PS Elements 2026 basically unsable

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
December 25, 2025
7 replies
589 views

I recently have begun having problems with PS Elements 2026 (Ver 26.2). When attempting to open a file I get the message "Could not complete your request because of a program error".

Things I have tried to correct the problem:

I have done the Check GPU compatability suggestion (several times)

I have unchecked my GPU (several times)

I have rechecked my GPU (several times)

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the software.

I get the message on most every file that I attempt to open but not all of them. Most of the photos taken with my cell phone (Moto G Stylus 5G) will open normally. Other files do not.

I have looked at file sizes and where they may have been downloaded from and can not find a common connection. My file type of choice is JPG.

Surely with as many people as I find having this problem, there must be a solution, update, fix.

I have attached two JPG files. The "military" on will not open. The amarylis flower (taken with my cell phone) will open.

Thank you.

Problem or error

Greg_S.

Community Expert

I have made Adobe aware of this discussion and have requested that Elements has the ability to handle non-compliant jpeg files (in the same way that Microsoft Paint or the Photos app can).

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alwrmcAuthor

Known Participant

Thank you Greg S.

Hoping that your request will be taken into account and even more hopefully, acted upon. Have a super day.

Greg_S.

Community Expert

I'm not sure whether you are saying there was a change in behavior with the same file or whether you mean that files from the same source had a change in behavior. I suspect that it is the latter and would be surprised if it was the former. I have no expertise in programming of files. But what I can tell you is that every time a jpeg file is opened and saved, it may be changed, even if no edits have been made. Not all programs that can save the file will save it in exactly the same way. Similarly, if you upload or download a file to or from social media like Facebook for example, the file may be changed. The changes may also depend on the device or browser that is being used to upload or download the file. As I understand it, the non-compatible jpeg files that we are discussing here have a very small piece of code that does not comply with the standard, yet makes the file unreadable by Elements and other programs that conform to the standard.

However, having said all of that, you raise an interesting issue and I will request that Adobe consider increasing the compatibility of the files that it can handle. There may be a perfectly good reason why Adobe will not open these files and will not allow them to be used in Elements without first making them coform to the jpeg standard. That is beyond my pay grade to answer.

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alwrmcAuthor

Known Participant

I AM saying that that file refused to open but did indeed open later ONE TIME after I had uninstalled/reinstalled PSE 26.

Judging by your reply { Quote: I can tell you is that every time a jpeg file is opened and saved, it may be changed, even if no edits have been made. Not all programs that can save the file will save it in exactly the same way. } if I open a JPG and perhaps crop it or alter the light, when I save it, it may have been changed in such a way that some software may no longer be able to open it? I hope that I am not coming across as argumentative, my intent is to understand why this has happened rather abruptly. I might also add that this all began shortly after I undated Win 11 to Version 25H2. That had not occurred to me in my original post. Not sure if that might have a bearing but if so perhaps Adobe might investigate that avenue.

Greg_S.

Community Expert

IMO, the problem is not with Adobe. The problem is with your source of files which is giving you files that are not compliant with jpeg standards. The reason people will pay to use Elements is because the simple programs, like Paint and Photos, also have very simple editing functions.

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alwrmcAuthor

Known Participant

Greg S, Thank you for your reply. I appreciate your attempt to help/explain. However my question still remains why will Elements open the file one day and not the next. If the JPG is not standard then what might the difference be causing Elements to be unable to open the file? As I said, the problem only started a short time ago. Until then I had never had a jpg file that did not open. So what might the difference in the compatibility be that would allow Photos or Paint or Gimp to open the file but would prevent Elements from opening it? It would seem unlikely to me after years of using Elements that "compatibility" would suddenly become a problem. That would suggest to me that the souce of the files might have made a sudden change in compatibility.

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alwrmcAuthor

Known Participant

Perhaps I was not clear enough in my original remarks. The photo/jpg is only one of many that will not open in PSE 26. It only began as a problem roughly about a month ago. The same sites that I download from and the same files stopped opening in PSE 26 at that time. Until that time they opened normally. If MS Paint or Photos can open the file what is preventing PSE 26 from opening it? If "compatibility" is at fault, why can the file open in some software and not in PSE 26? I do not want to have to open files and resave them in order to be able to use/manipulate them in PSE 26. If that is the only way to use the files, why would I (anyone) want to pay Adobe to have and use their software? I have been an Elements & Premiere user for many years and this is the first problem area I have encountered.

Greg_S.

Community Expert

I can open the saved-as-jpeg file in Elements 2020 too. I used the Photos app in Windows 11, but I see no reason why it shouldn't also work in Win 10. Any photo app that can open a non-compliant jpeg image should save it in a compliant format.

6772025.12.26.png

Greg_S.

Community Expert

I agree with @Peru Bob. Many jpeg files that you download from the internet are non-compliant with jpeg standards. I just opened your file in Windows Photos and saved it without making any changes. The Photos app will save it as a compliant jpeg file which can be opened in any version of Elements.