Mac OS · macOS
Fix Photoshop Not Opening or Crashing on Mac
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Update Photoshop and macOS, launch once without third-party plug-ins, reset Photoshop preferences, and test GPU or privacy settings before reinstalling.
Prepare the correct account, device, files, and recovery path
Duplicate the Photoshop document or preserve presets, confirm the app and macOS versions, selected document, GPU, plug-ins, scratch storage, and exact crash state before changing anything. Test one variable at a time and keep a recoverable copy. Avoid cracked plug-ins, generic preference cleaners, unofficial GPU packages, and destructive flattening or deletion of the only project.
Check updates and known issues
Restart the Mac, update Photoshop through Creative Cloud, install a compatible macOS update, and review Adobe's current known issues.
Skip third-party plug-ins
Hold Shift while launching Photoshop and confirm that optional and third-party plug-ins should be skipped. Remove or update the plug-in if Photoshop then opens.
Reset preferences
Back up custom settings, then hold Option + Command + Shift while launching and confirm the preference reset.
Test graphics acceleration
If Photoshop opens, go to Settings > Performance, turn off Use Graphics Processor, restart, and test. Update macOS and follow Adobe's GPU guidance if this isolates the crash.
Check macOS permissions
Review Privacy & Security permissions such as Files and Folders or Full Disk Access only when Photoshop needs those locations. Reinstall Photoshop last and preserve presets first.
Verify the result before making broader changes
Repeat the exact task described in “Fix Photoshop Not Opening or Crashing on Mac” and confirm the intended account, device, file, app, or service now behaves as described in the Answer. Check any changed setting again after one restart or fresh session where appropriate, and preserve the original data until the result is stable. If only one app, account, network, or file remains affected, keep the next recovery step limited to that scope.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If Photoshop still crashes, preserve the crash report and test plug-ins, preferences, GPU, and permissions one at a time. Reinstall last after backing up presets.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: macOS.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform update.