Wacom Intuos tablet freezes Photoshop

[Kavaeric]

When drawing in Photoshop with my Intuos Pro tablet, Photoshop can suddenly freeze. No inputs will register, not from the tablet nor keyboard nor mouse. None of the window buttons work and the cursor is frozen to whatever tool I was using, be it brush or otherwise. The only way to close Photoshop is via the task manager, discarding any unsaved work I have.

This seems to happen under a couple circumstances:

• When the tablet is being used, and then disconnected from the computer while Photoshop is open. Either by removing the Wacom wireless USB receiver while Photoshop is running, or turning the tablet off and on again while Photoshop is running, it will always cause Photoshop to lock up. It is probably important to note that if I disconnect and reconnect the tablet in another app and then switch back to Photoshop, the bug does not occur.
• Completely at random. I can't seem to pinpoint when it happens, nor what I could be doing that would set it off. Just that on occasion (maybe once or twice every couple of days?) Photoshop freezes, and I can't do anything but close it through task manager.

Even more occasionally, Photoshop recovers after a short while. It seems to happen more often if I turn the tablet off immediately after the bug and try to give input with the mouse or keyboard, but I can't replicate this with success.

Some things I've tried:

• Switch between WinTab and Windows Ink.
• Updating the Wacom drivers. I've updated religiously for the past few months but it has never been remedied.
• Updating Photoshop, same deal.
• Plugging the USB receiver to the tower directly. No change, and the wireless range is not wide enough to make this practical for work anyway.
• Reinstalling Wacom drivers.
• Reinstalling Photoshop.
• Replicating this in something other than Photoshop. So far only Photoshop appears to be affected by this.
• Replicating this on my laptop. Although it is set up in an almost identical manner (WinTab setting included), it does not appear to suffer from this problem at all.

In summary, the bug appears to be specific to my desktop computer, and the freezing specific to Photoshop.

• Windows 10 Enterprise x64
  • AMD Ryzen 5 1600X @ 4.0GHz
  • 32GB DDR4 RAM @ 2800MHz
• Photoshop CC 19.1.3
  • Using UseSystemStylus 0 configuration
  • Elevated (administrator) mode
• Wacom Intuos Pro Medium
  • Model PTH-651
  • Broken micro USB port, can only charge, not connect
  • Driver version 6.3.29-6

I've also searched across this forum as well as others, and I can't seem to find any information regarding this issue. Any help would be appreciated.

[richard9]

I have the same issue. Not sure if the problem started happening when I updated Photoshop or when I updated the Wacom driver.

If Photoshop is running and I plug the Wacom tablet in, it freezes Photoshop completely (I think plugging it out while photoshop is running does the same thing). I have to close it through the Windows task manager (I'm using Windows 10).

The Wacom has to be plugged in before I start Photoshop.

This is annoying as there are extended times during the day that I don't need the wacom, but now can't remove it.

[rickardl81706468]

Same here, every time I plug the USB into the tablet photoshop freeze. And I have to close photoshop in windows task manager.

Latest Photoshop in windows 10 with Intuos pro PTH-651

[jeffs44499794]

Im having the same issue. If my tablet isnt on when photoshop starts up then when i do turn it on it freezes photoshop and i have to force close it.

[pamw89025238]

I have the exact same issue, Photoshop randomly freezes. It does not crash so I never get a bug report.

This only occurs with my Wacom Intuos Pro PTH-651. I have this issue on my laptop and computer, I have used other computers with a different tablet and it never occurred there. On both devices I have Windows 10, always properly updated.

These are the specs and photoshop version for my laptop:

Processor

Intel Core i7

Videokaart

NVIDIA GeForce MX150

I run an older version of photoshop on my laptop, not sure which one but it's definatly older than CC2018

On my laptop photoshop runs on the nvidia card.

