How to fix Scratch Disk Full error in Photoshop

What is Scratch Disk in Photoshop? Have you ever run into a scratch disk error while using Photoshop? Scratch disk is a part of your computer’s hard drive that Photoshop uses to store temporary data. Think of it as a backup space for Photoshop to work with your images.

Let us talk about some of the quickest ways you can avoid running into scratch disk errors.

0:03 What is Scratch disk?
0:16 Scratch disk at launch.
0:32 Scratch disk error while using tools in Photoshop
0:44 Scratch disk error while saving files.
0:59 Free up space on your Windows and Mac machines.
1:18 Adding external drive as scratch disk at launch.
1:56 Adding external drive as scratch disk while in Photoshop

To additional help to free up space on your devices:

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[DylanNovacek]

Love how you spent a lot of time listing examples of it not working, and zero time solving the issue. Bad video.

[fiddlesticks]

wow thank you for using an ancient version of Photoshop as an example

[philhooper]

I genuinely cannot wait for the day I do not have to use Photoshop again. Please can a competitor come along already.

[EugeneZhes]

Where is the button "Empty Scratch Disk"?! Why there is no normal and simple option to clean this folder?

[LaSch]

i need a fix of this now. i don't have another disk to use. you guys never even thought about that?... good work!

[TheOpinionater]

It's so cool how you don't explain how to get the scratch desk preference window up.

[reidmoto]

I cannot comprehend how a company like Adobe will not fix this idiotic process to change scratch disks. I mean come on...do I really need to watch a YouTube video to learn how to do something so basic because your UI sucks on this?

[classic.cameras]

FAST WAY TO FIX.
On the top of your Photoshop (I use Windows). Go to EDIT and so menu comes down.
Then AT THE BOTTOM Click on "PREFERENCES" which opens a side menu.
Then Scroll to "SCRATCH DISKS"
Select AN ADDITIONAL DRIVE
Problem is SOLVED as long as you have another drive, if you don't watch the video.

[levvy]

Is this an official adobe video? 3 minutes of video and 1 minute of it is talking about what scratch disk errors prevent you from doing (which is everything) and 2 minutes talking about how you should free up space on your computer. Great video.

[TimeMachineBlueprints]

The lesson starts at 1:08 after listening to a lengthy explanation about how this cookie recipe reminds the baker of their grandmother.
#RecipeJoke

[familialuialext]

I have so much space left what's wrong?

[auroris.]

I have a D: disk with still like 230 gb of free space, but unfortunately, in the "scrath disks" settings, the disk doesn't even show up there, so the whole thing is messing up with my C: disk where only 6gb remain now...

This is a problem with illustrator and indesign and other adobe programs too, so I now have almost a whole disk full of who knows what and can't even properly empty it, because the best advice here is to "store it somewhere else" instead of "delete this and that".

[EdNor]

Adobe being Adobe... It is incredible that this happens in the middle of 2023, the CS6 versions worked better...

[skinnymcdibbens]

it crazy how long photoshop has been around and they still have this problem...

[bryanschumacker]

This didn't show you how to fix the error at all.

[zcookie]

Solution for those who watched the video and understand how unhelpful it is:
Click Edit->Purge->All.
No extra drives needed.

[ParaDiddlePete.]

Customer: I need to learn how to delete or clear scratch dish files
Adobe: Buy another Hard Drive
me: Humm That did not solve the issue but rather pushed it down the road.

[leeaxon]

Awesome. I've 289gb space free on my harddrive lol. WTF man.

[SandyHansenPhotography]

Did work for me! I add an external hard drive and it didn't show up on the list!

[FluxionEdits]

why am i getting a scratch disk issue when I have 250gb left of free storage?