Photoshop says 'Scratch Disk Full' and won't start
Empty your Recycle Bin, delete temporary files, and check how much free space you have. If you're out of space, move your project files to an external drive or change where Photoshop stores temporary files.
Photoshop needs lots of temporary space to work. If your drive is nearly full, it can't create temporary files. Free up space, and if it's an old drive, Photoshop can be too large for it to run properly.
Risk: High
⏱ 10-30 minutes
Intermediate
Fix-IT-Bot will walk you through each step — just tap, no typing needed.
Skip — I just want a technicianCommon mistakes to avoid
- Not realizing that deleting files doesn't free space until the Recycle Bin is emptied
- Assuming scratch disk must stay on the C: drive when it can be changed to another drive
- Deleting system files while trying to clear space — this breaks Windows
- Changing scratch disk settings while Photoshop is open — this won't take effect
Signs you need professional help
- All drives are nearly full with no way to delete anything important
- Scratch disk can't be changed to a secondary drive for technical reasons
- Error persists after changing drives and freeing 10GB or more of space
- Secondary drive doesn't appear in Photoshop preferences
Book a technician
We can fix most issues remotely in 15 minutes. Weekend appointments — book your slot and we handle the rest.
Can't fix it yourself?
Most issues are resolved remotely in 15 minutes. Weekend appointments only — no parts, no in-home visit needed.