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Known Participant
April 18, 2012
Answered

Can't save anything in Photoshop??

  • April 18, 2012
  • 13 replies
  • 64638 views

I am having this message display EVERY time I try and save something in my newly installed Photoshop (cs5) "Could not save "filename.jpg” because the file is locked or you do not have the necessary access privileges. Use the ‘Get Info’ command in the Finder to unlock the file or change permissions on the file or enclosing folders. I have tried Uninstalling and reinstalling after resetting permissions, I have tried saving the file under a new name, I have tried adding a new admin... nothing seems to work and my Illustrator is working seamlessly!??

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Noel Carboni

    I'm surprised no one has suggested clearing your Photoshop preferences thus far.

    Quit Photoshop, then press Command + Option + Shift on cold-starting Photoshop.  Get the keys down quickly enough and you'll be asked to confirm deletion of your current preferences.

    Also, if you're having file format problems, ensure you haven't somehow tied in plug-ins provided by Adobe for a different (e.g., older) version of Photoshop.

    -Noel

    13 replies

    Participant
    November 14, 2017

    Thank You!

    majkenj87198742
    Participant
    March 9, 2017

    The solution did not work for me.

    This is a very specific bug and ONLY happens when I do this:

    Open picture and do any kind of work on it, like rezise og change exposure or just anything.

    Press the x to close window and picture, forcing the program to prompt Do You want to save picture?, which I do want to.

    Click YES.

    BANG: I get permission fault. Picture is locked forever, I can not save it, have no permission to it in any programs and I can never erase it, or see it ever again.

    If I choose File and Save As... No problem. I do not get the fault. But that's a lot of extra clicks, added to my usual work flow. Any Ideas?

    Participant
    July 7, 2017

    I just went through my day and half of frustration trying to save my work and it would come up file is locked.  I tried everything with the properties file to no avail.  I found the problem, nothing to do with adobe, properties at all, it was my virus protection program ever so proudly saving my computer from devastation. I wish they made virtual hammers so I could go bash my virus program into a tuna can.

    Participant
    January 6, 2018

    Thank you.  I'm on the phone to Avast right now.  BINGO !   Problem solved.  I uninstalled Avast.  Thank you so much for figuring this out. 

    TDP1975
    Participant
    July 21, 2014

    Hi,

    I'd been experiencing this myself after a total reinstall of my system and migration of my files and software. I then experienced problems saving, and in some cases opening, all variety of files – not just Photoshop. None of the above worked for me, but then I found the solution and thought I'd share.

    The problem wasn't on my main boot-up drive but on other SATA drives that had all my files on. This is what I did:

    1. Select Drive

    2. "Apple" + "i" keys / File > Get info...

    3. Click the padlock in the Sharing & Permissions section at the bottom of the Info window (you will need to input the administrator's password to unlock it)

    4. Click the plus sign at the bottom left of the window

    5. Select your ID / the user you want to have access

    6. Click the Select button

    7. When your name appears in the Sharing & Permissions box, click the associated Privileges in the right-hand column (with two up-down little black arrows next to it) and ensure that you select Read & Write.

    8. Select your name

    9. Click the Cog Wheel & Arrow icon just below this table

    10. Select "Apply to enclosed items..." (this ensures that it's not just the disk, but everything contained on the disk that you have the privileges to read and write)

    11. Click the padlock.

    That's it! All done. Hope this helps someone.

    Participant
    February 23, 2013

    Did this problem get resolved JillBT as I have encountered exactly the same on my MacBook Pro OS X 10.7.5. CS5 photoshop only. I have just migrated from MBPro to imac running mountain lion - CS5 works fine on that inc Photoshop. MBPro still gets lots of use when I'm out and about so do need it..... Any help very welcomed.

    Known Participant
    February 23, 2013

    Hi there,

      Yes, for me, Noel's suggestion above of retting your PREFERENCES worked magically for me!

      Best of luck!

    Participant
    February 23, 2013

    that's most kind of you to get back to me - I did see that note after I'd mailed you and it did indeed work!!

    Thank you so much

    Very best regards

    Andy

    Known Participant
    April 26, 2012

    Noel,

    You are my HEROOOOO!!!!! Thank you SO much. Two months I've had this problem... and now it seems to be gone.

      Thank you thank you thank you,

                  Jill

    Noel Carboni
    Legend
    April 26, 2012

    You're welcome.  I'm just sorry I didn't see your thread sooner.

    -Noel

    Noel Carboni
    Noel CarboniCorrect answer
    Legend
    April 26, 2012

    I'm surprised no one has suggested clearing your Photoshop preferences thus far.

    Quit Photoshop, then press Command + Option + Shift on cold-starting Photoshop.  Get the keys down quickly enough and you'll be asked to confirm deletion of your current preferences.

    Also, if you're having file format problems, ensure you haven't somehow tied in plug-ins provided by Adobe for a different (e.g., older) version of Photoshop.

    -Noel

    Participant
    January 15, 2014

    Dang - that did the TRICK!  ....had just upgraded to 10.9.1 Mavericks - maybe that caused it. 

    Known Participant
    April 26, 2012

    Yep. I installed it onto my desktop and I have tried repairing that. Two or three times now probably. The program is completley unusable to me because of the fact I can't save anything I create.

    Participant
    January 6, 2018

    I have the exact same issue on a PC with Windows 10.  My CS6 Photoshop worked well for years, and this past month I have had this issue, making it now useless. 

    Known Participant
    April 19, 2012

    I really appreciate all the time you have given me with this. It's been incredibly frustrating for me, as you can imagine.

    I purchased CS5 directly through Adobe.

    Mylenium
    Legend
    April 19, 2012

    Known issues | Adobe on Mac OS 10.7 Lion

    One of those perhaps?

    Mylenium

    Inspiring
    April 19, 2012

    Have you used Disk Utility to repair permissions on the drive Photoshop installed to?

    Known Participant
    April 19, 2012

    I have, In general, I use Illustrator to create the file. Save it to either the desktop or a new folder. Then I go into PS to edit and crop etc... But what is happening is when I go to save my edits to either the desktop or folder from PS, that message comes up saying I can't.

      I have tried changing the name, changing the save to, I have tried just hitting 'save' instead of 'save as'. Nothing worked.

    April 19, 2012

    And this is the same with all formats?

    If 16 bit can't save to jpeg.

    Known Participant
    April 19, 2012

    I have tried saving in Jpg, jpg2000, PS, PSpdf, etc... same story.

    Known Participant
    April 19, 2012

    I am sorry, I am using the newest version of Mac and using Mac OS X Lion 10.7.3

    I have checked the permissions via the Get Info in the finder folder and still have the problem. This is so bizarre to me. So frustrating. Doesn't it seem strange that it is only a problem when saving in PS and not Illustrator? If it were a general permissions issue, wouldn't both programs be giving me a problem?

    Thanks so much for helping me!

    April 19, 2012

    Have you tried saving the same file to the same folder for both programs?