Photoshop BETA hijacks all associated file types in Windows 10

[Red Point]

I installed Photoshop beta on Windows 10, which I regret insofar that all my file types are now hijacked by Beta. All my Photoshop files are now associated with beta. When I click any PSD file, beta opens. I cannot change file association in Windows 10, as Windows doesnt "see" regular Photoshop and wants to open the Windows App Store (for all other filetypes besides PSD normally associated with Photoshop).

Any ideas how I can have Beta installed without this Photoshop filetype nightmare?

[MarcySB]

How do I change the default app for .psd and .jpg files back to the public Photoshop? I know how to assign this in the settings and have done it in settings several times. It still defaults to the beta when I double click to open a file. I do NOT want the beta version to be the default to open a document, and I do not want to have to open Photoshop first and then go file.open every single time I want to use it. If there is not answer for this, I will uninstall beta - as much fun as generative fill is, it is not that important to me to have it. I do have the newest versions of both installed.

Also, in Windows, is there any way to have both the public and beta versions open at the same time?

Thanks,

Marcy

[D Fosse]

The last installer activity will always take over file associations.

Normally you want to follow strict version order. The beta disrupts chronology a bit - they're both version 24.

You should probably be fine reinstalling the public version, and it should then take over file associations. When the time comes to uninstall, start with the one holding file associations, and then work backwards. Then reinstall whatever you want to keep.

Having a beta installed is always a bit risky, and the risk is your own. That's why it's a beta.

[MarcySB]

I'm not going to uninstall and reinstall Photoshop because every time I do, I lose my brushes, my workspace, and my actions and I'm tired of rebuilding everything. Maybe there will be a Photoshop update soon that will let me switch. Or I'll uninstall the beta version for now. I know installing a beta version csomes with risk but I did not expect not being able to assign a file extension was one of them. Thanks.

[D Fosse]

Actions and brushes can be very easily saved out, and that is something you should always do, routinely, in any case. Not just for migrating between versions. You might need to reload them for several other reasons, for instance resetting preferences for troubleshooting.

[rossk44716372]

Go to File > Open With and select the non-beta version to open an image.

[MarcySB]

@rossk44716372 - I tried that - the Beta still opened. I'm just hoping that with the next update of the public version, making it the latest installation, that the public version will become the default again. Thanks.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Hi @MarcySB when you change your settings in the Windows OS you have to browse and find the specific version of Photoshop. After that if you open the beta and the 24.5 version simultaneously, it will open in the beta.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-default-programs-in-windows-e5d82cad-17d1-c53b-35...

As for your brushes issue, make sure you are saving your presets and when you install new versions you are not wiping out preferences (setting in your CC desktop app).

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preset-migration.html

[MarcySB]

@Kevin Stohlmeyer I'm not sure I totally understand your answer. In the Windows settings I have chosen the 24.5 version many times as the version I want to open the app. It still opens a psd or jpg file in beta if I double click the file, which is how I've opened files for years. Your link is how I've been doing it and it won't set it. Even if I right-click and say Open with, choosing 24.5 STILL opens the beta version.

Also, I can't open the beta and 24.5 at the same time - Windows 11 won't seem to allow that. From what I've seen in chats in videos introducing 24.5 May 2023 version, others can't either.

As for saving the presets, that has been my preference since CC first became a desktop app. And it does not always work.

I did just uncheck remove previous version so if I need anything from the previous version, I should have it.

I wonder if I crossed some wires somewhere. I'd really hate to have to uninstall and reinstall both of them, so I'm going to wait for now.

Thanks.

[jane-e]

Also, in Windows, is there any way to have both the public and beta versions open at the same time?

By @MarcySB

Hi Marcy,

In addition to what DFosse said, on macOS you can run multiple versions of applications simultaneously, but Windows OS usually disallows that. Give it a try — you'll get an error message if it can't be done.

Also: back up your actions and brushes and everything else anyway. If you don't, you risk losing them at a most inopportune time.

Jane

[Trevor 5C79]

I am having the same issue (in Windows 10). Even when manually setting the file association to the original Photoshop, it would still default to the Beta version.

