Here’s how to fix Photoshop issues on Windows 10

If this seems a bit complicated to you, you can automatically update your drivers. This is fairly simple to do with a DriverFix tool.
This tool allows you to automatically update all your drivers with just a couple of clicks, so if you don’t feel like downloading drivers manually, be sure to try this tool.
Disclaimer: Some features of this tool are not free
Once your graphics card drivers are up to date, check if the problem is still there.
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4. Install Creative Cloud Application Manager
If Photoshop is not installing on your Windows 10 PC, the cause can be Application Manager. Several users reported that the problem was caused by an old Application Manager.
However, you can fix the issue simply by installing the Creative Cloud Application Manager. After doing that, the problem should be completely resolved.
5. Remove problematic applications
According to users, if Adobe Photoshop is not opening, be sure to find and remove the problematic applications from your PC.
Many users reported that Lavasoft software caused Photoshop issues on their PC, so in order to fix the problem, it’s advised that you find and remove Lavasoft applications from your PC.
There are several ways to do that, but the most effective would be to use uninstaller software such as IOBit Unisntaller.
In case you don’t know, uninstaller software is an application designed to completely remove the selected application.
By using this tool you’ll completely remove the selected application, along with all of its files, registry entries and leftovers.
After removing the problematic application using uninstaller software, check if the problem with Photoshop is still there.
6. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable
- Press Windows Key + S and enter control. Select Control Panel from the list.
- When the Control Panel opens, go to the Programs and Features section.
- Locate Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable on the list. You should have two versions available x86 and x64. Remove both versions.
- After doing that, visit Microsoft’s website and download both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable.
Many applications rely on Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables in order to work properly. However, if there’s an issue with Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable installation, you might encounter problems with Photoshop.
If Photoshop stopped working on your Windows 10 PC, it’s advised that you reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable.
Bear in mind that you might have to reinstall a different version of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable in order to fix this problem, so it might take you a few tries to fix this error.
8. Reset Photoshop preferences
- Start Photoshop.
- As soon as you start Photoshop, press Alt + Ctrl + Shift. By doing so you’ll reset Photoshop preferences. Bear in mind that you might have to repeat this step a couple of times before you actually manage to reset the preferences.
- If you perform the previous step properly, you’ll see a confirmation dialog. Click Yes to proceed.
According to users, sometimes your Photoshop preferences can become corrupted, and that can lead to this and many other errors.
To fix this problem, it’s advised that you reset Photoshop preferences. After doing that, check if the problem is still there.
8. Use Command Prompt to modify the registry
- Start Command Prompt as an administrator. To do that, right-click the Start button and choose Command Prompt (Admin). You can also use PowerShell (Admin).
- Now run the following command:
reg add HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPen /v LegacyPenInteractionModel /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
After running this command, check if the problem with Photoshop is still there.
Sometimes Photoshop issues can occur due to issues with your registry, and in order to fix the problem, you need to make this tweak shown above.
9. Remove the problematic updates
- Open the Settings app and navigate to the Update & Security You can use Windows Key + I shortcut to open the Settings app.
- Select View update history.
- A list of updates will now appear. Memorize or write down the codes of recent updates and click Uninstall updates.
- A list of recent updates will appear in the new window. To remove an update, double-click it and follow the instructions on the screen.
According to users, if Photoshop is not installing you’ll need to remove the problematic update.
Once you remove the problematic update, check if the problem is still there. If not, you’ll need to prevent Windows 10 from automatically installing updates.
Windows 10 tends to install the missing updates automatically, and if a specific update is a problem, you need to block it from installing, or else the issue will reappear.
Photoshop is a great tool, but there are many problems that can occur. If you’re having Photoshop issues on your PC, be sure to try some of our solutions.
FAQ: Learn more about Adobe Photoshop
- Can I get Photoshop for free?
Yes, you can download the 7-day free trial by clicking the link mentioned in the first solution of this article.
- How much does it cost to download Photoshop?
The full version of Adobe Photoshop can be purchased with the price of $19.99 USD/month as standalone software.
- What is Photoshop used for?
Photoshop is a image editing software used by designers, web developers, graphic artists, photographers, and any other creative professionals.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in December 2018 and was revamped and updated in January 2021 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.