Fix Photoshop Scratch Disk Full Error – Easy & Fast Solution

When you depend on Photoshop for your creative work, encountering the “scratch disk full” error, including messages like “Could not complete your request because the scratch disks are full” or “Could not initialize Photoshop because the scratch disks are full” — can instantly disrupt your workflow. But don’t worry! In this guide, I’ll show you how to quickly clear Photoshop cache, delete temporary files, and adjust scratch disk settings so you can continue editing without interruptions. You can also download Adobe Photoshop CC 2025.

Understanding the Photoshop Scratch Disk Full Error

The Photoshop scratch disk is your computer’s hard drive space used as virtual memory when the application runs out of RAM. If that disk is low on space or overloaded with residual files, you’ll hit the scratch disk full error. Symptoms include Photoshop slowing down, refusing to launch or save files, or displaying warning messages.

Common causes are:

• Not enough free space on the designated scratch disk drive
• Cluttered temporary files left behind after crashes or improper shutdowns
• Insufficient RAM assigned to Photoshop, forcing excessive disk usage

9 Ways to Solve Photoshop Scratch Disk Full Error

1. Clear Photoshop’s Cache
   Photoshop stores history, clipboard, and undo info in the scratch disk. Free this by choosing Edit → Purge → All (Windows) or Photoshop → Purge → All (Mac). Warning: This permanently wipes undo data, so ensure your work is saved.
2. Delete Photoshop Temp Files
   Temporary files like “~PST…”, “Photoshop Temp…”, or “pst…” can linger in your system. Navigate to %temp% (Windows) or search for “Photoshop Temp” on Mac and delete any matching files.
3. Change or Add a Scratch Disk
   Go to Edit → Preferences → Scratch Disks (Mac: Photoshop → Preferences → Scratch Disks) and select a drive with more free storage (e.g., D:, E:, or an external SSD). Restart Photoshop afterward.
4. Allocate More RAM to Photoshop
   Navigate to Edit → Preferences → Performance. Increase the RAM allocation slider to around 70–80%, balancing Photoshop’s memory needs versus other system processes.
5. Clean Up the Scratch Disk Manually
   Close Photoshop. On Windows, open File Explorer with Windows + R → enter %temp%. Delete files starting with “PST” or “Photoshop Temp.” On Mac, delete files in the ~/Library/Caches/Adobe/Photoshop folder.
6. Use an External SSD for Scratch Disk
   External SSDs offer speed and space. Select the SSD in Scratch Disks preferences for a significant performance boost.
7. Reset Photoshop Preferences
   Hold Ctrl (Cmd) + Alt (Option) + Shift while launching Photoshop. Confirm deleting preferences when prompted. This resets memory and scratch settings.
8. Run Disk Cleanup & Defragmentation
   On Windows, use Disk Cleanup and frequently defragment older HDDs. On Mac, enable Optimize Storage and clean up unnecessary files.
9. Reinstall Photoshop (Last Resort)
   If issues persist, uninstall and reinstall Photoshop to reset everything. Reinstalling can clear deep system conflicts, causing scratch disk problems.

Why the Scratch Disk Full Error Happens

Photoshop uses scratch disks to handle complex tasks when it doesn’t have enough RAM. If your scratch disk is nearly full or contains old data, Photoshop cannot write new temporary files, leading to crashes and errors. By maintaining scratch disk health, you’re ensuring uninterrupted creative flow.

FAQ About Photoshop Scratch Disk Full Error

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Final Thoughts

By regularly clearing cache, deleting temp files, allocating proper scratch disk space, and managing RAM, you’ll prevent Photoshop from hitting the “scratch disk full” error. These proactive steps will make your workflow smoother and more efficient. If this guide helped, share it with other designers and drop your feedback in the comments below!