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8 May 2024  Amanda J. Brook  Senior Product Manager
 

Summary
Learn effective methods to perform the PSD file recovery by following the expert guidance outlined in this article.



CONTENTS

table icon Part 1. What is a PSD file?
table icon Part 2. How to recover unsaved or deleted PSD files?
psd file recovery

Part 1. What is a PSD file?

PSD is an image format of Adobe Photoshop program, which allows users to edit different image layers. Adobe Photoshop, referred to as PS for short, is an image processing software developed and distributed by Adobe, which can be used on Windows and Mac OS. Photoshop can edit and synthesize bitmaps in multiple layers, supporting layer masks, image compositing, and multiple color models including RGB, CMYK, CIELAB, spot color channels, and duotone. It also features editing or rendering text, vector graphics, 3D graphics, and video.
Common reasons for losing PSD files are accidental deletion, Photoshop program crash, system failure, unsaved files due to sudden power failure, etc. Here are various methods for PSD file recovery.

Part 2. How to recover unsaved or deleted PSD files?

1. Use Renee Undeleter to recover accidentally deleted PSD files

Renee Undeleter is a data recovery software that can retrieve lost files from accidental deletion, empty recycle bin, or disk formatting. It includes Fast Partition Scan, Whole Partition Scan, Whole Disk Scan, and Image Creation modules to solve data loss issues. Supports scanning various storage devices and has a preview function for accurate file recovery.
Renee Undeleter - User friendly & Helpful Formatted Data Recovery Software

Easy to use 3 steps to recover formatted data back.

Multi Recovery Modes File recovery, Whole partition recovery and Whole disk recover are available.

Support Different File Types Photos, videos, audios, files, emails, etc.

Image Creation Creat image for disk or parititon.

Compatible with Different Devices SD card, SDHC, SDXC, USB disk, computer, etc.

Easy to go 3 steps for whole recovery.

Multi Recovery Modes Files/partition/disk recovery modes.

Support Different Devices SD card/USB disk/hard disk, etc.

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It is very easy to use Renee Undeleter to scan the hard disk and recover deleted files Simple things, the specific operation steps are as follows:
Step 1: Download and install Renee Undeleter on the computer, run it, and select the (Whole Partition Scan) option in the main interface. Connect your external hard drive to the computer if you need to recover files from it.
Note : Please do not install Renee Undeleter on the disk with lost data to avoid data overwriting.
select whole partition scan in renee undeleter to recover deleted video from sd card
Data recovery function introduction:

  • Fast Partition Scan: Quickly retrieve files lost due to accidental deletion or emptying the recycle bin.
  • Whole Partition Scan: Quickly recover files lost due to inaccessible or formatted partitions.
  • Whole Disk Scan: Analyze and obtain partition information, and fully scan the entire partition.
  • Image Creation: Create a mirror image for a partition to back up the current partition state.
Step 2: Next, select the hard disk partition that needs to recover data. After the selection is complete, click (Next).
select the target drive to scan in renee undeleter
Step 3: Wait patiently for the scan to complete. You can double-click the file to preview it. If it is the file you need, please check the target file and click the (Recover) button.
preview before recovery
undeleter preview docx
Step 4: Click the (Browse) button to select another hard disk partition to save the files, and click (Restore). Wait for the recovery to complete, click (Browse recovered files) to view the recovered PSD files.
recover the whole disk data

2. Restore accidentally deleted PSD files from the recycle bin

If you accidentally delete a PSD file using the Del key or Delete button, you can open the recycle bin on the desktop, locate the PSD file, right-click, and select “Restore.”
open recycle bin windows 10

3. Use the recently opened file function in Photoshop

If you accidentally close the program before saving the PSD file, use the “Recently Opened Files” feature in Photoshop to recover unsaved work.
photoshop Recently opened files

4. Recover PSD files from the location where the files are automatically saved

Photoshop has the function of automatically saving files, if you have set it before time interval between saving files, then there is a chance to recover unsaved PSD files.
Step 1: Confirm if the setting for automatically saving information is enabled by clicking (Edit) on the top menu bar of Photoshop, selecting (File Handling) in (Preferences), checking (Automatically store recovery information interval (A)) in (File Handling) > (File Storage Options), and setting the time interval.
Auto save in Photoshop and settings
Step 2: After confirming that the automatic saving information setting is enabled, you can open the path of the automatic saving file to find the unsaved PSD file. The path in Windows is generally:

C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CC 2019\AutoRecover

where (Administrator) can be replaced with the account name you are using, and (Adobe Photoshop CC 2019) can be replaced with the version of Photoshop you are using.
folder of Auto save in Photoshop
As for Mac computers, you can directly access the folder automatically saved by Photoshop by entering the path, click (Go) > (Go to Folder).
Auto save in Photoshop
enter the following path in (go to folder):

~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/ Adobe Photoshop 2021/AutoRecover

where (Adobe Photoshop 2021) can be replaced with the version of Photoshop you are using.
PS auto save folder mac

5. Restore PSD files through the Temp folder

Temp folder stores temporary files that can be used to restore unsaved PSD files in Photoshop after a program crash. Follow these steps to recover files from the Temp folder.
Step 1: Press (Windows + R) to open the Run window, enter (%temp%) and click (OK) to open the Temp folder.
open command prompt to delete files
Step 2: Search for temporary files starting with Photoshop in the Temp folder, open them with Photoshop, confirm the required files, change the file extension from (.tmp) to (.psd), and save to your desired location.
Look in the temp folder