[2023 Quick Fix] How To Fix The “Scratch Disks Are Full” Error In Photoshop

By Andy Samuel to Partition Manager | 2023-07-24
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"What to Do When Your Scratch Disks Are Full"

When designers and digital artists get the dreaded "Scratch Disks are Full" error in Photoshop, it may be a huge impediment. This irritating message indicates that the capacity of your scratch disks, which act as temporary storage for Photoshop operations, has been reached. In this tutorial, we will look at practical answers and methods for dealing with this issue. We will guide you through the procedures to free up space on your scratch disks and optimise your workflow, whether you are a seasoned Photoshop user or a newbie. Don't let a full scratch disk stifle your creative efforts.

Part 1. Overview of Photoshop Scratch Disks are Full Error

1.What is a Scratch Disk?

A scratch disk is a space on the hard drive used by Photoshop for temporary storage when there is insufficient RAM to perform a task. Scratch Disks are used by Photoshop to speed up the processing of large photos and complex jobs.

In Photoshop, go to Edit > Preferences > Scratch Disk (Windows) or Photoshop > Preferences > Scratch Disk (macOS) to customise the scratch disk preferences.

Photoshop Scratch Disks are Full Error

The Most Common Causes of the Photoshop Scratch Disks Full Error

I understand the frustration caused by Adobe Photoshop's "scratch Disks are full" message. This error message is a widespread issue on both Windows and Mac computers. It can appear in a variety of ways, including:

  • "Could not complete the command because the scratch disks are full." scratch disk full photoshop
  • "Could not initialise Photoshop because the scratch Disks are full." scratch disk full photoshop
  • "Could not complete your request because the scratch Disks are full." scratch disk full photoshop

Part 2. Possible Reasons For 'Scratch Disks are Full' Error

In this section, we will Discuss some of the possible reasons why you may encounter a Photoshop scratch disk full error.

1. Insufficient Free Disk Space: When the chosen scratch Disk drive runs out of space, Photoshop is unable to allocate enough virtual memory, resulting in the error.

2. Multiple Scratch Disk Locations: If you've configured many scratch Disks on various drives, one or more of them may fill up fast and result in an error.

3. Fragmented Hard Drive: A fragmented hard drive can slow down temporary file access and retrieval, reducing Photoshop performance and potentially causing the error.

4. Large File Sizes: Working with large files or high-resolution photographs might require a substantial amount of scratch Disk space, adding to the error notice.

5. Corrupted scratch disk: This error can also be caused by a corrupted scratch disk, insufficient RAM, or conflicts with third-party plugins or software.

Part 3. How to Fix the'Scratch Disks are Full' Error?

We've developed a list of 10 excellent methods to assist you overcome this frequent problem and resume flawless editing. So let's get started and look at these 10 ways for fixing the "Scratch Disks are Full" problem and improve your Photoshop experience.

#Fix 1:Check Your Storage On Windows

Step 1: Click the Start button, then click Settings.

Step 2: Navigate to System >Storage.

scratch disks are full photoshop

#Fix 2:Close Unnecessary Applications

Step 1: To open the Task Manager, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

 close unnecessary applications

Step 2: Select the 'Processes' tab. Look for and right-click on any unnecessary apps that are running.

  close unnecessary applications

Step 3: Click the 'End Task' button.

close unnecessary applications

#Fix 3: Delete Your Temporary Files

Step 1: Open the Start Menu and type"%temp%". This will open the Appdata\Local\Temp folder.

delete temp files

Step 2: Press Ctrl+A to select all the files in the folder.

delete temp files

Step 3: Press Delete to move the files to the Trash. Then, empty the Recycle Bin.

delete temp files

#Fix 4: Clear the Photoshop cache (Mac)

Step 1: Launch Adobe Photoshop and navigate to the"Edit" tab.

clear photoshop cache

Step 2: Select"Purge" from the drop-down menu, followed by"All."

 clear photoshop cache

Step 3: When prompted, click"OK" to confirm the action.

Clear the Photoshop Caches(Win)

Step 1: In Photoshop, go to Edit > Purge.

Step 2: Decide the sort of cache you wish to remove.

 clear photoshop cache

#Fix 5: Change The the Location of Scratch Disk Drive

Step 1: Launch Photoshop. Select Edit from the menu. Go to Preferences

photoshop scratch disk full error change drive location

Step 2: Scratch Disks. Select the drive to be used as the scratch disk.

photoshop scratch disk full error change drive location

Step 3: Select the OK option. Restart Photoshop.

#Fix 6: Allow Photoshop More RAM Memory Usage

Step 1: Launch Photoshop and navigate to Edit > Preferences > Performance.

 allow Photoshop More RAM Memory Usage

Step 2: In the Memory Usage section, move the Let Photoshop utilise the slider to allow Photoshop to utilise additional RAM.

