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lionheartkc
lionheartkc
Participating Frequently
June 28, 2025
Question

Inability to open more than one RAW image in a session... resetting preferences works... until close

  • June 28, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 314 views

I have an issue where, when I first open Photoshop I can open a .NEF and work on it, but when i close that image and try to open another, I get an error. If I shut Photoshop down and restart, I can repeat that. Opens one, won't open any more. 

I found a document about issues opening files on Adobe.com and one recommendation was to clear preferences. I tried that and it worked... until I shut down Photoshop and restarted it again. Then I was back to square 1. 

 

Newly opened: will open 1 .NEF but no more.
Newly opened with cleared preferences: will open unlimited .NEF files (whether I reset the preferences to how I like them or not)

Needless to say, it's a royal pain to have to reset my preferences every time I want to work on a set of photos.

Oh, and both Photoshop and Camera RAW have been updated twice since this problem started, with no effect on the issue.

Any advise is appreciated.

4 replies

lionheartkc
lionheartkcAuthor
Participating Frequently
June 30, 2025

While answering everyone's questions, I just realized that when I have the error, Camera Raw won't load at all, even as a filter.

Noel Orridge
Community Manager
Noel OrridgeCommunity Manager
Community Manager
August 4, 2025

Hi @lionheartkc, Thank you for reaching out! I'm checking in to see if the issue is resolved. Adding to what our experts have suggested, you might also try uninstalling and reinstalling Adobe Camera Raw using the steps below.

 

1) Close Photoshop and Lightroom.
2) Navigate to the Camera Raw plugin folder: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\CC\File Formats\

3) Look for a file named something like Camera Raw .8bi or Camera Raw plugin and delete it.

4) To reinstall Camera Raw Plugin, follow the steps provided in this Helpx article: https://adobe.ly/3HeYFnJ

 

Hope this helps!

Let us know how it goes! 

Noel
Bojan Živković11378569
Community Expert
Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
Community Expert
June 30, 2025

I had some issues with ACR recently, resetting Camera Raw preferences fixed the issue. Are you resetting Photoshop or Camera Raw preferences?

lionheartkc
lionheartkcAuthor
Participating Frequently
June 30, 2025

I'm resetting Photoshop preferences. I don't know that I've ever changed my Camera Raw preferences.

D Fosse
Community Expert
D FosseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 28, 2025
quote

I get an error


By @lionheartkc

 

Can you post a screenshot of the error message?

    lionheartkc
    lionheartkcAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    June 30, 2025

    It's about as generic of an error as can be

    Learn how to fix takes me here: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/program-error-opening-psd.html?trackingid=C12Y2WS7&mv=in-product&mv2=ps

     

    mglush
    Community Expert
    mglushCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 28, 2025

    Hi!

    We are so sorry to hear that you are having this issue. What version of Photoshop are you using? And what process are you using to reset your preferences?

     

    Michelle

    lionheartkc
    lionheartkcAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    June 30, 2025

    I'm on 26.8.1 20250624.r.8 5e0d05d x64
    I go into the preferences and select Reset Preferences on Quit. Then I reset them to my preferred settings manually each time I restart. 

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