Photoshop Recovery File Location
Photoshop’s recovery files are stored in a temporary folder that varies by operating system and Photoshop version. If Photoshop crashes or closes unexpectedly, you can find your unsaved work as a .psd or .tmp file in these locations and recover it by reopening it in Photoshop.
Where Photoshop Stores Recovery Files
The exact location depends on your OS and Photoshop version. For Photoshop CC (2018 and later) on Windows, the default location is:
%AppData%\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CC\AutoRecover
On macOS, it’s:
~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CC/AutoRecover
For older versions (CS6 and earlier), the folder is typically Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop\AutoRecover on Windows, or ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Photoshop/AutoRecover on Mac.
If you can’t find the AutoRecover folder, check the Photoshop preferences. Go to Edit > Preferences > File Handling (Windows) or Photoshop > Preferences > File Handling (Mac). The “Auto-Save Recovery Information Every” option shows the interval, and the “Browse” button next to it reveals the current recovery folder path.
How Photoshop Auto-Save Works
Photoshop’s auto-save feature creates a recovery file at a set interval (default is every 10 minutes) while you work. This file is a full copy of your document, not just changes, so it can be large. When you close Photoshop normally, the recovery file is deleted. If Photoshop crashes or your computer loses power, the recovery file remains on disk.
On the next launch, Photoshop usually detects these files and offers to recover them. If it doesn’t, you can manually open the .psd or .tmp file from the AutoRecover folder. The recovery file has the same name as your original document, but with a .tmp extension (e.g., myfile.psd.tmp). Sometimes it’s saved as a .psd file directly.
How to Recover an Unsaved Photoshop File
If Photoshop crashes, follow these steps to get your work back:
- Restart Photoshop. A “Recover” dialog may appear listing unsaved documents. Click “OK” to restore them.
- If no dialog appears, go to the AutoRecover folder manually (see paths above).
- Look for files with .tmp or .psd extensions. Sort by date modified to find the most recent one.
- Copy the file to a safe location (like your Desktop).
- Change the extension from .tmp to .psd if needed.
- Open the file in Photoshop. If it opens, save it immediately with a proper name.
If the file doesn’t open, try renaming it to .psd and double-clicking. If that fails, you may need to use a third-party recovery tool, but that’s rare.
Common Problems and Fixes
Users often can’t find the recovery file because the AutoRecover folder is hidden. On Windows, type %AppData% in the File Explorer address bar and press Enter. On Mac, use Finder > Go > Go to Folder and paste the path. If the folder is empty, Photoshop may have cleaned it up after a normal shutdown, or auto-save was disabled.
Another issue: the recovery file might be saved with a .tmp extension that Windows doesn’t associate with Photoshop. Right-click the file, choose “Open with,” and select Photoshop. If Photoshop doesn’t recognize it, try importing it via File > Open.
If Photoshop crashes repeatedly, the recovery file might be corrupted. In that case, try opening it in a previous version of Photoshop or use the “Place Embedded” command to import it into a new document.
Comparison: Photoshop Auto-Save vs. Version History
Photoshop’s auto-save is different from the Version History feature (available in CC via File > Version History). Auto-save creates a local recovery file, while Version History saves snapshots to Adobe’s cloud (if you have Creative Cloud sync enabled). Version History allows you to go back to any saved state, even after closing and reopening the file, but it requires cloud storage and an internet connection. Auto-save is purely local and only helps after a crash, not for undoing mistakes after a normal save.
For local versioning, you can also use the “Save As” with a new name periodically, or use the “History Log” feature in Preferences to track changes.
Safety Tips to Avoid Losing Work
- Set auto-save interval to 5 minutes or less in Preferences > File Handling.
- Save your work frequently with Ctrl+S (Cmd+S on Mac).
- Use a cloud backup service (like Dropbox or Google Drive) that syncs your working folder.
- Enable “Automatically Save Recovery Information Every” and ensure the folder has enough disk space.
- After a crash, don’t start new work before recovering the old file—Photoshop may overwrite the recovery file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover a Photoshop file that was never saved?
Yes, if auto-save was enabled. The recovery file is created even for unsaved documents, usually named “Untitled-1.psd.tmp” in the AutoRecover folder. Open it and save it with a proper name.
Why is my AutoRecover folder empty?
Photoshop deletes recovery files when you close the program normally. If the folder is empty, it means Photoshop shut down cleanly, or the auto-save feature is disabled. Check Preferences to ensure it’s on.
Can I change the AutoRecover location?
Yes, in Preferences > File Handling, click “Browse” next to the auto-save option and choose a new folder. This is useful if you want recovery files on a different drive.
What if the recovery file won’t open?
Try renaming the extension to .psd. If that fails, try opening it in a newer version of Photoshop, or use the “Place” command. For severely corrupted files, you may need a third-party repair tool.
Is there a way to recover a file after I’ve overwritten it with a new save?
No, Photoshop’s auto-save only creates recovery files for unsaved changes. Once you save over a file, the previous version is gone unless you have Version History (CC) or a backup system.
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