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17

Photoshop BETA hijacks all associated file types in Windows 10

Enthusiast ,
Dec 07, 2022 Dec 07, 2022

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?

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correct answers 2 Correct answers

Community Expert , Jun 02, 2023 Jun 02, 2023

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 ri

...
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Community Expert , Oct 24, 2022 Oct 24, 2022

Your screenshot now looks correct for PSDs. Version 24.0 is the current Photoshop 2023 public release. If all versions of Photoshop are now closed and you open a PSD from Bridge, it should use Photoshop 2023 (v24)

 

You will need to set the other file types from 24.1 to 24 in the same way

 

Dave

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correct answers 1 Pinned Reply

Adobe Employee , May 21, 2025 May 21, 2025

Hi folks,

 

Apologies for the trouble with file associations during install and beta installations. We've made some changes here, so with this latest release and hopefully going forward you shouldn't run into any more file association issues when installing new versions, beta versions, or uninstalling. Hopefully this fixes it for you!

 

Please let us know if there are any strange behaviors you notice and we can further look into it.

 

Cheers,

PG

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replies 154 Replies 154
154 Comments
Participant ,
Dec 26, 2019 Dec 26, 2019

Windows 10 Pro

 

Hello,

Yesterday, I upgraded from Photoshop 20.0.8 to 21.0.2. I have both versions on my PC. I did not delete my prior version.

 

When I click on a psd file using my file browser, I get the older version of Photoshop.

 

I tried several of the solutions listed here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/file-associations-broken-uninstall-applications.html

 

Method 1: After I select Photoshop from C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2020\, nothing happens or changes. In this case, I have a file on my desktop. Once I follow the above procedure, I go back on my desktop (it didn't open PS 2020). I then double click the file, and the prior version of PS opens.

 

Method 2: It appears that Windows has changed somewhat because I am unable to choose any program.

 

2019-12-26_14-19-24-photoshop1.jpg

 

As you can see, my choices are limited. I can't work my way through to PS 2020.

 

Method 3: Uninstall and reinstall. I am trying to avoid that option.

 

Method 4: For the psd file type, I did as I was expected to do. Here's another screenshot.

 

2019-12-26_14-23-01-photoshop2.jpg

 

The default was blank (no value). So I typed the following:

"C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2020\Photoshop.exe" "%1"

After I rebooted the computer, it still doesn't work. 

 

I am at a loss as to what to do next. Any ideas?

Kevin

 

Keywords: Photoshop, file associations, broken, psd, psb, unable to associate file extensions

 

{Thread renamed by moderator}

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Adobe Employee ,
Dec 26, 2019 Dec 26, 2019

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about the file association issue, could you please try the steps mentioend below and let us know if it helps?

 

  •  Right-Click on the PSD file and go to Properties.
  • In the Properties dialog, click on Change, as shown below:

           change.jpg

  • Then click on More Apps.. on the bottom and scroll down, then click Look for another app on this pc.     Screenshot_2.jpg
  • Then go to the installation directory of Photoshop for e.g the C:\Program Files, look for Adobe Photoshop 2020 folder inside the Adobe folder and then choose Photoshop.exe and click on Open.
  • Then click on OK, that should close the properties dialog.

 

Then try opening that psd file by double clicking on it and let us know if it opens in the 2020 version of Photoshop.

Regards,
Sahil

 

 

 

 

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Participant ,
Dec 26, 2019 Dec 26, 2019

Thank you very much, Sahil, for responding promptly.

When I tried you solution, I found that the dialog box got hung up after I selected photoshop.exe in the following directory: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2020.

 

And here's the graphic:

 

2019-12-26_15-40-01-photoshop3.jpg

You can see that the "Opens with" hasn't converted over to the new Photoshop yet. This lasted for several minutes before I took action. The only way I could close this dialog box was to go to Task Manager, select Windows Explorer, and then select "Restart."

 

I also tried restarting my computer and trying the same steps over again, hoping that I would not encounter the hung dialog box. But I do. I am right back to the hung dialog box. It's been hung now for about five minutes. There is nothing I can do with my cursor. My only option, again, is to use the Task Manager to restart Windows Explorer.

 

I look forward to your next suggestion.

 

Kevin

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Participant ,
Dec 26, 2019 Dec 26, 2019

Sahil,

 

I have a quick update. After ten minutes, the hourglass stopped. Unfortunately, the Opens With remains unchanged with the old version of Photoshop still in place. I even double clicked on the file to confirm that nothing has changed.

 

In short, I have the same problem with no progress, other than we identified another path that is not working.

 

I look forward to your help.

 

Kevin

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Community Expert ,
Dec 26, 2019 Dec 26, 2019

Restart your computer and disable non-essential processes like anti-virus, firewall, real time backups and Creative Cloud desktop app. 

 

Nancy O'Shea— Product User, Community Expert & Moderator
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Participant ,
Dec 26, 2019 Dec 26, 2019

Thank you, Nancy, for your suggestion. But the result is the same as prior attempts. 

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People's Champ ,
Dec 26, 2019 Dec 26, 2019
Check what you have in the registry at this address.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\Photoshop.exe
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Participant ,
Dec 26, 2019 Dec 26, 2019

Thank you, r-bin, for your comment. The answer is (value not set).

