Participant

Question

"could not import the clipboard because photoshop does not recognize this type of file"

Forum|Forum|9 months ago
June 9, 2025
2 replies
740 views

I'm at my wits' end. I changed computers from a laptop to a gifted built desktop a few weeks back and have nothing but issues with Photoshop, but cannot for the life of me figure out what the issue is.

Every PSD file I have created on this computer creates fine, saves fine, and will play nice (saving, functioning, opening/closing) for 3-4 days. After that, attempting to open the file gives a "could not import the clipboard because photoshop does not recognize this type of file" error. I have cleared my clipboard with PS and in my system settings, nothing has changed. The files will not open.

I have uninstalled/reinstalled PS and Creative Cloud in their entirely.

Windows 10, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti. I have no idea what I'm doing or how to fix it, but if anyone has advice beyond what Adobe recommends in their help articles (I've tried everything I can figure out how to do), I would be SO grateful. I just want to be able to use PS again.

Windows

Anshul_Saini

Community Manager

Hi @MoonshotBlitz,

In addition to the great suggestions already provided by Christoph Pfaffenbichler, I highly recommend checking out a response from Brett N, a member of the Photoshop Product Team, in this related thread:

https://adobe.ly/4dZWLn0

He sheds more light on the cause of the “could not import the clipboard” error and provides guidance that might help.

Please read that and let us know if the steps there help resolve the issue.

We’re here to help you get back to creating smoothly!

Best,

Anshul Saini

M

MoonshotBlitzAuthor

Participant

Hi y'all -

All above has been done. I have cleared my preferences as well as warning messages in every way possible. I have cleared my clipboard both with Photoshop and directly on my machine. My graphics card is up to date (recently installed) and is compatible. I don't know anyone else that uses PS so I can't check if anyone else can open it, but attempting to open it on my other device (laptop I was previously using different drivers entirely and no previous issues of this nature) gives the same clipboard error.

@Anshul_Saini I appreciate you linking me to that discussion, but believe me, I already dug through that one, which is why I began another. Unfortunately, none of those solutions worked.

Is there anything else I can try? My files don't even show in the "recent" area when starting up PS, it's as if the program doesn't recognize anything past my swap to this desktop.

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

You could try de-installing, using the Cleaner Tool to clean up afterwards

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

and re-installing anew. .

Unfortunately there is no guarantee this will in fact resolve the issue.

c.pfaffenbichler

Community Expert

I assume you already restored the Preferences (after making sure all customized presets like Actions, Patterns, Brushes etc. have been saved)?

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html
https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/basic-trouble-shooting-steps.html
https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/troubleshoot-gpu-graphics-card.html

Do you employ any automated back-up system? (If not please try to manually duplicate the files every day until the working copy c…ps out and check if any of back-up copies are affected as well.)

Can others still open the affected files?

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