The specs and photoshop version for my pc are the following:

processor: Interl(R) Core (TM) i5-7500 CPU @ 3.40GHz

videocard: Intel(R) HD Graphics 630

Adobe Photoshop Version: 19.1.5 20180604.r.346 2018/06/04: 1175273  x64

I always run the latest version of the wacom drivers.

I've started having random issues with my tablet 1,5 years ago. It started with the tablet randomly not working anymore and me having to replug it back into my laptop. After that the pen started malfuntioning, I had to buy a new pen and this fixed stuff for a while. Since last year december ish I've been having these random freezes. This was all on my laptop, I have however not updated that version of photoshop on my laptop since last year september.

On my current pc, where I am having the exact same weird issues. I have everything fresh, latest photoshop, newest driver, etc.

Times where i've noticed it crashed more frequently:

- When having my tablet plugged in, and using the mouse and navigating to a different program I have started up. For exmaple, I've been drawing for a while, use my mouse to check my mail on chrome, pick up the pen to go back to photoshop and it will have frozen itself.

- Other times it can be completly random, usually it's as follows: wacom tablet randomly disconnects itself, I plug it back in, photoshop has frozen.

Some things I have (also) tried:

- swapping to wintab instead of windows ink (this did the things it's supposed to do like no more white ring etc. but did not fix the freezes)

- updated and re-installed drivers, even done this multiple times over the course of 2 hours out of frustration.

On a sidenote, I have also worked with a very very old wacom tablet with an older driver but the latest version of photoshop on a different computer at an internship. No freezes EVER occured, while I had the same modifactions to photoshop as I currently have on both photoshops.

The biggest difference I can think of between my laptop/this pc and the other pc I used where I never had issues is that I was able to turn of the "Use Graphics Processor" checkmark on the other pc where as when I turn this off on the pc/laptop with issues they will both disable the smooth zooming and everything will be a bit more "pixely"

[lukaszw42305686]

same here but using a Cintiq on windows. Tried so many things, no luck.

[MicahGanske]

Same issue here. Machine has a 32-core threadripper, 128GB of ram, and a 980 ti gpu, running Windows 10 Pro.

For me it happens when I use keyboard hotkeys while drawing on my Cintiq.  Everything hitches up and PS won't register any input. It seems to recover faster if I move my mouse as if the mouse input cancels out whatever the Wacom is doing.  It doesn't happen all the the time, but when it does start happening I have to restart the machine to get a smooth experience back. 

[Joe Rodgers]

Same problem here on an Intuos and Windows 7 pro.  This also happens in After Effects.  I have just gotten in the habit of closing Photoshop and After Effects first, then plugging in and turning on the tablet.  Once or twice it has gone on to freeze up out of nowhere and I have no clue what causes that.

[shengk77810483]

same issue!!so frustrating. Initially I thought maybe it's because of lacking the RAM, but they are only 50% in use. I closed down some program and make it about 30%. But still, whenever I try to click "alt" to pick an color on the existing layer, the dropper icon did not show up, in stead, it shows the a cross. and the whole software had no response for about 30s no matter what I click, then suddenly pop up everything that I randomly clicked during the freezing time.

I only noticed that for a recently update. I am not sure it's photoshop or driver update tho.

I am having the first version intuos.

so frustrating.

BTW, I have wild guessing : the issue is accumulating (smaller errors )during your usage.  I see someone said having issue of desktop but when switch to labtop, it turned out to be fine. I have totally opposite scenario,   my problems happens in labtop (I have a desktop but not so frequently in use, PS+wacom seems fine  there.)

[hilbrandbos]

Same here. I run Windows 10 on a machine with 6 gen i 7 and 20GB of RAM and Geforce 950 with a wacom intuos paper edition.

I have the issue randomly, but more often with the alt hotkey pressed.

Every couple of tens of strokes I get a max. brushsize blob.

Sometimes it freezes photoshop entirely, no clue what triggers that... only killing the ps proces and loosing work will get it running again.
This last thing only happens 4-5 times per month.

I thought it was a RAM problem, but with 20GB's it can't be.

