UAC dialog when resetting Photoshop preferences

Question

Just updated to Photoshop 26.9. Windows 10 Pro 22H2.

Photoshop crashes on launch with a generic dialog. If I hold down Shift-Ctrl-Alt at launch to reset preferences, I get a UAC dialog saying Photoshop 2023 needs permissions. I do not have PS 2023 installed.

I have uninstalled PS 26, removed preferences manually, and reinstalled. Same crash. The GPUSniffer does run and the log shows it exits normally (although I don't have a supported GPU.)

PS 25.12.4 works fine.

I'm less concerned about PS 26.9 not working (this is not my graphics workstation and version 25 still works) as I am wondering about the UAC prompt. Why is there a UAC dialog for PS 2023? If I cancel it, PS doesn't try to launch. If I enter an admin password, PS crashes without the prefs reset dialog.

Launching PS 26.9 on the Mac with Cmd-Opt-Shift displays the prefs delete dialog correctly, with no Admin password request.

Sameer K · Answer

Hey, @ExUSA. Thanks for the detailed post. Seeing Photoshop 2023 for Photoshop 2025, or Adobe Project Nimbus for Adobe Lightroom, in the UAC dialog is nothing to be alarmed about; this is by design.

I couldn't locate any crash report submitted using your account for the community. If you see a crash dialogue: https://adobe.ly/3ISCkN4)

Also, is this a personal machine, or is it managed by an IT team?

Awaiting your response. Thanks!
Sameer K

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

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