Skip to main content
*Photonic
*Photonic
Known Participant
May 26, 2025
Question

How to migrate Photoshop settings from a PC to a new installation on a Mac?

  • May 26, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 418 views

Setting up a new Mac Studio and want to migrate my Photoshop 22 settings on my PC over to a new PS installation on my Mac. 

Can this be done as a single migration (settings folder?) w/o having to do prefs, actions, brushes, keyboard shortcuts, etc. separately? Any helpful how-to links are appreciated. Thanks.

2 replies

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 26, 2025

I would never attempt that, not even on the same OS. Save out your actions and brushes and reload them on the new installation. Set up the rest fresh, it's ten minutes well spent.

 

The thing about the preferences file is that it contains a lot more than your own user settings. It's the whole application configuration, including lots of hidden parameters and secondary dependent parameters. Preferences are rewritten on every application exit, so are prone to corruption by irregular shutdowns. Corrupt preferences usually look like application bugs. Small errors will accumulate, and with new application code latent problems can surface.

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 26, 2025
    quote

    I would never attempt that, not even on the same OS.


    By @D Fosse

     

    It really doesn't take long to go through and set up Preferences, and then Panel Options (set thumb nails to LARGE, and turn everything on in the Info panel).  Plus we are seeing more changes in recent versions like the Image Processing tab and Older GPU mode that is in a different location every time you open Photoshop.  Best to keep on top of it, and try to stay current with the updates/changes.  

    L
    LAMY2017
    Legend
    May 26, 2025

    Clyde hit the bull's eye on the resource for migrating.

    I searched for the website after your post stimulated my desire to be refreshed.

    As long as I was on the site...

    https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preset-migration.html?promoid=XKMMH7MW&xProduct=&mv=other&mv2=ahome&xProductLocation=&x-product=AdobeHome%2F1.0&x-product-location=Search%3AForums%3Alink%2F3.6.7

    Larry
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices