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rejoiceiam
rejoiceiam
Participant
August 6, 2021
Answered

Temp files only showing when Photoshop is open

  • August 6, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 3935 views

Hi! I know this has been asked a few times but I can't seem to find an answer to my problem. I changed the location of my scratch disk in a location where I can easily see them but the problem is I can only see the temp files when I open Photoshop. Whenever I try to delete them it says I can't because Photoshop app is currently in use. I also tried the purge option within Photoshop but it doesn't seem to change anything. I hope someone can help. Thank you so much!

Correct answer Trevor.Dennis

Do you have multiple temp files?  If some of them do not have todays date, and Photoshop has been closed since the date show on any of the temp files, then you can delete them regardless of whether Photoshop is open.  You absolutely can't delete active temp files because you'll break the open image file they are associated with.

 

If Photoshop does not shut down correctly, like if you lost power and your computer crashed, then temp files from that session will be orphaned and left on your hard drive.  You do need to delete those manually because that's the only way to get that drive space back.

 

If memory or drive space is an issue, you do have the option of purging, but while that will clear history, it will not remove active temp files from your hard drive.

 

 

4 replies

JJMack
Community Expert
JJMackCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 6, 2021

If a temp file is in use it will be locked you can not delete it till the application using ii is done with it.  Photoshop should delete its temp filed when it terminates. You should not have to delete them Photoshop should do that when it closes down. Photoshop temp files should only exists when Photoshop is running  or you had a power failure when Photoshop was running so it did closed down normally and delete its temp files. Autorecover Files, Scratch Space and temp files should nor exists when photoshop is no running. If Photoshop Crashes your system should cleans up temp files and Photoshop Autorecovery files will be opened when you restart Photoshop to help you recover some of your work you were doing when Photoshop crashed.,

JJMack
    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    August 10, 2021

    I think you are missing a key point.

    When it runs, Photoshop needs a lot of disk space to keep all your layers and history for the files you edit. This is called "scratch space".

    So Photoshop creates temporary files, which it needs. When you stop editing, the temporary files are deleted.

     

    So you are trying to delete the files that Photoshop needs to work! If your disk fills up, you need more disk space! (Or to delete files that are not needed. Or to stop editing pictures).

      Trevor.Dennis
      Community Expert
      Trevor.DennisCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      August 6, 2021

      Do you have multiple temp files?  If some of them do not have todays date, and Photoshop has been closed since the date show on any of the temp files, then you can delete them regardless of whether Photoshop is open.  You absolutely can't delete active temp files because you'll break the open image file they are associated with.

       

      If Photoshop does not shut down correctly, like if you lost power and your computer crashed, then temp files from that session will be orphaned and left on your hard drive.  You do need to delete those manually because that's the only way to get that drive space back.

       

      If memory or drive space is an issue, you do have the option of purging, but while that will clear history, it will not remove active temp files from your hard drive.

       

       

        rejoiceiam
        rejoiceiamAuthor
        Participant
        August 10, 2021

        I am actually looking for the the temp file like the first image. I actually used the purge option and it worked fine but I didn't see any change on my drive space. I was able to delete the temp files way back but I think Adobe opted for the purge inside PS. But thank you for explaining tho! 

          afkar18
          afkar18
          Participant
          October 30, 2025

          I have this exact problem in 2025, everytime I open photoshop my laptop gets so laggy. My C: drive goes from 150GB to just 15GB out of nowhere.

          D Fosse
          Community Expert
          D FosseCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          August 6, 2021

          Why do you need to see them? They're not useful to you and you're not supposed to see them. This is Photoshop working data, not user files.

           

          And yes, they are only there when Photoshop is open. When you close Photoshop, the scratch files are deleted automatically, as they are no longer needed.

           

          If you have a specific problem, please describe in more detail.

            rejoiceiam
            rejoiceiamAuthor
            Participant
            August 10, 2021

            Hello, sorry for not explain it thoroughly. I am trying to delete temp files because they are taking so much space on my C: drive. I assume those that I am seeing when I open PS are the ones I should delete because their file size is huge. I also checked the C:\Users\Your Username\AppData\Local\Temp but the PS temp files aren't there. Hope you understand what I'm trying to say. Thank You

            Michael Bullo
            Community Expert
            Michael BulloCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            August 6, 2021

            Could you please explain what the problem is. Is something broken? Are you trying to do something specific?

            rejoiceiam
            rejoiceiamAuthor
            Participant
            August 10, 2021

            I am trying to delete them because it's taking up so much space on my C: drive. 

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