Skip to main content
M
MR T I33544077ywav
Participant
October 15, 2024
Question

Photoshop locks folders in Windows 11

  • October 15, 2024
  • 5 replies
  • 1292 views

I have 25.12.0 Release running on Windows 11.

If I open a photoshop file by double clicking on a .psd file in Windows Explorer, and subsequently close photoshop, some background service continues to run which locks the folder from being rename, moved or deleted.  A "Folder in use" warning is displayed.  It is the folder that is locked and not the file (the file can be renamed or deleted). This does not occur if the file is opened by first opening Photoshop and then open the file using Photoshops Open dialog box.  The later being very inconvenient with sorting and organising several files.

A PC restart is required to release the folder.  Please advise as to how this can be avoided.

    5 replies

    Rob Ainscough
    Rob Ainscough
    Inspiring
    March 21, 2026

    2026 and PS 27.4 and this issue is STILL NOT FIXED.  Why is Adobe locking files and folders after I close the app?  This is malware practices … does the community need to file a lawsuit to get this obviously “by design” issue removed?  

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    D FosseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 21, 2026

    ​@Rob Ainscough 

    Nobody ever said this was “by design”: Very obviously something odd is going on here. This isn’t normal.

     

    If I think long and hard, I may have seen this message once or twice a long time ago, but then it was just a matter of waiting a few seconds.

     

    I wish I could tell you what this is, but I can’t. My immediate suspicion is that you have some third-party software installed that holds on to the files. Something like, say, anti-virus or similar. I’d start there.

    R
    Rashja
    Participant
    October 28, 2024

    In my case i never open by double clicking, i drag the file (usually a PDF) into the photoshop window. After closing the document, and then closing photoshop, the folder still remains locked for several minutes afterwards.... yes, it is a terrible inconvenience as i want to rename my folder with reference to checked artwork once i've checked it. Hopefully someone can offer a solution - or better yet... Maybe the clever boffins at Adobe can fix their product. What a novel idea.

    --
    *Sean Cook*
    *Graphic Design*
    [phone number removed]

    htl40786065
    htl40786065
    Participant
    January 23, 2025

    Any update on this? This also happen with Illustrator and InDesign. Once a file has been opened, and then closed, with one of these application, the file and folder is still locked even after closing the application which makes it impossible to move/rename or delete the file & folder.

      davescm
      Community Expert
      davescmCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      October 25, 2024

      I can't replicate that here. Do you have any form of file syncing enabled on the folder e.g. One Drive or similar?

       

      Dave

      M
      MR T I33544077ywavAuthor
      Participant
      October 25, 2024

      @davescm @Sameer K 

      I do have both OneDrive and Google Drive syncing subfolders on a completely separate HDD - nothing is being sync'd on the "F:\Temp\TestPhotoshopFolderLock" drive/folder on which I can recreate the problem.

      I've tried a few other tests to determine when the problem arises:

      • Opening through File>Open menu: If I open the file via File>Open in Photoshop, then close Photoshop, the folder can be deleted without issues.
      • Dragging and dropping into Photoshop: If I first open Photoshop, then drag and drop the PSD file into it, and later close Photoshop, the folder is not locked and can be deleted.
      • Opening a file by double-clicking in Windows Explorer whilst Photoshop is open: If Photoshop is already open, and I open the PSD file by double-clicking it in Windows Explorer, then close the file (either with keeping Photoshop open or closing Photoshop), the folder isn’t locked and can be deleted.
      • Opening by double-clicking while Photoshop is closed: If Photoshop isn’t open, and I open a PSD file by double-clicking it in Windows Explorer (causing Photoshop to launch and open the file), then close the file while keeping Photoshop open, the folder becomes locked and can’t be deleted. And it remains locked when Photoshop is closed.

      It seems the folder-locking issue arises specifically when Photoshop is launched by double-clicking a file in Windows Explorer or by right-clicking and selecting 'Open.'

      This is becoming a major inconvenience, especially as I’m tidying up and archiving files after a large project with many PSDs. This process naturally involves opening files to review them before moving or deleting, but the locking issue is causing significant delays resulting from numerous re-boots if I forget to have Photoshop open before previewing a file.

      Any insights or solutions would be greatly appreciated!"

      R
      Rashja
      Participant
      October 25, 2024

      I experience the very same issue. Even after closing photoshop, the folder remains locked for several minutes. This is even when working from a local drive. I believe that its the CREATIVE CLOUD that is still accessing the folder for whatever reason... which makes absolutely no sense, because i can open a file in photoshop, i can delete said file while its still open in photoshop, but then after closing, i cant even rename the folder.  I find that the folder is usually locked for around 5 minutes.

      Sameer K
      Community Manager
      Sameer KCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      October 16, 2024

      Hey, @MR T I33544077ywav. Welcome to the Photoshop community. I'll need more info to help you figure this out.

      Before troubleshooting, please update Photoshop 26.0 via the Creative Cloud desktop app & check if the issues exist.

       

      Does this happen with the specific documents? Are the documents stored in a external drive? Have you tried moving a few documents to the internal drive & try to open them from the internal drive?

       

      Working through a network, or external drive is unpredictable & is not recommended. Head here to learn more: https://adobe.ly/3A2G2zK

       

      Let me know how it goes. Thanks! 
      Sameer K

      (Use '@mention' to tag me when you reply)

      M
      MR T I33544077ywavAuthor
      Participant
      October 22, 2024

      @Sameer K

      I've tried it with v26 and the problem is still present.  The problem exists when the file is on a local HDD, I'm not using networked files.  I can easily recreate the problem and have investigated further:

      From a clean boot, with no other apps running, I used the following file path:

      'F:\Temp\TestPhotoshopFolderLock\Untitled-1.psd'

      If I open Photoshop by double clicking on 'Untitled-1.psd' then close it, I cannot delete the folder 'TestPhotoshopFolderLock'.  I can delete 'Untitled-1.psd' but the folder 'TestPhotoshopFolderLock' is still locked.

      Using the command line "Handle.exe" tool, it reports the following:

      Nthandle v5.0 - Handle viewer
      Copyright (C) 1997-2022 Mark Russinovich
      Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

      Adobe Crash Processor.exe pid: 20024 type: File 4C: F:\Temp\TestPhotoshopFolderLock

      LogTransport2.exe pid: 15256 type: File 4C: F:\Temp\TestPhotoshopFolderLock

      Killing both of these processes with Task Manager allows me to delete the folder.  I've not spend the time to work out if it's both or just one of these two processes.

      Not sure it it's relevant, but I also have Adobe Acrobat installed.

      Running Windows 11 Pro 23H2, on 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-13700K 3.40 GHz

       

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