Not able to use SanDisk SSD as Scratch Disk

[BarkeeperCC]

Hey everyone, I’m hoping someone can help! I bought the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD (2TB) today and want to use it as a scratch disk in Photoshop on my MacBook Pro, but it’s not being recognized by Photoshop.

Here’s what I’ve tried so far: • System Preferences > Security > Privacy > Full Disk Access, enabled for Photoshop. • Renamed the drive to ensure there are no spaces in the name. • Restarted both my MacBook and Photoshop multiple times. • Ran Disk Utility > First Aid. • The file system is ExFAT. Any ideas on what could be wrong or what else I can try? Thanks in advance!

[Ged_Traynor · Accepted solution]

@BarkeeperCC have a look here

https://helpx.adobe.com/ie/photoshop/using/scratch-disks-preferences.html

[Lumigraphics · Accepted solution]

ExFAT will not work. Use Disk Utility to reformat it as APFS.

[toolboxcheckin]

I just had to deal with this today! Just bought a 1TB SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD to use for my scratch disk in Photoshop but it wasn't showing up as an option **frustrating**. Hope this helps someone...

This is what I did to fix it:

1) Plug USB into Mac

2) Re-format to APFS or macOS Extended (Journaled)

step-by-step: Click Desktop Page until you see Finder at the top, choose "GO", Select Disk Utility, Choose the external hard drive you need to re-format on the left, choose "partition" up at the top, Choose "APFS or macOS Extended (Journaled)", hit Apply

3) Go to Photoshop

4) Choose "Settings"

5) Choose "Scratch Disks"

6) Your SSD should show up as an option now to use as a scratch disk, select it and disable any other options if you only want to use the external HD as the scratch disk

***If you do not see it as an option OR if your reformatting failed, make sure you delete the Scan Disk Software if you installed it

Good Luck!

[Park Street Printers]

I'd avoid this issue entirely by buying a laptop with at least 2 internal ssds. I set up my mom's 12 year old HP with 2 drives when I replaced the ailing hdd, and added a spare nvme and sata3 to a friend's Dell about 2 years ago, so he has 3. I don't remember the laptop model numbers or anything, but it was pretty easy.