 

2019-12-26_19-08-47-photoshop4.jpg

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People's Champ ,
Dec 26, 2019 Dec 26, 2019
Haha
I do not know how on win10, but on win7 it should be like that.
aaaaaaaa.png

 


I have problems constantly with this section if I install any
CC version. The installer constantly deprives this section of rights. Available only to SYSTEM user.

Try to manually enter this data, restart the computer, and again try to assign the program to the PSD file.
 
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Participant ,
Dec 26, 2019 Dec 26, 2019

Thanks, r-bin, but you have an added item "path" that I don't have.

 

I will wait for the Adobe people to comment again in the morning. I am afraid of making my situation worse than it is.

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Community Expert ,
Dec 27, 2019 Dec 27, 2019

Just trying to pinpoint what lead to this - did you run the 20.0.8 update after 21.0.2? In that case it will take over file associations.

 

This is a fundamental weakness of the whole system, and it has been so for a long time (at least back to CS3). You really need to run every install/uninstall/update in strict version order. Reverse order for uninstalling. The last action, whatever it is, will hijack the file associations.  

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Participant ,
Jan 22, 2020 Jan 22, 2020

My problem is solved today.

 

There was an upgrade to version 21.0.3 today. Once the upgrade was finished, I went to a file on my desktop, right mouse clicked, chose Photoshop 2020 and checked the box to make this selection the default. That solved my problem.

 

Thank you to everyone who pitched in with their suggestions.

 

Kevin

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New Here ,
Nov 01, 2021 Nov 01, 2021

Overnight, my PSD file icons have become blank white rectangles.  Also, if I click on a PSD file to open it, I get a message asking what program to use, and photoshop is not listed.  It seems my PSD files are no longer associated with the 2022 release.  Can someone please advise how to fix this?  Thank you.

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Community Expert ,
Nov 01, 2021 Nov 01, 2021

That probably happened because your earlier versions were uninstalled as you installed 2022. There's a checkbox to not do that and leave them installed (just for future reference).

 

The outgoing version can sometimes take associations with it and leave them orphaned.

 

First try to uninstall and reinstall Photoshop. If that doesn't work, go into Windows Settings and set associations manually. It's under Apps > Default Apps > Choose default applications by filetype:

associations.png

 

In the future, always install in strict version order, and uninstall in reverse version order. Last in, first out. That's always safe.

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Explorer ,
Nov 10, 2021 Nov 10, 2021

I have the same problem but it's not related to uninstalling the previous version, as I kept both.  Windows file association by file type will not let me choose Photoshop 2022.  I can associate files in Bridge but Windows won't associate any files with Photoshop 2022.  This problem only began quite awhile after I installed the updated version.

This is not the first time this has happened. 

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New Here ,
Nov 21, 2021 Nov 21, 2021

Same here. But I can't choose Photoshop to link with the .psd
It is the only extension that is corrupt.

 

psd.jpg

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Community Expert ,
Nov 21, 2021 Nov 21, 2021

See If you can set the Association from Windows File explorer. Right click on a PSD file. Click Open With the choose an other program. Scroll to the bottom check Always use the app and click on more Apps then scroll to the bottom and click Look for another app on this PC.  Navigate on the c drive toeProgram files  Adobe  Adobe  Photoshop 2022  Photoshop.exe click  Open.

Capture.jpg

JJMack
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New Here ,
Dec 16, 2021 Dec 16, 2021

I'm having the same issue with PremierePro (and possibly Photoshop). When I try any of the normal ways to relink a file association with PremierePro 2022, such as JJMack's instructions above, when I click Open at the end, it opens 2021 instead and tells me that this is too old to open my file.

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Explorer ,
Oct 23, 2022 Oct 23, 2022

I have the regular 2023 Photoshop and the Beta version.  

All my files now open in Beta only.  Beta does not have all the tools/brushes I have downloaded over the years.

So, I tried to uninstall Beta because I don't want to lose the brushes and other tools.

Then, when I tried to open a file from Bridge, it won't.  The program associated with (now Beta) it doesn't exist.

I want my files to open in the reguar Photoshop so I can use my brushes, etc.. 

How do I get my file association back?  Unistalling Beta doesn't work.

Daniel Donahue

[Personal contact info removed by moderator]

 

 

 

 

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Community Expert ,
Oct 23, 2022 Oct 23, 2022

Have you tried manually setting the File Associations in Bridge Preferences >File Associations ?

 

Dave

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Explorer ,
Oct 23, 2022 Oct 23, 2022

Looks to me that that only sets files to be open with extensions like Psd, Jpeg, etc.  I don't see there where a file will open from Bridge into Photoshop 2023 instead of Beta.

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Community Expert ,
Oct 23, 2022 Oct 23, 2022

It sets which application Bridge will use to open each file type.

Dave

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Explorer ,
Oct 23, 2022 Oct 23, 2022

2023 vs Beta.jpg

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Explorer ,
Oct 23, 2022 Oct 23, 2022

This is what I get.  Photoshop 2023 not an option.  I find Photoshop 2023 in browse but nothing happens when I click open which is the only choice.

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Community Expert ,
Oct 23, 2022 Oct 23, 2022

What should happen when you navigate to another app i.e the correct Photoshop.exe file  (not just the folder)  and click open is that the file association is updated and that app will be used going forward.

Dave

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