Photoshop uses scratch disks as virtual memory when your RAM is insufficient to handle complex operations, large files, or multiple documents. The "Scratch Disks Full" error occurs when Adobe Photoshop runs out of temporary storage space needed to process your images. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to resolve this issue without compromising your work.
Method 1: Change the Scratch Disk
Photoshop allows users to assign alternative drives with more free space to act as scratch disks, reducing memory load on the primary drive.
Step 1. Open Photoshop’s Preferences Panel
Start Photoshop and navigate to Edit > Preferences > Scratch Disks.
Step 2. Select a Different Drive
In the Scratch Disks window, check a different drive with more available space.
Step 3. Confirm and Restart Photoshop
Click OK to save the changes, then restart Photoshop.
Method 2: Clear Photoshop’s Cache
Photoshop stores temporary data such as clipboard content, history states, and undo actions in its cache. Over time, this cache can grow large, especially after working on high-resolution images or complex projects. Regularly purging the cache can help reduce memory usage and prevent scratch disk errors.
Option 1: Clean Cache Directly in Photoshop
Go to Edit > Purge and choose the type of cache you want to clear—Clipboard, Histories, or All. A warning will appear stating that this action cannot be undone. Confirm to clear the cache and free up space.
Option 2: Clean Cache with Wise Disk Cleaner
Wise Disk Cleaner is a third-party utility that helps clean up unnecessary files, including Photoshop’s residual cache data.
Step 1. Download and Install Wise Disk Cleaner
Download and install Wise Disk Cleaner on your computer.
Step 2. Select the Files to Clean
Open Wise Disk Cleaner and click on the Common Cleaner tab at the top. Expand Other Applications, find and check Adobe Photoshop and any other items you need to clean.
Step 3. Run a Scan
Click the Scan button at the top-right. Wise Disk Cleaner will identify junk files that include Photoshop’s cache.
Step 4. Clean the Cache
After the scan is complete, click Clean to remove the files.
Method 3: Delete Temporary Photoshop Files
Temporary files are created by Photoshop during project work and file exports. These files can remain on the disk if Photoshop crashes or doesn’t close properly, taking up gigabytes of space unnoticed. Manually deleting them can be a highly effective way to recover disk space and eliminate scratch disk errors.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the Scratch Disks Full error and return to working efficiently in Photoshop. Remember that prevention is key - maintaining adequate free space will help avoid this error in the future.
