What is important to understand is that all user settings are stored in your Windows user account, separate from the program files. This is rewritten on every application exit.
When Photoshop starts up, it loads the entire configuration from the Settings folder. If the Settings folder is deleted or moved - or for some reason parts of it can’t be read - Photoshop reverts to clean, out-of-the-box factory state.
So there are two things that can happen here:
- a permissions problem in your Windows user account. Make sure the appropriate folders have full read/write privileges.
- settings were corrupted at some point. Usually that happens when written at shutdown. It could be a crash or any kind of irregular shutdown.
This is why resetting preferences is always the first standard step in any troubleshooting. The safest and most complete way is to move the entire “Adobe Photoshop 2026 Settings” folder to your desktop, so a fresh one can be rebuilt.
Before you do, make sure to save out your custom actions, brushes etc.and keep them in a safe place so they can be reloaded.
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