[Ravenmore]

Same here. Having PS running wile I plug in my Wacom = instant freeze. Absolutely no fix found so far. Can we at least get some word from Adobe who should we be pestering about this? Them or Wacom??

[marekc56826369]

same here

[Rune Werner Molnes]

Same problem here

[weashell]

I have exactly same issue. If tablet device will be plugged in after PS application it freezes entirely. I hope that will be solved because that is annoying..  That happened after i updated my old photoshop. Probably something between windows ink system. Anyone using Mac+Ps has same issue?

[jesslzz]

Same issue for me, I can't use my Wacom since updating to Windows 10. I'm sure it's a windows 10 issue but Wacom + Adobe should pay attention to this problem!

[jordanp37110081]

Same issue here, using Windows 10 and Adobe Photoshop CC.

* If I start Photoshop *before* plugging in the Wacom Intuos tablet, it almost certainly is going to freeze.  Once upon a time, this was not an issue.

* Periodically when using the stylus to draw, Photoshop won't reflect changes to the picture when I switch to eraser or some other tool, or on occasion if I am drawing and have the SHIFT key depressed while applying the brush elsewhere (which usually results in a straight line being drawn between the two points).  I can still see a representation of the tool on the screen (circle corresponding to diameter of brush), but any "drawing" doesn't result in changes.  If, however, I switch to the *mouse* and select some other tool, that USUALLY seems to snap Photoshop out of it, and belatedly all the scribbles I tried making when things weren't working (including the initial "point-to-point" line, if that's what set this off) will suddenly be applied to the picture.  I say "usually," because the amount of time varies, and at some point it just looks like it's *never* coming back, so I have to kill the application and start over.  (Save early, save often.)

This is particularly problematic if I am switching back and forth between brush and eraser; it's almost certain to freeze things up.

* If I have the Wacom tablet plugged in and use a *mouse* to start drawing/painting/erasing on a picture, thereafter pressure sensitivity will not function on the Wacom tablet, until I close everything out and start up Photoshop again (this time making sure to start working with the stylus right away, instead of the mouse).  Thereafter, if I start using the stylus, and partway switch to the mouse to do a bit of erasing, etc., I won't lose pressure-sensitivity during that session.

[ericlamar]

Thanks! Unplugged my mouse USB and now the tablet is working fine.

[jordanp37110081]

(P.S.)  Additional detail: *Most* of the time, if I hit "alt-tab" and cycle out of Photoshop and to something else, then go back into Photoshop, the problem clears up momentarily.  However, sometimes I find that whatever I attempted to shift-click has been interpreted as a solid click.  (This hang-up happens when using the shift key to select additional areas with the magic wand or lasso, for instance, and if it hangs on this point, then sometimes it will act as if I had selected the new area *without* shift.)  Sometimes it will *not* clear up even if I use alt-tab to switch to something else and back again; I haven't yet figured out what (if any) common factor there is in why it will or will not work.

[alexw32860465]

Same thing here, Photoshop randomly freezes when I am using my Intuos Pro to paint, only to recoven when I move the mouse or alt-tab out. I have tried both PS CC 2018 and 2019 and the issue is persistent. It has been very frustrating as it greatly impacts my productivity as an artist.

[sdfsdf345345]

Same problem here

[Vidzhel]

The problem is connected with the Windows Inc

Here is one of the possible solutions for the problem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nL10xGIA_s

[Dima Strapchev]

Thanks, this video pointed me in the right direction! I didn't have to 'hack' Photoshop, and didn't find Windows Ink settings in Wacom Tablet Properties. But, I found one setting called "Adjusts the pen pressure for compatibility with older apps..." in the Wacom Tablet Properties.

To get there you need to select Grip Pen in Tools and click Option button (now its at the bottom, left). Then at the bottom half of Options window there is 'Pressure Compatibility' section and the setting  "Adjusts the pen pressure for compatibility with older apps...". I've enabled that and it seems that the freezing is not happening any more.

Good luck!