When "save as" the current file won't overwrite; but still keeps it's original name.

[Naomi356]

I use Photoshop 22.5.1 on Mac Big Sur 11.5.2.

When I'm working in a file and I use "save as" to overwrite a file, it won't update the file i'm working in.

So for example I'm working in a file named untitled.psd, and I "save as" newfile.psd. The open file I'm working in is still named untitled.psd. I have to close that file, go to finder en open newfile.psd to make sure I'm working in- and saving the correct file.

I have this for a while now, working in Mac Catalina. Hoping that when I updated to Big Sur the problem would be fixed. But I still have the same problem. Please help!! Because this is really anoying and a big problem for my job. 

[JohanElzenga]

Does this really happen with .psd as file extension, or is this just an example? This behavior is expected when you use 'Save as' and choose a file format that does not fully support all the features of your current document. So for example if you use Save as "newfile.jpg" while your document is layered. It should not happen with .psd, because that format supports everything that Photoshop supports.

[Simmer1]

Hi,

It sounds like you may have a bug if the file your working on is still untitled after Save as: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/submit-crash-reports.html

[Naomi356]

@JohanElzenga  It happens for all file extensions. If I save a .psd file with another name (so it stays .psd) it won't update. And also if I save a .psd to JPEG, the JPEG file appears in my foler. But the file I'm working in stays the original .psd file..

[JohanElzenga]

Maybe you should reset your preferences to see if that solves it, because I cannot reproduce your issue using the same versions of Photoshop and MacOS.

And also if I save a .psd to JPEG, the JPEG file appears in my foler. But the file I'm working in stays the original .psd file

Like I said: that is as expected if the PSD contains something that is not supported by JPEG (such as layers or 16 bits/color).

[ScutFarkusAffair]

I came here looking for a solution to a similar issue, I have recreated it consistently as the OP describes since the most recent upgrade of my OS to Big Sur (RUnning photoshop 22.5) -- the current file will not update as the new SAVED AS file.
On my PC, which is running Win 10 and PS 20.0.2 the SAVE AS functions as desired; updating the current active file to the SAVE AS file, regardless of file type.  So, I know that previous versions of PS do function in that way.  
In digging for an answer, I see Adobe had to re-write the save as function since Apple removed an API they were using -- I hope this change in functionality was simply an oversight and not an intentional or forced change because of what Apple did to their OS.

https://petapixel.com/2021/05/18/photoshops-save-as-function-has-changed-on-mac-heres-why/

[dylanbperry]

I may have found a solution/cause for this bug, where "Save As" does not switch the active/working file to the newly saved file. I have experienced this across Photoshop, Premiere, and Illustrator.

From my brief testing, it seems that the bug occurs when using the keyboard shortcut for "Save As" (Ctrl + Shift + S), and the bug does NOT occur when using the File > "Save As" dropdown menu. This behavior is consistent across Photoshop, Premiere, and Illustrator.

Perhaps the keyboard shortcut alone is not coded to make this switch, or is not triggering a flag, or something. But this seems a consistent workaround until the bug is fixed.

[Susan Geo · Accepted solution]

I finally found a solution.  Under Edit>Preferences, go to the File Handling option and check the box Enable legacy "Save As" 

[dylanbperry]

Thank you Susan - I will try to apply this across the other Adobe apps as well.

I do hope they fix this issue with their new Save As, since I imagine this behavior is a legitimate bug and every user would experience it, given they force the new Save As on by default.

[Susan Geo]

Thank you.  Hope it works for you!!

[Stargeyzer]

First of all, thanks for taking your time answering 🙂

Unfortunatley this doesnt seem to work when saving from, lets say,  Untitled.psd to Newtitle.png. In the Save as popup there is a checkbox for Save as a copy, and I believe unchecking that box used to save the file and update the file you where editing to the saved file name and format, checking the box saved copy and kept the editing file as it were. Or am I completely off the rails here?

Anyway, checking/unchecking the Save-as-a-copy box in the popup doesnt seem to matter one way or the other, either way the png is saved and the unitled.psd file is unchanged.

I miss the good old days, it truely was a simpler time...

Stargazer

[D Fosse]

@Stargeyzer 

What the OP reports isn't how it works here. I believe this is Mac-specific, and connected to the change in MacOS that forced Adobe to come up with the "Save A Copy" workaround in the first place.

This is what I see in Photoshop on Windows when Save As to a new name. Everything is updated to the new file:

As for the "Save A Copy" command itself, it's supposed to split out a separate copy from the still open original. It can't switch, because the copy most likely had to discard data to meet the target format specification. In that case, the original always remained open; that's how it has always behaved - even back in the old days when you were allowed to save out the copy directly. It's the only possible way.

---

I miss the good old days, it truely was a simpler time...

---

You need to blame Apple for that. Adobe's hand was forced. The big mistake Adobe did was to try to sell it as a "feature", instead of what it was: an emergency rescue operation.

[Stargeyzer]

" In that case, the original always remained open; that's how it has always behaved - even back in the old days when you were allowed to save out the copy directly. It's the only possible way.."

I'm sorry, but I have to challenge that statement. It might be true for Photoshop in the CC suite, but long before that, back in the 1990:s, there was a thing called Photoshop 7.0.1 (1990-2002). I still have that version on one of my retired old household laptops (I think it was preinstalled and already outdated at the time), and I just confirmed: unchecking the Save-as-a-copy box uppdates the untitled psd file in editing window to the saved png file.

I know it's ancient history and very far from being common knowledge these days, I'll give you that. But my point was and still is: if they could make it work some 30 years ago, why not now?

Simpler times indeed...  🙂
Stargazer