This makeshift memory is known as a “scratch disk.” Why do I get a “scratch disks are full” error?Īs you create and edit images in Photoshop, the app simultaneously creates a bunch of temporary cache files in the background. Like other apps, Photoshop stores temporary project files and data on your RAM, but if it fills that RAM, it will use one of your hard disks to store any extra data. With Photoshop, however, things are a little different.
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Photoshop scratch disks: But as you make more adjustments and add more layers, Photoshop suddenly begins to lag, and you eventually get an error that reads “Could not complete your request because the scratch disks are full.”Īnd when you close and reopen the app, you get another error that says “Could not initialize photoshop because the scratch disks are full.” What exactly do these error messages mean? What is a scratch disk? How does it get filled up? Why is the error interrupting your workflow or preventing you from opening Photoshop? And most importantly, how do you fix it?
Picture this: you’re editing a picture in Photoshop, and everything looks good and smooth.
