Photoshop 27.4.0_20260218.r.15 crashes when launching (Windows 11)

Forum|Forum|7 days ago
March 17, 2026
2 replies
127 views

I have tried several times in the last couple of months to install and run Photoshop 2026. I have completely uninstalled it each time before trying again. I did find and delete an old folder from Photoshop 2021 in C:\[User]\AppData/Roaming, and then rebooted my computer. Still no luck.

Is there a log I can upload that would identify what the issue is?

By the way, Windows 11 is current on updates.

Thanks for any advice.

Correct answer AxelMatt

@AlanV2

I understand your point of view and accept your opinion.

However, sometimes an error during the installation or update of a single application, or when applying operating system patches, becomes so deeply embedded in the system that only a complete reinstallation is the most effective solution.

In my work as a system administrator, I've encountered this quite often.

Sameer K

Community Manager

Thanks for the follow-ups. I’ll help you figure this out. There could be a few external factors that sometimes prevent Photoshop from launching.

Did you install any 3rd party plugins recently? You can press and hold the SHIFT key when launching Photoshop to skip loading any plugins and see how it goes.

For now, try these steps to boot in Safe mode, and for manually recreating the MSVC++ Libraries:

In the Creative Cloud app, press CTRL + ALT + T (Win) to launch Creative Cloud Troubleshooter & select 'Close Creative Cloud and related processes' > click on Go.
Go to 'Add or Remove programs' in Windows search & find all the installations of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (all years).
Uninstall them completely. Even if there is an option to repair them, please uninstall all the existing MSVC++ packages.
Download a fresh package of installers for MSVC++ from this link: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170
Right-click the downloaded file and select Extract All.
Reinstall all packages (32bit & 64bit) one by one & then restart the computer once.

If this does not help,

You can try booting the machine into Windows Safe Mode (with networking) via Advanced Restart to see if that helps. Steps from Microsoft here:https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-startup-settings-1af6ec8c-4d4a-4b23-adb7-e76eef0b847f

Let me know how it goes from here. Thanks!

Sameer K

(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

AlanV2Author

Participating Frequently

@Sameer K

I followed your instructions, but even after cleaning out old versions and installing the latest of Visual C++ I still can’t launch Photoshop, even with holding down the Shift key.

What’s next?

My System: Intel i5-8400K - 16GB RAM - AMD Radeon HD 5450 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - No Addons

AlanV2Author

Participating Frequently

@Sameer K

I don’t see the point in using Windows Safe Mode with networking if all of my other apps work just fine.

Based on other replies in this thread, I have done other troubleshooting, but have stopped short of reinstalling Windows and all of my apps, and I don’t want to use a separate Admin account for just this one app.

Don’t Photoshop or Creative Cloud produce a detailed startup log that someone can examine, similar to how problems are sometimes handled at Stack Overflow?

My System: Intel i5-8400K - 16GB RAM - AMD Radeon HD 5450 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - No Addons

Claire H.

Community Manager

Hi @AlanV2, Let’s try to get Photoshop back up and running! Have you tried downloading and reinstalling via the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool? You can follow the steps here: https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/apps/troubleshoot/diagnostics-repair-tools/run-creative-cloud-cleaner-tool.html.

If that doesn’t work, try resetting Photoshop's preferences using the steps here: https://adobe.ly/4jmvs7u. Please back up your settings before resetting the preferences. You can check: https://adobe.ly/3YW1WOu.

Let us know how it goes, and we can continue troubleshooting. I hope this helps! ^CH