It all becomes much easier to handle if you always keep in mind that settings and preferences are version specific. They are not part of the regular program files and are not stored there. They are stored separately in a folder in your user account. When Photoshop starts up, it goes to this folder and loads the configuration it finds here.
Deleting this folder in your user account instantly returns the application to clean out-of-the-box factory state.
Installing a beta version is outside the normal sequence of versions, so here you need to pay extra attention to the options and checkboxes. I don't want to sound dismissive when I say this, but installing a beta is at your own risk. That's why it's a beta and not a regular version update.
There's a difference between major and minor (dot) updates. A major update, a new full version, will be installed with blank preferences. There is a checkbox in the installer to migrate settings and preferences from the previously installed version - as long as it's still there. I never migrate, so I can't recall what the default is.
A minor dot update, like 24.4 to 24.5, will continue using the same preferences.
If you uninstall, there is a checkbox to keep the preferences. You can check this if you have plans to reinstall later.
As for your actions and brushes, this is stored in your preferences and follow the version. You need to actively save them out yourself. You do this from the menu in the actions/brushes panel. You can save them anywhere you want. There is no automatic procedure that Photoshop or the installer will do this for you. You need to do it yourself.
Hi; not sure if you are aware but this all started because Creative Cloud suddenly lost sight that PS v24.4 was already installed on my PC and I was not seeing any options to upgrade to v24.5, it could only detect that Bridge / LR Classic / Camera Raw were installed & up to date. I found a similar user issue on the CC Forum and was following along with that. I now understand your comments about the need to save various config elements but I was not aware of that when I attempted to load the Beta / v24.5 versions from within CC, the guidance I received was that I shouldn't lose anything. Thank you; your explanation is very good, & wish I had known that before. I assume that PS has wiped my existing actions / presets / brushes, is this the directory I would normally expect to see locate them: C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2023, if not please advise correct string.
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