 Allow Photoshop More RAM Memory Usage

#Fix 7: Disable Auto-Recovery Feature

Step 1: Open Photoshop and navigate to Edit > Preferences > File Handling.

disable Auto-Recovery feature

Step 2: Uncheck the Automatically Save Recovery Information Every option in the File Saving Options section.

disable Auto-Recovery feature

#Fix 8:Defragment Your Hard Disk

Step 1: Determine whether your hard disk needs defragmentation. You may accomplish this by using the Disk Defragmenter tool. This may be found in Windows by looking for"Defragment and Optimise Drives" in the Start menu.

defragment hard disk
Note:

If your hard disk is fragmented, you will get a percentage figure indicating the degree of fragmentation. A score of 10% or less is regarded as excellent, while a score of 30% or above is deemed bad.

Step 2: Defrag your hard drive. To do so, open the Disk Defragmenter utility and select the Optimise option.

defragment hard disk

#Fix 9: Upgrade Your Hard Disk

If you keep getting the Photoshop scratch disk full error message on your computer, it may be time to upgrade your hard disk. This issue happens when your computer's hard disk is nearly full, causing your computer to slow down and become unresponsive.

PassFab 4EasyPartition is one of the greatest software for upgrading your hard disk. This software makes it simple to divide your hard disk and move your data to a new disk You may verify that your data is safely transferred to the new Disk without data loss by doing so. This programme makes updating your hard drive a breeze thanks to its simple UI and robust functionality.

How to fix scratch disk full photoshop With PassFab 4EasyPartition

  • PassFab 4EasyPartition and launch it by clicking the "Clone Disk" button. clone disk with PassFab 4EasyPartition
  • Select the target disk to clone to, then click "Continue" to continue. clone disk with PassFab 4EasyPartition
  • A risk pop-up window will appear. Click "Sure" to move on to the next stage. clone disk with PassFab 4EasyPartition
  • In the preview interface, please double-check the details of the source and target disk before clicking "Start" to begin Disk cloning. clone disk with PassFab 4EasyPartition
  • The disk copying process is underway. Please wait a moment. clone disk with PassFab 4EasyPartition
  • Successfully clone your Disk. There is a chance that pop-up windows will appear. Click "Reload" and then "Finish" to finish the procedure. clone disk with PassFab 4EasyPartition

Part 4: Bonus Tip: How to Clear the “Scratch Disk Full” Photoshop Error on Mac

To resolve the Scratch Disks are Full Error problem in Photoshop on a Mac, follow a few simple actions to clear up space or adjust the scratch Disk settings. Here's a step-by-step procedure for fixing the problem:

Close Photoshop:

If you get the "Scratch Disk Full" warning while running Photoshop, close it down to avoid data loss or other problems.

Delete media cache:

Step 1: Open Photoshop. Go to Edit> Purge.

Step 2: In the Purge dialog, select the Media Cache checkbox. Click OK.

 how to fix scratch disk full photoshop

Change the location of the scratch disk:

Step 1: To begin, navigate to Edit> Preferences> Performance.

Step 2: In the Scratch Disks section, click the Select button next to the Primary Scratch Disk box and choose the drive that will be your primary scratch Disk.

how to fix scratch disk full photoshop

Step 3: Repeat this procedure to choose a drive for the Secondary Scratch Disk field.

Clear the Photoshop caches:

Step 1: Delete any Photoshop caches. To do so, navigate to Edit> Purge.

Step 2: In the Purge dialogue, choose the cache types you wish to delete.

how to fix scratch disk full photoshop

Part 5: FAQs About Photoshop Scratch Disk Full Error

Q1: How much scratch disk space do I need?

The size and complexity of your projects determine how much scratch Disk space you require in Photoshop. For seamless operation, it is advised that you devote at least 40-50 GB of free space on your scratch Disk. if you don't want Photoshop scratch disk full error.

Q2:Is it Possible to Empty My Scratch Disk without Opening Photoshop?

Yes, you may clean the scratch disk without launching Photoshop. To erase temporary files and free up space on the scratch Disk, use Mac's built-in "Disk Utility" or third-party cleaning apps. This will prevent you from getting the "Scratch Disks are Full" warning when you run Photoshop for your next project.

Q3:Why does Photoshop say “scratch disk full” when the hard drive still has space?

When the selected scratch Disk, the temporary storage utilised by the application, is full, Photoshop displays the "Scratch Disks Full" error message. It is critical to note that this error is particular to scratch disk space and may occur even if your total hard drive has accessible capacity.

Q4: Is it safe to empty scratch disks in Photoshop?

Yes, cleaning scratch disks in Photoshop is normally safe. Clearing the scratch disk frees up space, allowing Photoshop to run more efficiently and avoiding the "Scratch Disks are Full Error". Learning the scratch Disk will eliminate Photoshop's temporary data, but it will have no effect on your real project files.

Q5: How to prevent scratch disk full in Photoshop?

To avoid the Scratch Disk Full error in Photoshop first, learn how to fix scratch disk full Photoshop. Clean up the scratch Disk on a regular basis, assign adequate free space, optimise Photoshop options, and handle project files effectively. These methods will guarantee that the performance is seamless and that the mistake is avoided.

Final Words

Finally, if you keep getting the "Scratch Disks are Full" warning in Photoshop, it may be time to consider upgrading your hard disk. To simplify the upgrading procedure, choose a reliable partition management solution such as PassFab 4EasyPartition. You'll have more room to work on your projects without worrying about running out of scratch disk space if you increase your storage capacity.

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