Unfortunately, the reasons can vary on a case-to-case basis. Therefore, we have compiled a list of different methods below that you can try implementing, to stop Photoshop from crashing on your PC.
1. Clear Photoshop Font Cache
The first thing you should do when starting with troubleshooting the crashing issue with Photoshop is to clear your font cache. The fonts you use in Photoshop are stored locally on your computer in a font cache allowing Photoshop to access them when needed. In some scenarios, when the font cache is corrupted or you have a bad font, it can cause different issues with Photoshop, including crashing at random instants. In such a scenario, you can resolve the issue by deleting the font cache file on your computer. Please note that deleting the font cache file is safe, and you will not lose any fonts. On the next startup, Photoshop will automatically create a new font cache file to replace the one you deleted. Follow the instructions down below to delete the font cache file:
2. Disable Third-Party Antivirus
One of the reasons which can cause Photoshop to crash randomly can be the third-party antivirus you are using. Security programs are known to interfere with other applications and processes running in the background, and can sometimes lead them to malfunction. Interference from background applications can cause various programs to crash. We recommend disabling them to see if the issue goes away. If the problem goes away after you turn off your security program, you can try whitelisting Photoshop in your antivirus settings to resolve the issue. This will prevent the antivirus from interfering with the application and allow it to function correctly.
3. Open Photoshop in Safe Mode
Another reason which can potentially cause Photoshop to crash is the third-party plugins that you have installed. This can happen due to the presence of problematic third-party plugins. In this case, you can mitigate the issue by launching Photoshop in safe mode. This allows Photoshop to start without loading any third-party plugins you might have installed. If the problem goes away in safe mode, it will be evident a third-party plugin is causing the issue. In such a scenario, you will have to remove the plugins one by one to identify the culprit. Follow the instructions below to launch Photoshop in safe mode:
4. Reset Photoshop Preferences
In some scenarios, the problem can also be triggered due to your Photoshop preferences. Changing these settings can allow you to run Photoshop smoothly on your computer. The preferences file contains various settings and configurations. In some cases, damage to the preferences file on your computer can cause the program to crash repeatedly. In such a scenario, you will have to reset your Photoshop preferences so that a new file could be created. Resetting them will permanently remove any settings that you might have set up, so keep that in mind before proceeding. Follow the instructions below to reset your Photoshop preferences: Alternatively, you can also use the Preferences window to reset your preferences. Follow the instructions below to do that:
5. Reinstall Graphics Drivers
The graphics drivers installed on your computer can also trigger the issue in question. This is because your graphics card is utilized a lot when you are working with high-quality images in Photoshop or other graphics. Any corruption or damage to the graphics drivers on your computer can crash your Photoshop randomly. The drivers can, sometimes, get damaged during a Windows update or something similar. You can check to see if the application is crashing due to your graphics drivers by disabling the use of GPU in Photoshop. If the problem goes away after doing so, it will be clear the graphics drivers are triggering the issue and need to be reinstalled. Follow the instructions to disable GPU in Photoshop: If Photoshop is no longer crashing, the problem, in your case, is caused by your graphics drivers. In such a scenario, you can reinstall your graphics drivers to fix the issue. Follow the instructions below to do this:
6. Perform a Clean Boot
Finally, if none of the methods above has resolved the problem for you, the issue is likely caused by the interference of a third-party process in the background. When this happens, you can perform a clean boot to verify the suspicion. If the problem does not occur after performing a clean boot, it is likely a third-party app in the background is causing the issue. A clean boot starts your computer with only essential services running in the background. This means all third-party services are stopped from opening on startup. Follow the instructions below to perform a clean boot:
