Cannot choose Adobe Photoshop 26.1 as default app in Mac OS Sequoia 15.1

[dSparks]

After updating to PS 2025, all image files in my Mac finder opens with another app.

I made the mistake of installing Photoshop Beta, and—after every update—the beta app becomes the default instead of the actual released version. This is frustrating in itself but that's another issue.

After each update, I would go in to the Finder and open the File Info and reset every image file (CR2, ARW, jpg, tif, png, PSD, etc.) to "Open with:" the release version of PS, and choose "Change all..." to set the default app.

With this last update to 26.1, the Finder would not allow me to reset the default to PS 2025. It would allow me to choose the app in the drop down, and I would get the dialog confirming my choice to change all. However, after hitting Continue, it would go right back to the alternate app. PSD files were opening with Illustrator. JPG and PNG files with Acrobat. 

In trying to fix, (along with multiple machine restarts) all to no avail, I ...;

• double-checked file privileges for read & write
• changed file privileges to read & write for staff and everyone
• uninstalled PS beta
• uninstalled (removing all preferences) PS 2025 and reinstalled
• reset Finder preferences by removing the com.apple.systempreferences.plist
• forced Spotlight to reindex all drives using mdutil
• gave PS 2025 Full Disk Access.

It wasn't until, finally, I uninstalled PS 2025 (removing all preferences) and installed the previous version, PS 2024 25.12, and the Finder is working again as before. I'm able to set PS 2024 as the default app.

[alehstudio]

Since I upgraded Photoshop to version 26.0, all file associations have broken down.

If I double-click on a file in the finder, the file always only opens in Preview. In the file information panel, ‘Acrobat’ appears in the ‘open with’ dropdown. I can change this for the individual file, but it does not work for ‘apply to all’. If I click on ‘apply to all’, the associated application reverts to ‘Acrobat’.
I also tried right-clicking on the file, holding down the option key: if I proceed by selecting ‘always open with this application’, I get a popup saying ‘’file name.jpg’ is damaged and cannot be opened. You should move it to the Recycle Bin.’
I tried deleting the 26.0 version and re-installing the previous one: file association works with the previous version. As soon as I restore version 26.0, file association is lost again.
I've tried uninstalling the new version, reinstalling the old one and then uninstalling the old one again to reinstall the 26.0: nothing, the file association doesn't work.
Is this a problem that only I have? Is there a solution?

[Sameer K]

Hey, @alehstudio. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I'll help you figure this out. 

Does uninstalling Acrobat help? Does this happen with all common file types associated with Photoshop, or JPEG specifically?

As a test, uninstall Acrobat and Photoshop & install Photoshop (beta) from the Creative Cloud desktop app > Apps > Beta apps page. 

Let me know how it goes. Thanks!

Sameer K
(Use '@mention' to tag me when you reply)

[alehstudio]

Thanks @Sameer K  for your prompt reply.

I had already tried uninstalling Acrobat and the association moved to Illustrator, but not Photoshop 26.0. And yes, the problem affects all file types associated with Photoshop, not just jpg.
If I go back to the previous version of Photoshop, the probelma is solved.
I will try to uninstall Acrobat and Photoshop 26.0  again and install the beta version, as you suggest. And then I'll update you.

[alehstudio]

@Sameer K , as you suggested I uninstalled Acrobat and Photoshop. 26.0 and reinstalled the beta version of Photoshop. The file type association works perfectly. Even after reinstalling Acrobat as well. What do you recommend I do now? Do I stay with the beta? Will the bug in version 26.0 ever be fixed?

[D Fosse]

This happens because the CC installer uninstalls the old version after the new is installed. So the old version takes file associations with it on the way out.

Normally an uninstall > reinstall of Photoshop fixes it. Acrobat is just an innocent bystander and can probably be left alone.

This has always been a problem on Windows, but now it seems to happen on Mac as often.

To avoid this in the future, always follow strict version order both ways (last in first out). The last installer activity will always take over file associations.

[alehstudio]

@D Fosse  is not as you say. An unistall/reinstall does not solve the problem. I tried many times, but every time I reinstalled version 26.0 the problem recurred. Now, as recommended by @Sameer K, I tried installing the beta version and the problem does not occur.

[Sameer K]

It's too early to call it a bug, so I merged a similar post and shared the details with the team for review. 

