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Participant
May 20, 2022
Question

Why does Photoshop force me to save a file as a PSD before closing?

  • May 20, 2022
  • 7 replies
  • 4577 views

How do I disable this feature? I have saved a file as a copy (jpg, png, etc) and I no longer need the file. I try to close it but Photoshop locks up until I save it as a PSD file as well before I can close the file. Why does it do this? I am using Adobe Photoshop 2022.

7 replies

Cfritz98
Participant
May 13, 2026

I have hundreds of layered PDF’s on my computer.  I use layered PDF’s because they take up a LOT less memory on my system.  What is REALLY annoying is that PS is not prompting me to save the PDF documents any more when I exit so I often lose my changes.. Adobe prompts me to save every other file type in Photoshop but not this one.  This strikes me as malicious and unnecessarily annoying on Adobe’s part.  At least ASK before you throw away the work I’ve done.  I’ve asked AI and the internet a dozen times for a work around, but all I get is “SAVE IT TO ADOBE’S CLOUD.”  Is anyone at Adobe paying attention to the countless data breaches and ransomware strikes we’ve seen over the last few years? How can anyone be expected to upload all their work files and feel confident they will be there next time you try to access them.  No, thank you.  You need to show more respect for your customers, Adobe.  

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 14, 2026

@Cfritz98 

 

Just to confirm, these are Photoshop PDF files, saved from Photoshop with "Preserve Photoshop Editing Capabilities” checked and not opened and resaved in any other software as PDF (which would then become generic PDF)?

Cfritz98
Participant
May 14, 2026

Yes, I have hundreds layered photos, packages and UPC artwork stickers in layered PDF’s that I’ve created over the last 15 years for my company using Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Express.

Participant
September 16, 2024

The decision to lose or save data is MY choice, not Adobe's.  I do not appreciate Adobe's refusal to let me save a processed jpg back as a .jpg...  my choice, not Adobe's.  At least, provide us with the OPTION to override ''must save as .psd'' feature. Stay in your lane, Adobe.

 

Stephen Marsh
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 16, 2024
quote

The decision to lose or save data is MY choice, not Adobe's.  I do not appreciate Adobe's refusal to let me save a processed jpg back as a .jpg...  my choice, not Adobe's.  At least, provide us with the OPTION to override ''must save as .psd'' feature. Stay in your lane, Adobe.

 


By @franagain

 

As explained earlier in the thread, unless you have Legacy Save As enabled, there is something in the current file that does not conform to the JPEG specification, which is why a PSD is offered. So either use legacy Save As in your File Handling Preferences, or ensure that the file is flattened, has no alpha channels and is 8 bits/channel so that it does conform to the JPEG specification.

 

https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/using/saving-images.html

gener7
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 20, 2022

I was thinking of an entirely unrelated situation. The above answers cover your issue.

D Fosse
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 20, 2022

The whole point here, as Conrad implies, is that the still open file has properties that are not supported in the file format you just saved to. Like for instance layers, transparency, 16 bit depth or other things.

 

So if you just close out without saving a psd, you are actually throwing out data. If that's what you want, just close. If not, save out a psd or tiff, which are the only file formats that support everything you can do in Photoshop.

Conrad_C
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 20, 2022

Photoshop is not forcing or locking up. It’s trying to make sure you don’t lose work.

 

If you open a JPEG, PNG, etc. and then you edit it, when you close, Photoshop asks if you want to save those edits. If you don’t need to save because you already exported them to another file, all you have to do is click Don’t Save. That will cause Photoshop to close the file without saving a Photoshop document, and you can move on.

 

 

If you do this a lot, you can avoid clicking the button all the time by using keyboard shortcuts for Don’t Save: On a Mac, you can press either D or Command-D. That’s what I do.

Participating Frequently
December 4, 2023

I think it is reasonable to say that PS is forcing us to save as psd, even on cases where it is not needed. For example, I just slightly modified a jpg: no layers, no selections, no nothing. No need to use psd. I suppose Adobe is trying to force its format on the general public. 

This adds some clutter to my workflow.

D Fosse
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 4, 2023

@Mosh 

 

There is either 16 bit depth, a floating layer (not Background), an alpha channel, or transparency.

 

Jpeg is an extremely limited file format. But if you still manage to stay within it, jpeg will be available under Save As.

 

 

Ged_Traynor
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 20, 2022

Hi

Have you checked these options in preferences

Participant
May 20, 2022

Just save it then delete the psd file