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Nathalie5ED3
Participant
March 28, 2026
Question

Generative fill doesn't work anymore

  • March 28, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 57 views

A few days ago generative fill stopped working. 
It keeps telling me an error occured.
I updated photoshop, restarted the computer, tried another image. Nothing seems to work.

 

    4 replies

    MarekMularczyk
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 29, 2026

    Is it still not working today?

    Adobe Community ExpertAdobe Certified Professional
    MarekMularczyk
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 29, 2026

    Have you tried resetting Photoshop preferences?

    Adobe Community ExpertAdobe Certified Professional
    NB, colourmanagement
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 29, 2026

    @Nathalie5ED3 in case you decide to take the advice of ​@MarekMularczyk 

    Here's a bit more detail on resetting preferences, because, unfortunately, a simple reset doesn't always do everything :

    Perhaps try a thorough reset of Photoshop preferences? 

    (read this entire text before acting please)

     

    Unexpected behaviour of Photoshop may indicate damaged preferences, which are saved when Photoshop closes.. Restoring preferences to their default settings is a good idea when trying to troubleshoot unexpected behaviours in Photoshop.

    When preferences become corrupt, then various issues can occur.

     

    Here’s some info from Adobe about preferences:

    Learn how to access and modify Photoshop preferences and customise according to your frequent workflows

    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#reset_preferences

     

    According to Adobe, manually removing preferences files is the most complete method for restoring Photoshop to its default state. This method ensures that all preferences and any user presets which may be causing a problem are not loaded. More here: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#Manually

    The process:

    1. Quit Photoshop.
    2. Navigate to Photoshop's Preferences folder.
      macOS: Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
      Windows: Users/[user name]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings
       
      Note: The user Library folder is hidden by default on macOS. To access files in the hidden user Library folder, see How to access hidden user library files.
    3. Drag the entire Adobe Photoshop [Version] Settings folder to the desktop or somewhere safe for a backup of your settings
    4. Open Photoshop.
       New preferences files will be created in the original location.

     

    You may want to back up your settings and custom presets, brushes & actions before restoring Photoshop's preferences.

    Here is general info about that:  https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#BackupPhotoshoppreferences

     

    And here’s an Adobe Quick Tips link as an aid to overall understanding

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/quick-tips-how-to-reset-photoshop-preferences/td-p/12502668

     

    Thanks to Digitaldog for this quick and simple method:

    Press and hold Alt+Control+Shift (Windows) or Option+Command+Shift (macOS) immediately after launching Photoshop. You will be prompted to delete the current settings.

    You can also reset preferences on quit, if Photoshop is running, by going into General Preferences>General>Reset on Quit.

    This action only affects the items found in the preferences dialog box. Numerous program settings are stored in the Adobe Photoshop Preferences file, including general display options, file-saving options, performance options, cursor options, transparency options, type options, and options for plug‑ins and scratch disks. Brushes (and lots of other settings) are not affected by the above instructions for deleting preferences.

    You may wish to make a screen capture of the settings in the Preferences dialog to reset them prior to deleting this file. 

     

     

     

    Before you reset your preferences, in case of future issues, I suggest you make a backup copy as Adobe may need one to check problematic preferences. 

    Quit Photoshop.
    Go to Photoshop's Preferences folder

    Preferences file locations: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/preference-file-names-locations-photoshop.html\


      [on MacOS see: Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings

      Note for those on macOS: - Be aware that the user Library folder is hidden by default on macOS. More on that here:

      https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/access-hidden-user-library-files.html

      In the Finder, open the “Go” menu whilst holding down the Option (Alt) key.

      "Library" will now appear in the list - below the current user's “home” directory. ]

     

    Now you can drag the entire Adobe Photoshop [Version] Settings folder to the desktop or somewhere safe as a backup of your settings.

     

     

    Note for macOS:

    Preference preservation is affected by macOS permissions,

    You’ll need to allow Photoshop ‘Full Disk Access’ in your Mac OS Preferences/Security and Privacy

     

    If resetting preferences doesn't fix your issue:

    Go to Preferences > Performance... and uncheck Multithreaded Compositing - and restart Photoshop.

    Is Photoshop still hanging? 

    Go to Preferences > Performance... click Advanced Settings... and uncheck "GPU Compositing" - then restart Photoshop. 

     

     

     

     

    It may even be time to reinstall Photoshop. 

     

    It’s recommended that you use the Adobe CC cleaner tool to remove all traces first. 

    (See above about preserving preferences first, though! It’s worth preserving them unless they are corrupted.)

    How and when to use the Creative Cloud Cleaner tool | Advanced steps

    https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

     

    Uninstall Photoshop BUT make sure to choose the option “Yes, remove app preference”.

     

    Once that process finishes, start the installation process and look into the “Advanced Options”. Uncheck “Import previous settings and preferences” and choose to “Remove old versions”.

     

    neil barstow - adobe forum volunteer, 

    colourmanagement consultant & co-author of 'getting colour right'

    See my free articles on colour management

    Help others by clicking "Correct Answer" if the question is answered.

    Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here. "Upvote" is for useful posts

     

    Elispax
    Participant
    March 28, 2026

    Hi! I’m having the same issue since yesterday, I too tried anything from switching the computer off and on, updating, opening the app from Creative Cloud but the problem seems to persist. 

     

    J E L
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    March 28, 2026

    Hi ​@Nathalie5ED3, sorry to hear about the trouble. It might have been a temporary server connection glitch. Also, be sure you are launching Photoshop from the Creative Cloud Desktop app first and not from a shortcut or image file. Here is a test I did just now, using no prompt and the Firefly Fill and Expand model. (Windows 11 Pro; Photoshop 27.4 Release)