My workaround was going into the Program folder, in the Photoshop Beta folder,  and change the "Photoshop.exe" file name to "Photoshop-Beta.exe". Now, when I set the file association to regular Photoshop, it works. This may not be the best thing to do (and may affect any Beta updates), but I would rather manually open Beta, rather than the other way around. Especially since I am not primarily using Beta at this time.

[MarcySB]

Well, sort of an update but by no means a solution. Yesterday there was an update to the public version of Photoshop. Now the default when I double click a file to open it is back to the public version of Photohop, where I want it. That said, I assume the next update if it is to the beta version will switch it back. For the moment it does what I want it to. But who knows how long it will last. Hopefully Adobe will still look at these issues!

[D Fosse]

If you read the first reply in the thread, you'd see that the latest installer activity will always take over file associations.

[MarcySB]

Yes, I read that, which is why after the latest install, I tested that and then posted here that it actually happened. Thanks.

[desmondg18111326]

It's weird that they messed up the version order for beta apps to be opened by default. Hope Adobe fix this mistake.

[D Fosse]

Have you read any of the previous replies?

[desmondg18111326]

Yes, you mean about the 'the latest installer activity will always take over file associations?' I personally don't really see that as a solution to this.

If Adobe would like users to use beta versions and help improve the product it shouldn't mess up file associations like this.
I've used several beta apps of other companies and didn't run into this issue.

For now I just install it if I need it, so test way less then I would or give feedback if it didn't have this issue.

[Loren309257597eo2]

I have experienced the same problem and had to uninstall the beta. I like to open and review my NEF photos in Microsoft Photos, then when I see one that I would like to process, I open it from there into Photoshop, the non-beta version. 

[Photographer Donna]

Uninstall it, thats what I did

[Bev A.]

Yes, I'm on a Mac and this was an absolute pain. On a Mac there's a method (right click on image in Finder and select "Get Info" where one can set default app for opening image types (.jpg, .png, etc.). But even AFTER doing that several times, Photoshop Beta still took over. Really bad and not usefull in any way. I ended up uninstalling Beta because it such was a HUGE PITA!
Software that's in "beta" should NEVER, EVER take over such things on one's computer.

[niacey00]

GENIUS !! The same process was happening to me. Everything in this thread was making sense, and by all means it should have worked, but THIS fixed it. Thank you !! On another note I was trying to assign the Photshop.exe as default at the "open with" right clicking picture. So i can see how we both overlooked davescm's suggestion 

[Dave Coates]

I use Photoshop 2023 24.7 which is fully updated.  I also have the new beta version loaded.  I now find that except when using Bridge everytime I try open a PSD or other file it opens the beta version not 2023 24.7.

I have try to change the association by selecting version 2023 from the Adobe folder but it still opens the Beta version.  How do I correct this please

[Peru Bob]

Uninstall 2023 24.7 and reinstall it.  The file associations will be fixed.

[niacey00]

Absolutely Genius ! Thank you. Right away it worked. 

[jeroenr92072295]

It is sort of infuriating. But for the sake of productive conversations, I'll try to contain myself a bit.

No way I am uninstalling and reinstalling the public version every time the beta updates and decides to hijack the file associations once again. Photoshop Beta updates more often than Photoshop public version. I feel that this is something of a deployment issue, where there is a conflict in how Windows handles things and how Adobe deploys their apps. Can't the development team look into this conflict of file associations? Might critically reviewing their DevOps pipeline for deploying Beta in a way that it can better coexist with the public version solve it? I don't know, maybe it's as simple as renaming some sort of application ID (e.g. "com.adobe.photoshop.xxxxx.beta" interfering with "com.adobe.photoshop.xxxxx" on Windows file associations) or disabling file associations for the Beta version in general. 

Just my two cents, because I think that working around the constraints of this conflict is too tedious.

[jeroenr92072295]

Adding to my previous reply (I can't seem to edit it), for the sake of not polluting this thread with rumors or assumptions: anything I suggest is mostly conceptual. I am not affiliated with Adobe, nor do I work on the Photoshop team. Take the concrete examples of my suggestions with a grain of salt.