Question about the PS CS6 icon showing up as my new Elements 2021

[solarme]

Hello, I installed Elements 2021 yesterday 6-15-21, to a new HP Win10 laptop.  I have not had the chance to use it yet.  Today I uploaded a couple of folders to it and the PS CS6 icon is different, it shows up as the icon for Elements 2021.  I'm attaching a SC for you to see.

Why are the icons changing when I haven't used 2021 yet?

And, is there a way that they can be turned back to PS CS6 icon?

I would appreciate your assistance.

[Jeff Arola · Accepted solution]

Because the windows registry changes when any program is installed even if you have never run it.

Usually you can right click on a psd file, click Properties then Opens with and select Adobe Photoshop CS6

and the icon should change back to the cs6 icon.

[solarme]

I keep trying to reply to Jeff Arola, but I keep getting an Error message.  I don't know why.

[jane-e]

Hi

Open your thread in the forum window and click the Blue Reply button on the first post.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop/question-about-the-ps-cs6-icon-showing-up-as-my-new-element...

~ Jane

[solarme]

Hi Jane-e

Thank you for the info.  I tried several times to answer Jeff's reply to no avail.  So I'm back now, I hope all works ok for me now.

[jane-e · Accepted solution]

You're welcome, @solarme 

You're icons will not change back when you start working in an application. Sometimes when you install a new application, it "takes over" the associations and then you have to set them back to what you prefer. For example, if you have files that end in .png, you may want to open them by default in Photoshop CS6, Photoshop Elements, or Windows Paint. You can choose the one you prefer, and Windows OS will remember.

You can always open the application first, then choose File > Open.

Jeff answered your question, so you can mark his answer "Correct".

~ Jane

[solarme]

Hi Jane-e,

Thank you for the crystal clear info, now I really understand what happened way back a few years ago when I had the same problem. 

One problem I'm having when I installed my CS6 to this new laptop, is that it went directly to the Win10 area on the left (where all the tiles are.)  As per the instructions I received from a couple of Adobe Professionals here quite a few months ago, I had to chose Run as Admin so it would install correctly (which I had to do directly from the tiles area.)  However, I did Not get a Shortcut to my desktop - so I cannot right click on it to choose other options.  I haven't been able to find any good info on how to create a Shortcut to CS6.

When I installed Elements 2021, I did get a Shortcut.  That really makes quite a difference.

[jane-e · Accepted solution]

---

@solarme wrote:

Hi Jane-e,

I did Not get a Shortcut to my desktop - so I cannot right click on it to choose other options.  I haven't been able to find any good info on how to create a Shortcut to CS6.

You're welcome, @solarme ,

I am on a Mac, but do use Windows occasionally. Try one of these two ways:

• Click the Windows key, then start typing Photoshop in the text box in the lower left. Right-click the word "Photoshop", then "more> and you should be able to choose to put a shortcut on your desktop or in your taskbar. I think you can also just drag from the Start menu to the desktop.
  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-desktop-shortcut-for-an-office-program-or-file-9...
• You can also try right-click the icon in the Tiles area and add the shortcut to the desktop and / or taskbar. The icon in the Tiles can be dragged to new locations or removed.
  https://www.pcmag.com/news/how-to-tweak-your-tiles-in-windows-10

Let me know if this works, as I am going from memory and am not a Windows user.

~ Jane

[solarme]

Hi Jane-e

Great info and links, thank you, I read through both of them. 

I actually followed your second suggestion, to right-click the icon in the Tiles area.  In my old Win7 laptop, you could unlock the Taskbar and drag an Icon to the Desktop, which was perfect - but that did not work for me this time. 

I guess the new Win10 laptops only come with the Pin to Taskbar option, not with the option to create a Shortcut (even though the MSFT info says you can do it.)  Also, that option was not offered when I installed PS from my disc.

So after trying several things, I decided to just choose Pin to the Taskbar for my CS6. And now I have a really tiny PS icon.  (See attached SC)

Thank you again for all the great info and assistance, much appreciated!

Live Long & Prosper

😄

[Jeff Arola · Accepted solution]

You should be able to drag the Adobe Photoshop CS6 icon from the Start Menu to the Desktop.

[solarme]

Oh wow, that is amazing, Jeff!  I had no idea how you were able to make the Tiles show up in a single file, so I just tinkered with the Windows Start Menu/thing and stretched it until I had enough space to just drag the PS Icon to the Desktop... I didn't know what I was doing but I was very careful, and it worked perfectly!!  (See attachments)

Thank you So much for your attention to detail and the great image you provided for me, that was awesome!  I am so grateful to you and Jane-e.

Live Long & Prosper!  😄

[solarme]

Hi Jeff, thank you for the information.

I didn't know that.  I had problems forever when the same thing happened between my Elements 7 and my PS CS6 which I installed a few years later, in 2012.  All the PSD files/icons turned into PSElements7 icons!  I actually came to this forum and asked that question but to my recollection, did not get any answers then.

So my questions to you now are:

If I change the PSD file/icon as per your information, will the icon stay the same always?

Or, will the PSD file/icon change back to Elements 2021 icon when I start working on it, and stay like that forever, and, is this something I will have to do every time? 

[Nancy OShea]

An icon is merely a file association indicator.  Ultimately, you must decide which default apps you want to use to open image files -- be that a web browser, PS Elements, Windows Picture viewer or something else.  You decide.

Win10: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-default-programs-in-windows-10-e5d82cad-17d1-c53b...

[solarme]

Thank you for the information and the link, Nancy. Good to know.

[Jeff Arola]

No the icon shouldn't change back when you start using photoshop elements.

The only exception that i know of is if you run photoshop shop elements as an administrator, then the file associations and icons might change to those of photoshop elements. By that i mean you would need to right click on the photoshop elements shortcut and select Run as administrator. Not something you would normally do.

[solarme]

Hi Jeff,

That is good news, thank you for the further explanation.