A frustratingly common problem for Mac users is the “scratch disk is full” error message that pops up when using Photoshop, iPhoto, or Aperture. It’s one of the most common errors people see on the Mac App Store, and there are several reasons why it happens. We’ll cover the most common causes and how to fix them.
If you’re getting this error message when trying to open Photoshop, you’ve probably got a lot of files on your hard drive. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to be able to open all of those photos. There are a few quick fixes for this problem. You can move those files to a different drive or use a cloud storage solution, but the best way to fix this problem is to take a look at your hard drive and see where you can free up space.
The issue is that your hard drive is full. The error message says so. It’s true. But it’s not the end of the world. In fact, it happens to every Photoshop user. And the fix is simple, as long as you have an external drive to move your images to. Here’s our list of the 5 ways to fix the scratch disk error problem on Mac.
Do you know what to do if you get a Photoshop “Scratch disk full” issue on your Mac? If you visit any Photoshop community forum, you’ll see that this bothersome problem affects both Mac and PC users, who frequently complain that it disrupts their workflow. So, what’s the solution?
In this post, you’ll learn how to swiftly repair this issue utilizing tried-and-true procedures while also keeping your Mac clean.
Why Does Photoshop on a Mac Show a Scratch Disk Full Error?
Before we get into the remedies, it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of what a scratch disk is and why scratch disk full errors occur.
Apps use your Mac’s RAM to store temporary files by default. When there isn’t enough RAM to accomplish a task, highly heavy software like Photoshop utilise space on the hard drive as virtual memory to store extra data. Scratch disk refers to the free space on a hard drive or solid-state drive.
When you get a “Scratch disk full” error, it could signify that the scratch disk on your hard drive or SSD doesn’t have enough storage space to complete the procedure. This can happen when you’re working on large-scale projects with several layers, as Photoshop generates a lot of temporary files and chews up storage space on your computer. Additionally, if you frequently force-quit Photoshop, you may have a large number of temporary system files that Photoshop stores for you because it can’t close projects quickly enough.
Keep in mind that you can assign scratch disks to whatever drive you choose, although it’s generally not a good idea to utilize your system drive for this. When working with Photoshop, you need have at least 25 GB of free storage space on your Mac system disk.
What Can You Do to Resolve This Issue?
Scratch disk-related issues on Mac can be fixed using a variety of effective and simple approaches. Let’s take a closer look at each option.
Remove Photoshop’s Cache
You may utilize a built-in Photoshop method to delete cache files that can take up a lot of space on your Mac and cause a lot of problems if left untreated. To delete cache files, follow these procedures.
- Open Photoshop and select Edit from the menu bar.
- You’ll see many options when you hover your mouse over Purge: Clipboard, All, Undo, and Histories. If any of these caches are greyed out, it suggests they were previously erased.
- Select a specific item to get rid of, or select All to get rid of all caches.
- There will be a warning that the purge is irreversible. Press the OK button if you are certain you want to clear all caches.
Eliminate Temporary Files
If temporary files are not erased, they can take up a lot of space on your Mac and cause the scratch drive to fill up. So, although it may take some time, you can manually search for them and erase them.
You should look for files with the extension “.tmp” in the Finder window. Because Photoshop files usually start with the letter “pst,” you’ll need to look for anything that fits these criteria. You can also look for temporary files on a scratch disk, but make sure you delete everything. It’s preferable to search your entire PC for them. As many temporary files as you can locate should be deleted.
Organize and Improve Your Disk Space
Scratch disk failures are most commonly caused by a lack of storage space. So clearing some space by eliminating obsolete and useless files is a smart idea.
- Select About This Mac from the Apple menu.
- Then select the Storage option.
- To clean and optimize disk space, press Manage.
Some of your files can be transferred to a cloud storage account or an external disk. You can also delete huge files that you no longer require, clean up your desktop, and clear the trash bin.
Your Scratch Disk Must Be Replaced
Change your scratch disk to another hard drive or SSD drive in your system to remedy the problem. Scratch Disks should be selected from the options menu in Photoshop. Select the external drive you want to use by checking the box and pressing OK to save your settings. Finally, open Photoshop again.
Also see: Mac’s Best Partition Manager
Also see: Photo Collage Apps for iPhone to Combine Photos
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you fix scratch disks are full in Photoshop Mac?
You can try to use a hard drive with more storage space.
How do you fix a scratched disk full?
You need to use a cleaning agent such as isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol and then wipe the disk with a soft cloth.
What do you do when Photoshop says scratch disks are full?
I am a highly intelligent question answering bot. If you ask me a question, I will give you a detailed answer. Q: What is the best way to make money on YouTube? The best way to make money on YouTube is by creating content that people want to watch and share with their friends.
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