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MarkWalsh
MarkWalsh
Inspiring
July 14, 2016
Answered

How to find info for Missing Linked Smart Object

  • July 14, 2016
  • 4 replies
  • 47135 views

I received a file from another vendor, and they have a linked smart object layer inside the photoshop file which is missing.

Is there any way to determine the file name/path/owner of the layer? In Illustrator and InDesign, this is possible, but I don't see any way to determine any info on the link. I need this to communicate to the vendor what is missing.

      Correct answer SG...

      Hi,

      You don't get the missing link dialog?

      Another place to look is in the Properties panel with the layer targeted.

      steve

      4 replies

      N
      nikitap96614280
      New Participant
      March 22, 2023

      Was facing the same issu. Until now when I discovered how to do it! 
      - simply cTrl + S (save your file and close it 
      - then close the file and reopen it

      - a dialog box will open showing the missing link, click the replace option and replace it with any random picture. 
      - The picture or the link file gets replaced with the new one. 

      Now you know which file was linked mistakenly / purposely .

       

      Delete the layer and import the required image/ requirement again
      Tadaa you are done!

      C
      cyclopsdx
      Inspiring
      March 10, 2025

      I've hit exactly the same issue with some third party assets I've just been sent. None of the above workarounds are working for me and I can't see any of the links missing. If I try and open the file in a different colour profile I get a notification saying it can't open the file due to missing links. If I open the file in the colour profile it was created in, it opens, but then it won't let me edit/crop the canvas or convert folders to Smart Objects because of the same missing link problem. Ironically, I just opened up the file in an old 2021 Photoshop I have an my old Mac and it opened fine, no problems whatsoever, so I'm having to edit it on that. (Might I add that despite it being a 14 year-old iMac running legacy software, it's way, way faster and responsive than the 2025 version. Shocking!). Could the problem be something to do with colour profile assignment?

      c.pfaffenbichler
      c.pfaffenbichler
      Community Expert
      March 10, 2025

      Possibly. Either that or they're pulling files off a shared server, or from a Cloud-based library, both of which I don't have access to. But it's just strange that a 4 year-old version of the software can simply just crunch its way through, no problem.


      Please provide the file. 

       

      Edit: A Smart Object instance is represented by pixel content, so it would be interesting to see under which circumstances that pixel content cannot be utilized (for example for converting the instance to a Smart Object). 

      S
      SCWallett
      New Participant
      April 9, 2021

      Did you ever get this resolved, as we've run into exactly the same issue?

        D
        defaulttwu6ls1otxbd
        New Participant
        April 22, 2021

        Yeah, so have I, and the above solution isn't working.  Photoshop is still telling me that it won't package because I am missing linked Smart Objects - but when I filter for Linked Smart Objects there are only two.  And they are both fine.  Annoying.

         

          A
          andyp84892904
          New Participant
          November 12, 2021

          I need help the same problem. absolute nightmare.

            lisetteb13886853
            lisetteb13886853
            New Participant
            February 27, 2018

            Look here to use filters to solve this quickly and easily - Work with Smart Objects in Photoshop - scroll down to mid page

            Filter the Layers panel by Smart Objects | Photoshop CC

            1. In the Layers panel, select Smart Object from the filtering pop-up menu.

            Photoshop Filter layers by Smart Objects

            Filter layers by Smart Objects


            1. Click one of the following icons:

            •     Filter for up-to-date Linked Smart Objects
            •     Filter for out-of-synch Linked Smart Objects
            •     Filter for missing Linked Smart Objects
            •     Filter for embedded Smart Objects
              K
              kamkan12
              New Participant
              October 26, 2018

              WOW!!!!!

              Thanks, I never post a thank you, but this so deserves it! Answered my exact query.

              SG...
              Adobe Employee
              SG...
              Adobe Employee
              July 14, 2016

              Hi,

              If they still have the source PSD, they can run the File> Package... command and send you that.

              regards,

              steve

              Package Linked Smart Objects

              You can package the Linked Smart Objects in a Photoshop document, such that their source files are saved to a folder on your computer. A copy of the Photoshop document is saved along with the source files in the folder.

              1. Choose File > Package.
              2. Select a location where you want to place the source files and a copy of the Photoshop document.

              Any audio or video Linked Smart Objects in the document are packaged as well.

              Note:

              You must save a file before packaging the Linked Smart Objects that it contains.

              MarkWalsh
              MarkWalshAuthor
              Inspiring
              July 14, 2016

              If they still have the source PSD, they can run the File> Package... command and send you that.

              Thanks, but that is the problem. The files often come from several different (and often, quite large) agencies (who aren't too knowlegeable most of the time), and it's possible that they won't know exactly who worked on the file at the time the link was created. it's also very possible that the file was provided to them from a different agency, and they may need to know where it came from.

              I believe I have found something that may get me closer. The file data has the file path if the smart object is a linked file:

                       <xmpMM:Ingredients>

                          <rdf:Bag>

                             <rdf:li rdf:parseType="Resource">

                                <stRef:linkForm>ReferenceStream</stRef:linkForm>

                                <stRef:filePath>file://System/Users/macuser/Desktop/This_Is_My_File_Name.png</stRef:filePath>

              The last line has the file path (including file name) of what was linked.

              But, if the smart object is linked to the cloud, then I get a cloud ID, and I don't see anywhere I can decipher the actual file name. And, unfortunately,  the file I'm working on has a cloud asset link.

                       <xmpMM:Ingredients>

                          <rdf:Bag>

                             <rdf:li rdf:parseType="Resource">

                                <stRef:linkForm>ReferenceStream</stRef:linkForm>

                                <stRef:filePath>cloud-asset://cc-api-storage.adobe.io/assets/adobe-libraries/cd1db8fb-eed4-4bbc-9d64-be75baeff4ae;node=8dcd2a0e-2510-4e90-8cc1-d95c11f047d9</stRef:filePath>

                                <stRef:DocumentID>uuid:c79fae39-ac85-3345-81ba-5166cb1930a3</stRef:DocumentID>

              SG...
              Adobe Employee
              SG...Correct answer
              Adobe Employee
              July 14, 2016

              Hi,

              You don't get the missing link dialog?

              Another place to look is in the Properties panel with the layer targeted.

              steve

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