24.5 deleted all my previous actions, brushes, workspaces, etc. How do I get them back?

[robertb97882933]

I installed Photoshop 24.5 over the previous iteration this morning, and the result was a loss of all my settings. Actions, brushes, workspaces, etc are all gone. Some of these I've used for years and use daily. I'd very much like to get them restored.

What is the quickest, best way to restore these files to Photoshop?

[robertb97882933 · Accepted solution]

So, I have to assume that the answer is "no, there isn't a quick way to restore the previous version's actions, etc." My workaround was to go to my Photoshop2022 folder (Users/username/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop 2022/Adobe Photoshop 2022 Settings) and copy the essential files from it to the Photoshop2023 settings folder. I got back my workspace, custom menus, actions, and brushes from late 2022, before v2023 launched. That's about 90-95% restored.

I am still puzzled as to why Photoshop updated with a tabla rasa install, but to be honest, I need to use PS for work, and not ponder on the mysteries of Adobe.

[renaud98A5 · Accepted solution]

This saved me a lot of time! Thx!

[federicomanni]

Same here on macbook pro, it's absurd. A lot of time wasted. and we are lucky they are talking about artificial intelligence... 

[CShubert]

Sorry to hear this @robertb97882933 did you select the option to keep older versions and files in your CCD install workflow?

[Stephen Marsh]

More on the topic of Actions here:

https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/01/photoshop-custom-action-file-backup.html

More on presets here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/using/presets.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/kb/preference-file-names-locations-photoshop.html

[Earth Oliver]

yeah, it's a horribly bad and awful joke that this is still an issue after DECADES of Ps dev. You can't imagine how many thousands of users have lost data over the years because Adobe refuses to address this basic UX issue. Instead of auto-backing up all the important data, they chose to save Gradients, Patterns and Color Swatches to the cloud.

[IgorSwinkels]

I don't understand why my Actions  etcetra are constantly deleted when I start up my PC since there has been a "rude" update by Adobe. My PC is not even connected to the internet ( only once a week to look for updates). Or is that the problem? I don't want my PC to be connected to the web because of all the crap there gets put on by Microsoft and others.  I just want to use it for photo editing  (like i've been doing for many years).

[c.pfaffenbichler]

What is a »"rude" update«? 

Did you save your Actions so that you can re-load them from the Actions Panel’s flyout-menu? 

What have you done for all-purpose trouble-shooting so far?
Restoring Preferences after making sure all customized presets like Actions, Patterns, Brushes etc. have been saved might be a good starting point:
https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html
https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/basic-trouble-shooting-steps.html
https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/troubleshoot-gpu-graphics-card.html