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How do I empty my scratch disk without opening Photoshop?

Last updated on March 14, 2023 @ 10:09 am

How to Empty Your Photoshop Scratch Disk Without Opening Photoshop

If you’re like most Photoshop users, you probably rely on your scratch disk for the temporary storage of files you’re working on. Unfortunately, if your scratch disk becomes full, you may not be able to open Photoshop anymore.

Luckily, there are a few easy ways to empty your scratch disk without opening Photoshop.

1. Use the “Ctrl+Alt” keys

If you’re having trouble opening Photoshop because of your Scratch Disk, then you can try this step. While Photoshop is launching, press and hold the “Ctrl+Alt” keys on your keyboard. This will open up the Scratch Disk window and there, you can choose another Scratch Disk if your current one is already full or delete all the files on your scratch disk, which will free up space for new files.

2. Use the Purge option

If Photoshop is already open but you’re not able to use it because of your full Scratch Disk, then go to Edit > Purge > All. This will let you delete the files in your Scratch Disk.

PRO TIP: Warning: Do not attempt to empty your scratch disk without opening Photoshop first. Doing so may result in data loss or corruption.

3. Use the Preferences option

Another one that you can try if Photoshop is already open is to go to Edit > Preferences > Scratch Disks.

Here you can find all the available Scratch Disks where you can save your Photoshop files. You can use this to empty your Scratch Disk or simply choose another one with more free space.

NOTE: Not all devices have multiple Scratch Disks. This will depend on the current settings of your device.

Conclusion:

Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to empty your scratch disk without opening Photoshop. Using the “Ctrl+Alt” keys will help in getting through with this. Other options include the Purge and Preferences that you can use to empty your Scratch Disk.

Madison Geldart

Madison Geldart

Cloud infrastructure engineer and tech mess solver.