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Scratch Disks Are Full on Mac: How to Clear It for Photoshop? [Fix Error on macOS]

Lisa Kudrow

Feb 26, 2025 am 04:48 AM

Photoshop Scratch Disk Full Error: Solutions for Mac Users

Frequent Photoshop users often encounter the dreaded "scratch disk full" error. This article provides eleven solutions to resolve this issue and optimize Photoshop's performance on your Mac. A scratch disk acts as temporary storage for large files, crucial for applications like Photoshop, but it can quickly fill up.

Understanding the Problem

Photoshop creates numerous temporary cache files during image editing. These files, while improving performance, can accumulate to tens or hundreds of gigabytes, filling your hard drive and causing errors. This is exacerbated if Photoshop crashes or is force-quit, leaving temporary files behind.

Solutions to Clear Photoshop's Scratch Disk

Here are eleven methods to address the "scratch disk full" error:

Move the Scratch Disk to an External Drive: This is a simple workaround. Configure Photoshop to use an external drive as its scratch disk.
- With Photoshop Open: Go to Photoshop > Preferences > Scratch Disks. Select the external drive and deselect the internal drive.
- With Photoshop Closed: Hold Command Option while launching Photoshop to directly access Scratch Disk Preferences.
Remember: The external drive must be connected whenever you use Photoshop.
Change Your Scratch Disk: If your current scratch disk is full or small, switch to a larger drive. Follow steps similar to method 1 to select a different drive and prioritize it using the arrow buttons.
Clear Your Photoshop Cache: This removes temporary files, including history states, clipboard contents, and video cache. Save your work before proceeding! Go to Edit > Purge > All.

Note: This deletes previous versions of your projects. Consider reducing the number of history states in Preferences > Performance > History & Cache to optimize.
Remove Hidden Photoshop Files: Reveal hidden files in Finder using Command Shift . (period). Delete any unnecessary greyed-out files from your Photoshop folder.
Delete Photoshop Temporary Files: Manually delete temporary files from /tmp in Finder. Look for folders named "Photoshop Temp" followed by numbers and a .tmp extension. Exercise caution to avoid deleting important files.
Reset Photoshop Preferences: This restores Photoshop to its default settings.
- Keyboard Shortcut: Hold Command Option Shift while launching Photoshop. Click "Yes" to delete the settings file.
- Menu: Go to Photoshop > Preferences > General > Reset Preferences On Quit.
Free Up RAM: Use Terminal to clear RAM: Open Terminal, type sudo purge, enter your password, and press Enter.
Increase Photoshop's RAM Allocation: In Photoshop > Preferences > Performance, increase the memory usage slider.
Disable Auto-Recovery: Go to Photoshop > Preferences > File Handling and uncheck "Automatically Save Recovery Information".
Defragment Your HDD (if applicable): If using an HDD, defragmentation might help. macOS doesn't include a built-in tool; consider using a third-party utility or a Windows machine.
Upgrade to an SSD: Replacing an HDD with an SSD significantly improves performance and eliminates the need for defragmentation. Consider an external SSD as a more accessible option.

Using MacKeeper for Cleanup

For a more automated approach to freeing up disk space, consider using a utility like MacKeeper's Safe Cleanup to remove unnecessary files.

By implementing these solutions, you can effectively manage your Photoshop scratch disk and prevent future "scratch disk full" errors. Remember to save your work before attempting any of these methods.

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