Skip to main content
January 7, 2026
Question

Photoshop Elements 2026 error

  • January 7, 2026
  • 5 replies
  • 147 views

In my Photoshop Elements 2026 on Windows 11  the color swatches are empty.

Even an new Installation had no success.

5 replies

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 7, 2026

Try a reset of the Photoshop Elements 2026 Editor preferences by going to Edit>Preferences>General, clicking on

Reset Preferences on next launch and restart the Photoshop Elements 2026 Editor.

January 7, 2026

Thanks so much, it seems to be the right solution. 

Thanks again and all the best for you !

Glenn 8675309
Legend
January 9, 2026

ACO is a standard format for swatches-- I download free ones all the time, typically form big paint store websites.    Just look for the aco format (it will say photoshop)- aco files work just fine in pse. 

January 7, 2026

Regrettable it makes no difference.

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 7, 2026

If you go to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 2026, right click on the PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe, click

Run as administrator, does that make any difference?

January 7, 2026

Thanks for answer. In preset-manager setting to Swatches was OK, but the swatches field has been empty. Now I tried clicking the three lines in the swatches field and clicking there to big miniatures the swatches are filled, even when I clicked to small miniatures, the small miniatures are filled.. But when I close the program and restart it, the swatches are empty. Then I have to click as the same procedure before. the swatches settings in the preset manager seems not to be saved.

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 7, 2026

If in the Photoshop Elements 2026 Editor you go to Edit>Preset Manager, with the Preset Type set to Swatches

and clicking on the three small dots, does clicking on Reset Swatches or any of the choices below that do anything to the Swatches panel?

 

sw.jpg