Photoshop 26.10 not working with Windows 11

[Stapfoto]

After I installed Windows 11, Photoshop 26.10 isn't working anymore. When I open a photo from ACR in Photohop, Photoshop is closing. When I open PS without loading a picture: toolbar and adjustment layers are gone for example.  When I open a photo with file-recent files it's loading the photo, but still no tools. 

The only thing I can do now is working with the older version: 25.12.4.
All specs are OK: GPU (nvidia Geoforce RTX 3070, 8GB, updated), RAM 32GB. 

Help! I've in a a big project, I need Phtoshop every day! 

Please dont't ask uninstall etc., this has never worked before ;-/

[Ged_Traynor]

@Stapfoto was this a fresh installation of Windows 11 or an upgrade from Windows 10

For the toolbar issue, have a look at the correct answer in this thread

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-bugs/photoshop-tool-icons-are-missing/idc-p/14079...

For the other issues, try manually resetting your Photoshop preferences
https://helpx.adobe.com/ie/photoshop/using/preferences.html#Manually
Remember to back up your settings before doing the preference reset
https://helpx.adobe.com/ie/photoshop/using/preset-migration.html

[Stapfoto]

It was an upgrade from Windows 10. 

Unfortunately '24' > Rename > '24.old' doesn't work. Still don't have a toolbar, adjustment layers en Photoshop is  closing after a few seconds now every time.

Adobe advices to use  Ctrl + Alt + Shift + start Photoshop for Windows to reset the Photoshop preferences but this doesn't work. Ik get this message: "Do you want to allow Adobe Photoshop 2023 to make changes to your device?" But it's not about Photoshop 2023.... Because photoshop closes now immediately after starting it, it's impossible to go to the preferences in Photoshop itself ;-/. 

Can you please tell me how to reset the prefences in Photoshop 26.10 without having the possibility to enter de app? Or better: do you know when there's an update (today? tomorow?) from Adobe to fix this bug with Windows 11 😉 ?

[Ged_Traynor]

@Stapfoto "Unfortunately '24' > Rename > '24.old' doesn't work" you renamed the wrong folder, for version 26.10 the folder name is "Adobe Photoshop 2025 Settings" in the appdata folder

If that doesn't help, I would suggest uninstalling and reinstalling Photoshop from the CC app and select to delete the preferences, something obviously went wrong with the upgrade from Windows 10

Photoshop version 26.10 runs fine on both my Windows 11 PC's

[Stapfoto]

Aaah thx, I simply copied the solution under the link. But that was an old discussion, so about 24..... I'll give it another try! 

[Stapfoto]

Also renaming "Adobe Photoshop 2025 Settings" doesn't work. Photoshop now opens, but still no toolbar and ajustmentlayers. Maybe this helps to get the problem more clear. I also get an message: "cannot write new document representations file". I'm afraid all my handmade brushes and actions will be gone.

By uninstalling and reinstalling all my prefences are gone. Adobe says: Ëdit - presets - export/import presets". But this doesn't exist. I only have Edit - migrate presets. Opening this is giving me a message There are no presets to migrate from older versions"????

[Stapfoto]

I see there's no Adobe Help Center anymore for individuals??? Only this forum? This can't be true....

[Ged_Traynor]

Try using the Adobe cleaner tool

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/apps/troubleshoot/download-failure/cc-cleaner-tool-installa...

[Stapfoto]

This doesn't seem to fix my problem of loosing all handmade brushes and actions. It seems an even harder solution then uninstalling the app?

The only solution now seems to be to stick with my first solution, not using PS 26.10 but only the older version 25.12.4.  

[Stapfoto]

This was in the discussion of Rhapsodys blues in 2022:  "We also checked the compatibility page for Adobe apps with Windows 11, and from what we can see here: (Link inserted here). The apps aren't fully supported for Windows 11 yet. Since this is operating system has only been out for a few months, it can take some time for 3rd-party app developers to update their apps in order to have full compatibility. Right now, what we can suggest is to roll back to Windows 10, which is fully compatible with your Adobe apps". 

After three years the problem still isn't fixed.... 

[Stapfoto]

With todays update from Adobe Photoshop part of the problem is solved. So it is definitely a PS-problem. Toolbar is back, and it doesn't close anymore. But still no ajustmentlayers ;-/. So waiting for the next update.... 

[jackrobbert]

Photoshop 26.10 crashing and hiding tools on Windows 11 is a known compatibility glitch. A few fixes that usually work:

1. Reset Preferences → Hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Win) while starting Photoshop, confirm reset.
2. Disable GPU acceleration → Edit > Preferences > Performance → uncheck Use Graphics Processor, restart PS.
3. Check ACR version → Make sure Adobe Camera Raw is updated (older ACR builds often cause crashes when handing files to PS).
4. Update via Creative Cloud → Install the very latest Photoshop patch — Adobe often hotfixes these issues quickly.
5. If nothing works → stick with 25.12.4 for now until Adobe rolls out a stability patch for 26.10 on Windows 11.

This way you can keep your project moving without losing time.

[Stapfoto]

Everything tried, so that's exactly what i'm doing now, sticking to the old version 25.12.4 of Photoshop ;-/. 

[Stapfoto]

There's an update from Adobe Photoshop now, and part of the problem is solved. So it was definitely a PS-problem. Still no ajustmentlayers, hopefully there's also a solution for this bug soon.  

[jackrobbert]

Glad the update fixed part of it! For the adjustment layers, try resetting prefs or disabling GPU in Preferences → Performance — if not, it’s likely a bug Adobe will patch soon.

[Ged_Traynor]

@jackrobbert "Photoshop 26.10 crashing and hiding tools on Windows 11 is a known compatibility glitch" where did you get that information from, I have Photoshop version 26.10 installed on 2 Windows 11 PC's, and it runs perfectly fine on both.

[Stapfoto]

See the discussion of Rhapsodys Blues. I don't know how tot link to a discussion. 

[jackrobbert]

Good point — thanks for sharing your experience! To clarify: it isn’t an official “known bug” that affects every Windows 11 system. It seems to hit some setups (often depending on GPU drivers, ACR version, or preferences) while others run 26.10 with no problems at all, like yours.

That’s why the suggested fixes (reset prefs, disable GPU, update ACR/Creative Cloud) are more about troubleshooting common conflict points rather than a universal glitch.