The temporary virtual memory (scratch disk) partition of your Mac’s hard disk or SSD is also maxed out and unavailable.There is limited memory (RAM) available for Photoshop on your Mac.To reiterate, the Photoshop scratch disk error occurs because:

If Photoshop crashes during usage or you force quit it, the temporary files remain and accumulate. Typically, Photoshop, just like any other app, should purge temporary files from the RAM and scratch disk portions of your Mac’s hard drive. You may also get this error if the temporary files aren’t removed from the scratch disk when you stop using the app. This affects Photoshop's performance in the long run and can lead to the scratch disk error. These files help Photoshop run faster, but they can quickly accumulate, running into tens or even hundreds of gigabytes, and filling up your hard drive in the process. 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. How to fix Photoshop scratch disk errors on Macīy default, active applications store temporary files on your Mac’s RAM (random access memory).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.

Mac says disk is full