Thanks!
Sameer K

[MoonlightPromo]

Hi Sameer, I have Photoshop 26.1 but I'm getting a dxcore.dll error. In CC I do not see any previous versions I can install. Is there any way in CC to install an earlier version?

[dSparks]

If you have CC Desktop installed and I'm assuming you're on PC since it is a .dll error, 

1. Click on your apps tab on the left bar in CC Desktop.
2. On the Photoshop box, click on the 3 dots in the lower left corner of the box, and choose Other Versions found at the bottom of the dropdown menu.
   
   

A box should appear with previous versions to install.

Did this help?

[dSparks]

Update:

Since I'm now getting the annoying banner to upgrade EVERY time I start Photoshop, I decided to try it again. And still, I'm having issues of changing files to default to the proper software. I can't even choose PS 2025 as the default for PSD files! See .mov video of screen attached.

Any way to stop the banner from popping up on PS 2024 to upgrade?

[alehstudio]

Thanks @Sameer K 

[D Fosse]

This is technically not a bug since it's the way the Adobe installers have always handled multiple versions. It has also always been a problem - historically mostly for Windows users, but now it's hitting Mac users the same way.

I first bumped into this with CS3 way back in 2008, and since then it's been a regular recurring issue in the forums around every update cycle.

I would suggest a very small change in the order of events when a new version is installed:

1. uninstall old versions in reverse version order (if checked)
2. install the new version

If you do it this way manually, in this sequence, file associations are correctly handed down to the operating system and lost/stuck file associations are never a problem.

[alehstudio]

What does ‘uninstall old versions in reverse version order (if checked)’ mean? I only had one version installed, version 25. I uninstalled it and installed version 26.00. All file associations were lost. I uninstalled 26 and installed 25 again and the associations returned to normal. I uninstalled 26 and installed 25: file associations lost.
I uninstalled 26 and installed the latest beta version (26.2.0) and the associations worked again.

[D Fosse]

@alehstudio Some people have three or four versions installed.

The point is - when uninstalling, start with the newest and work backwards.

If you have 25 installed, but don't want to keep it when installing 26, uninstall 25 first.

If you have 25 and 26 installed, and you later want to get rid of 25, do it in this order:

• uninstall v 26
• uninstall v 25
• reinstall v 26

Similarly, if you have 26 installed, and you want to add 25 - but you still want 26 to hold file associations - same thing:

• uninstall v 26
• install v 25
• reinstall v 26

You may want to blame Adobe for this, but it's actually not about the application; it's about how the operating system handles file associations. It works like this for everything. The logic is extremely simple: the last installer activity, whatever it is, will take over file associations.

If you do it this way, file associations will never be a problem.

[dSparks]

@D Fosse ,

There's no doubt that you're correct that there's an order to things. The info you've given is valuable. Thank you for your responses. However, this is not what we're experiencing. If you insist; I did exactly as you stated, I uninstalled the beta version first, and it STILL didn't work. After much testing, the file associations are broken with PS 2025 and no other version.

We're not blaming Adobe, just simply submitting a bug report for an out-of-the-ordinary issue that we've never come across before and wanting their team to look at. In fact, you could say we're helping Adobe address any, possibly, problematic concerns that may arise from their many users. "User feedback". It's not an operating system issue since I already covered that above. There's no need to be condescending in your implication that we're somehow devoid of any logic and doing everything wrong.

If you tested and tried to recreate it, please post the steps you took, the platform you're on, the version of OS, the versions of PS you tried, and what the results were. If you cannot recreate it, then the information you provide will help us in our investigation.

@Sameer K,

This is, indeed, possibly a bug... at least on our machines. That's why we're here. We reported it. That's how it works. Thank you for submitting it to your team! If they can't recreate the issue on the OS and version I mentioned, then obviously, you need more information from us. 

I'm sure most people are not aware of it, since few simply double-click on a file to open it anymore. They'll go through Bridge (which is not affected since it has it's own file association manager), or they'll open from within PS, or they'll simply drag and drop the file on the PS icon, etc.

My hope is that the next post in this forum has some constructive input.

@alehstudio,

I hear ya. I have the exact same problem. Are you on Sequoia OS?

[alehstudio]

@dSparks yes, Sequoia 15.1.1

[alehstudio]

@D Fossebut I don't keep multiple versions of photoshop installed. And in any case, I repeat, the problem only occurs with photoshop 26.00. It has never occurred before and it did not occur when installing the beta.