2024 Photoshop v. 25.9 all my brushes disappeared

[metin_b]

All my Photoshop brushes disappeared. The folder is empty. What's the problem? It took months to arrange them and now looks like they're gone for good. 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@metin_b did you save your .abr files after you created? If not they were all temporary files.

[metin_b]

It happened to me for the first time in 10 years. I uploaded all the .abr files to Photoshop again. Do you mean Photoshop treats all the brushes in my brush folder as temporary files? 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

If you create a custom brush and do not save a source abr file - then yes it is a temp file and can disappear with a reset.

[Mack_Chater4042]

I had the same problem - but I havent reset photoshop or had a crash? is there any way to recover the missing brushes?

[Trevor.Dennis]

I had the same problem - but I havent reset photoshop or had a crash? is there any way to recover the missing brushes?

By @Mack_Chater4042

Hi Mack.  What operatying system are you using?

If Photoshop go to 

C:\Users\[Your User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe

Where you'll find all installed Aobe apps

Open the previous version 2024 and go to Presets\brushes.

You might have your brushes there, but I would not expect to find any that you added since V2025

Do you have the Beta version installed?  If yes, check the presets folder for that version.

[davescm]

I save abr files, for downloaded brushes and for self created brushes, to a completely separate folder on my PC. That way, I just need to point Photoshop to that folder if it 'loses' them. Two minutes and done.
Dave

[Trevor.Dennis]

I save abr files, for downloaded brushes and for self created brushes, to a completely separate folder on my PC. That way, I just need to point Photoshop to that folder if it 'loses' them. Two minutes and done.
Dave

By @davescm

It's become such a no brainer with how often people are losing presets, it should be suggested as an option. I now do it with brushes, fonts, actions, gradients, and workspaces, and I feel that I should add textures, shapes and patterns to that list as well.  It keeps your presets safe, and lets you share the same assets between all Photoshop versions.