When I updated photoshop, I lost all my recent files

[kavyaak]

I tried downloading previous versions too. But I lost all the files that I was working on.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Where were your files stored? Locally or as cloud documents? 

[kavyaak]

They were saved locally.

[jane-e]

Do you mean the files no longer show in the Recent list or that they are no longer in the folder on your computer where you saved them?

Are you on Mac or Windows, and where (exactly) were you saving them?

~ Jane

[kavyaak]

I  can access the saved files but I cannot see the files I was working on recently. I lost them with the update. 

[jane-e]

Hi @kavyaak 

When you start reopening the files that you saved and can still access, then they will appear in the Recent list again. It's not automatic. 

You didn't answer the question about Mac or Windows. If you are on Mac, use Spotlight to find:

• files ending with .psd
  and
• files after a specific date, i.e., 1/1/2020

This will show all recent .PSDs.

If I misinterpreted, please clarify.

~ Jane

[kavyaak]

Hi, sorry my bad. The files weren't saved. They were shown on recents and I lost all the files that I was working on. Also, I have windows. 

[jane-e]

---

@kavyaak wrote:

The files weren't saved. 

---

Earlier you said the files were saved locally. Now you are saying they weren't saved. Please clarify.

~ Jane

[D Fosse]

Recent files is just a quick convenience for files you have worked on recently, as in "yesterday". It's just so you can pick up where you left off, without having to open your file browser.

The list is cleared with a new Photoshop version, when you reset preferences etc.

You haven't lost anything, your files are wherever you saved them on disk. Pay attention to where you save. Use a proper file browser to keep track.

[kavyaak]

Okay. So is there any way I can get back the files I was working in? 

[D Fosse]

Yes: open your file browser (Windows Explorer or Mac Finder) and find them. Use Windows or MacOS to search. They will be there, somewhere. Your images aren't "in" Photoshop. You can wipe Photoshop completely from your system and the images will still be wherever they were saved.

Take this as a lesson to always make a note of where you save things. You choose where to save in the Save As dialog. Set up a logical folder structrure so that you can find it later.

Hint: if you're on Windows, image files default to the Documents > Pictures folder, if you haven't changed anything. So you can start looking there.

[Zahra348029754fqy]

the same thing happened to me ... pls help 

tomorrow i need to hand out the project but after the update not only the recent files are not showing in photoshop also in my computer. they are disappeared 

[jane-e]

@Zahra348029754fqy 

The list of Recents (either on the Home Screen or in the File menu) is a pointer to the actual file. You can still open the actual file with File > Open or from Finder/File Explorer. See the answer from DFosse just above yours in this thread.

Jane

[Zahra348029754fqy]

i searched in any way my laptop.the file is disappeared 

it's not any where 

[Zahra348029754fqy]

Surprisingly i found it but the format is pdf that you can edit like a PSD. I don't know what changes to this format and can't change back to PSD.

[NB, colourmanagement]

@Zahra348029754fqy I'd say that it's impossible that updating Photoshop did this to your file.

Anyhow, to help - you can open the PDF into Photoshop which will 'rasterise' it (so be careful choosing resolution when asked) then you'll be able to edit and save it as PSD should you wish 

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management
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[Stephen Marsh]

On a related note, my session saving script keeps a permanent record of which files and where they were located at the time of saving the session. Restoring the saved session will automatically open the files (as long as they were not renamed or moved). This should also populate the recent files menu and Home Screen.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/scripts-to-save-amp-restore-photoshop...