Photoshop 2020 is a complete mess.

[jonh12871979]

I was running out of storage, so had to remove unnecessary apps and files, I had PS 2019 and 2020, and asked support (via chat) if I really needed both versions. I was informed I could remove 2019, so I did. I immediately began having problems. BIG problems. 

1. The Home screen would never open, only a blank screen with tool bar across the top.

2. However, it would open neither a new file nor one from my file explorer. Nothing. Nada. Zip. If I went to workspace and reset essentials, I would get a new workspace, and I could start a new project, but still could not open a file from my file explorer!

3. Trust me, I did all the troubleshooting, uninstall, reinstall, reboot, etc. I finally just went back to 2019 and everything is fine. 

What is the point of updating if NOTHING works? 

Any ideas?

[Derek Cross]

Did you remove Photoshop 2020 using the drop-down menu in the Creative Cloud app (the recommended method)?

[jonh12871979]

No. I uninstalled PS 2019 from my computer after PS 2020 had already installed (via regular update notifications). That's when I started having problems. What I have done now is simply installed "other version" from the Creative Cloud drop-down menu. That is what I am using at present. Of course, it wants to update like crazy, but after trying that once and having the same issues again, I am not about to do it again until I get some kind of answer as to what the problem is.

[D Fosse]

The problem is uninstalling 2019 after installing 2020. Photoshop needs to be installed in strict version order and uninstalled in reverse version order.

The safe way to do this is:

• uninstall 2020
• uninstall 2019
• reinstall 2020

Adobe keep telling customers it's safe to uninstall the old version - which it usually is, but not always. At least it's better than it used to be, when the CC installer did this by default, and the result was a flood of complaints with each upgrade cycle. 

It's strange that this issue is still officially ignored. The forums have been full of it for as long as I can remember, and a lot of people have been saying this the whole time. I made an attempt to escalate this some years ago, but it was met with total silence. Now I don't bother anymore.

This hits Windows users mostly, but Mac isn't immune either.

[jonh12871979]

Thanks, I'll give this a shot and I'll keep you posted!

[jonh12871979]

Okay. Only 21.0 or 21.0.1 was installed (I can't remember which) but I uninstalled it. I then installed 21.0.2 (which I asume is the latest version of 2020). Again, all I get is a blank screen with toolbar at the top. I can "Open" a file, but I cannot create a

"new" one, even after resetting essentials in "workspace."

.screenshot of opening screen

Here's a shot of the CC Desktop:

CC Desktop

I am going to reinstall one of the older versions because I need to work, but I'm afraid to update at the prompts because I'll just end up back here. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

[DummyEggs]

Thank you, I just encountered all of the same issues and results. I don't have time to relearn or FIX PSD 2020.

[J453]

Did you try restoring your preferences? That seemed to fix the issue for most customers on this thread: https://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/photoshop-2020-black-window?topic-reply-list%...