside of Photoshop will cause the link to break, and the file no longer be accessible from the home screen. Updating, renaming or moving the file will cause the link to break. 

     

    Use a proper file browser like Windows Explorer or Bridge, and note where the file is saved, which folder on disk it is physically in.

     

    The home screen is intended as a convenience feature to let you quickly pick up where you left off before lunch, nothing more.

    JohanElzenga
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    June 7, 2026

    This could be caused by renaming the folder they are in. Have you tried opening it by using ‘File - Open’?

    -- Johan W. Elzenga
    dear.circe
    Participant
    June 7, 2026

    I opened my saved file. And this pop up appeared and suddenly, the file is not there anymore. I’ve looked into my mac’s trash and PS’ trash if there was indeed a file that was deleted, there was none. I tried looking for the file in my storage and it’s nowhere to be found. I also tried checking my recently opened files in Photoshop but it’s like the file never existed. 

    A new folder popped up. “TempPSDs” with no file in it. Help.