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Answered

Photoshop still randomly resets hotkeys and workspace

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
February 27, 2025
4 replies
531 views

I'm using version 25.12.1 and after the recommendations of another community member, the program still randomly resets itself. It will either a.) reset the workspace, plugings, actions or b.) will reset the hotkeys.

It's a random thing and happens at least once or twice a month.

Any suggestions - I've uninstalled and reinstalled. I've made sure that it's being run in Administrator mode. I'm signed in to the Creative Cloud when I run it.

Windows

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Correct answer D Fosse

What is important to understand is that all user settings are stored in your Windows user account, separate from the program files. This is rewritten on every application exit.

When Photoshop starts up, it loads the entire configuration from the Settings folder. If the Settings folder is deleted or moved - or for some reason parts of it can’t be read - Photoshop reverts to clean, out-of-the-box factory state.

So there are two things that can happen here:

a permissions problem in your Windows user account. Make sure the appropriate folders have full read/write privileges.
settings were corrupted at some point. Usually that happens when written at shutdown. It could be a crash or any kind of irregular shutdown.

This is why resetting preferences is always the first standard step in any troubleshooting. The safest and most complete way is to move the entire “Adobe Photoshop 2026 Settings” folder to your desktop, so a fresh one can be rebuilt.

Before you do, make sure to save out your custom actions, brushes etc.and keep them in a safe place so they can be reloaded.

T

timo65576948

Participating Frequently

Have always had the same issue on any of my PCs I’m running. Will just randomly reset my workspace and all my actions, brushes etc are all gone. Had this with my Windows 10 PC and now my Windows 11 PC has just done it. Very frustrating!

D Fosse

Correct answer

Community Expert

What is important to understand is that all user settings are stored in your Windows user account, separate from the program files. This is rewritten on every application exit.

When Photoshop starts up, it loads the entire configuration from the Settings folder. If the Settings folder is deleted or moved - or for some reason parts of it can’t be read - Photoshop reverts to clean, out-of-the-box factory state.

So there are two things that can happen here:

a permissions problem in your Windows user account. Make sure the appropriate folders have full read/write privileges.
settings were corrupted at some point. Usually that happens when written at shutdown. It could be a crash or any kind of irregular shutdown.

This is why resetting preferences is always the first standard step in any troubleshooting. The safest and most complete way is to move the entire “Adobe Photoshop 2026 Settings” folder to your desktop, so a fresh one can be rebuilt.

Before you do, make sure to save out your custom actions, brushes etc.and keep them in a safe place so they can be reloaded.

T

timo65576948

Participating Frequently

Thanks, I’ll keep an eye on that folder. It all looks to be fine and even found my existing custom workspace under the “workspaces” folder, but there is also a new folder “workspaces (modified)” which has all the usual preset workspaces there including my newly created one.

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

...the program randomly resets itself... happens at least once or twice a month.
By @Reality Reimagined

============

How old is your computer?

Which version of Windows?

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

R

Reality ReimaginedAuthor

Known Participant

I'm using the most up-to-date version of Windows 11 and the machine hardware is updated each year for the pieces needed.

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

Do you ever change between different workspaces, or reset the workspace you are using? Ether will change shortcuts, and toolbar back to their defaults unless you have a custom workspace that includes custom shortcuts and toolbars.

You can make this really work for you by setting up shortcuts according to context. For instance, I use the Michael Ninness shortcuts to arrange document windows, and these are stored with my defualt workspace, so if I need to use Free Transform Step & Repeat (Shift Ctrl Alt T) I have to swap to the Essentials workspace that has all of the Photoshop default shortcuts.

You can streamline this process further by triggering short actions with Function keys that set, and reset a workspace. It is very satisfying tidying a messed up workspace with a single key press.

R

Reality ReimaginedAuthor

Known Participant

Thank you for the response and the insight on multiple workspaces, but to answer your question - I only use one workspace and I customize it to fit my needs. That's why it's such an issue when I load PS to find everything has been reverted for no reason.

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

Thank you for the response and the insight on multiple workspaces, but to answer your question - I only use one workspace and I customize it to fit my needs.

By @Reality Reimagined

You say that you 'customise your one workspace'.

What exactly is the p[rocess you use?

Do you simply move panels etc.into place, and leave them there?

Which workspace do you use as the basis? i.e. is it the default Essentials? Only — and I don't know this for sure — but if you have Essentials selected and reset Preferences, I have a feeling that would return shortcutsa back to their defaults.

Whatever is happening, the answer remains that if you get everything how you like it, (shortcuts, Toolbar, Menus) and save it as a custom workspace, that will cement your settings as the new default.

CMass

Legend

Hey @Reality Reimagined,

It looks like you're using an older version of Photoshop, does this happen in the most current version of Photoshop (26.4.1)?

Check out what's new here: https://adobe.ly/4bjx13q

^CM

R

Reality ReimaginedAuthor

Known Participant

Sadly I've had all sorts of minor little issues with version 26 - the most maddening being that the brushes are constantly registering with pressure sensitivity on, when it is not. So I've been using version 25.

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