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December 24, 2025
Question

Photoshop Elements all versions hangs

  • December 24, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 292 views

I have purchased several versions of Photoshop Elements over the years. I've also made a complaint about the fact that it always hangs when you're in the middle of something. I have a brand spank a new computer and it's all upgraded and very very able to handle anything Photoshop Elements wants to hand to me. But yet it's still hangs. Search the internet for answers and I've tried everything people have said and I am still having the same problem and it's torturing me. I just want it to work without issue.

4 replies

Greg_S.
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 2, 2026

I've just reread your original post where you say you have a brand [] new computer.  The specs you have given us do not match a new computer.  Did you give us incorrect information?

January 2, 2026
I rebuilt it. I didn't build a super computer because I don't do any gaming or anything like that. I simply edit photos and create videos. I'm won't pay hundreds of dollars for necessary parts. We can just forget all of this. It's not worth all the hassle. I will just keep my comments to myself from now on. Thank you.
Greg_S.
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 2, 2026

@lorrainewheeler although you have updated your computer, the graphics card is more than 10 years old and has only 2GB of VRAM.  There are a couple of other bottlenecks that will also impact performance.  You also haven't told us which version of Elements you are currently using.  Although you probably meet the minimum specs, I can see the program struggling with a multi-layer edit, particularly if you are using some of the more hardware intensive features of more recent versions. It also looks like you are using two monitors which increases the needs of the program.  So if that is the case, I think you will have to live with what you have.

I would have suggested that you upgrade the graphics card.  But I'm not sure you can do that and even if you could, I don't think it will make much of a difference.

Glenn 8675309
Legend
January 1, 2026

Most of time when things "hang" it can generally be attribed to the user, and not the program:   Plugins designed to work with Photoshop, users editing program files because "they know their way around computers", or manually installing  things where they don't belong-- having zip files buried in the brush presets for example.   Realloy oddball file names can be an issue at times-- there are some programming characters that should never be used in a file name. 

Forbidden filename characters vary by operating system, but commonly include: **<, >, :, ", /, \, |, ?, *, #, %, ~, ^, {, }- stuff like that.

I have 9 versions I can use now- I've only had an issue with pse 2010- I had to use a restore point to get my new computer working again- WIN11 even told me that the issue was with some files in PSE2010-

PSE 2020- to the present version have given me no problems, ever.   I've done some crazy things trying to "break the program" but I generally just reinstall whatever version to make any problems go away.

Many times simply LOGGIN OUT OF THE EDITOR FIRST, then unistalling, and reinstalling use the version found in your adobe account will tkae care of most issues. 

Reinstall a verison: but dont add anything, plugins, brushes, color swatches, whatever, and start off with a nice clean install. 


It still hangs?  What exactely are you doing when that happens?  Case in point:  Using actions designed for photoshop in PSE:  The action will simply stop working when it gts to a step that  PSE does not have, but photoshop does.  

Greg_S.
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 25, 2025

What is the latest version you are using?

Do you use the Organizer?  If so, how many media files do you have in your catalog?

How have you transferred the catalog to your new computer?  

Are your media on an internal or external drive?  Are you using a NAS?

When you say that the program hangs, what exactly do you mean?

What are you doing at the time of the hang?  Are you using a lot of layers in the Editor?  How large are the files you are working on?

Have you examined Task Manager to see what activity is taking place and what processes are in use?

What are the specs of your brand spanking new computer?  What graphics card does it have and how much VRAM?

January 1, 2026

Hi Greg.  Here are the answers to your questions.

I do not use the organizer.  

Media is on internal ssd

No NAS

My program hangs basically whenever it feels like. I guess after doing several edits it doesn't want to play anymore.  It hangs, then quits.

I use several layers in the editor.   My largest file averages 8mb

I close tasks on the task manager when I am using PSE2025

My specss are:
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64-bit
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 5500 
Cezanne 7nm Technology
RAM
32.0GB Single-Channel DDR4 @ 1064MHz (15-15-15-36)
Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. B550 AORUS ELITE AX V2 (AM4) 
Graphics
DELL U2412M (1920x1200@59Hz)
ASUS VH232H (1920x1080@60Hz)
2047MB NVIDIA GeForce GT 740 (EVGA) 27 °C
Storage
1863GB Western Digital WDC WD20EADS-00S2B0 (SATA ) 26 °C
931GB Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB (Unknown (SSD))
931GB Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB (Unknown (SSD))
2794GB Western Digital WD Elements 107C USB Device (USB (SATA) ) 26 °C
Optical Drives
PLEXTOR DVDR PX-L890SA
PLEXTOR DVDR PX-L890SA
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio