How to Clean Adobe Photoshop Orphaned Scratch Temp Files
Location & Quick Verdict
%LocalAppData%\Temp (Photoshop Temp*)
When Adobe Photoshop closes unexpectedly or handles large multi-layer PSDs, it leaves behind multi-gigabyte 'Photoshop Temp' scratch files in %Temp%.
How Timeline Previews, Conform Audio & Render Scratch Fill Adobe Photoshop Orphaned Scratch Temp Files
Non-linear video editors (NLEs), streaming encoders, 3D DCC tools, and DAWs continuously write uncompressed audio conform files (.cfa), waveform peak indexes (.pek), proxy transcodes, and frame-accurate undo scratch into %LocalAppData%\Temp (Photoshop Temp*). Even after you finish exporting and archiving a client project, gigabytes of intermediate timeline render caches remain permanently allocated on your scratch disk.
On 4K/8K timelines or multi-scene streaming setups, Adobe Photoshop Orphaned Scratch Temp Files routinely consumes 4.0 GB – 40.0 GB of high-speed SSD space. Safely pruning stale media caches reclaims scratch bandwidth immediately; if you ever reopen an older project file, the application simply regenerates audio waveforms and timeline previews in the background.
# Inspect current disk footprint of Adobe Photoshop Orphaned Scratch Temp Files (Read-Only)
$target = "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Temp (Photoshop Temp*)"
Get-ChildItem -Path $target -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Measure-Object -Property Length -Sum |
Select-Object Count, @{Name="SizeGB";Expression={[math]::Round($_.Sum / 1GB, 2)}}
Manual Cleaning Instructions
- 1 Completely close Adobe Photoshop.
- 2 Press Windows Key + R, type %temp% and press Enter.
- 3 Delete any files starting with 'Photoshop Temp' or ' ~PST'.
Note: If Windows alerts that a file is in use or locked by a background process, close the associated task in Task Manager before deleting, or use SWEEPR Cleaner to release locked handles safely.
Sub-Folders & Cache Locations Breakdown for Adobe Photoshop Orphaned Scratch Temp Files
Modern Windows applications and system services split their disk footprint across multiple sub-directories (`Cache_Data`, `Service Worker\CacheStorage`, `Code Cache`, `GPUCache`, and `Crashpad\reports`). Review which sub-folders inside Adobe Photoshop Orphaned Scratch Temp Files are safe to purge and which files remain protected:
| Sub-Folder / Cache Location | Storage Role | Typical Footprint | Deletion Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| %LocalAppData%\Temp (Photoshop Temp*) | Primary Media Cache, Proxy Scratch & Render Previews | 4.0 GB – 40.0 GB | 🟢 100% Safe (Re-renders on Demand) |
| %LocalAppData%\Temp (Photoshop Temp*)\Media Cache Files (*.cfa, *.pek) | Conformed Audio Waveforms & Timeline Peak Files | 2.0 GB – 25.0 GB | 🟢 100% Safe |
| %LocalAppData%\Temp (Photoshop Temp*)\GPUCache & Code Cache | Hardware-Accelerated Viewport & UI Plugin Cache | 300 MB – 3.0 GB | 🟢 100% Safe |
| %LocalAppData%\Temp (Photoshop Temp*)\logs & Crashpad\reports | Render Session Logs & Crash Dump Archives (.dmp) | 200 MB – 4.5 GB | 🟢 100% Safe |
| Project Timelines (.prproj / .drp / .blend) & LUTs | Source Footage, Edit Timelines, Presets & Exported Renders | Protected | 🔒 Protected — Never Touched |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to delete Adobe Photoshop Orphaned Scratch Temp Files?
Yes, 100% safe. While Photoshop is closed, deleting orphaned 'Photoshop Temp*' files is 100% safe and fixes 'Scratch Disks Are Full' errors.
How much storage space will cleaning Adobe Photoshop Orphaned Scratch Temp Files free up?
Users typically reclaim 4.0 GB – 40.0 GB on Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems depending on update frequency and active cache retention in %LocalAppData%\Temp (Photoshop Temp*).
Will clearing Adobe Photoshop Orphaned Scratch Temp Files delete my video projects, drafts, or saved recordings?
No. Project timelines, source media clips, and exported videos are stored in your project folders—not in %LocalAppData%\Temp (Photoshop Temp*). If you reopen an active project after cleaning, the software automatically rebuilds any needed waveform peaks or preview frames.
Where is Adobe Photoshop Orphaned Scratch Temp Files located on Windows 10 and Windows 11?
It is stored at %LocalAppData%\Temp (Photoshop Temp*). You can paste that path directly into the Windows Run dialog (Win + R) or File Explorer address bar to inspect it.
Manual File Explorer vs. 1-Click SWEEPR Cleanup
| Feature | Manual Deletion | SWEEPR Cleaner |
|---|---|---|
| Locked File Handling | Fails on locked processes | Safe background release |
| Accidental Deletion Risk | Moderate (easy to delete wrong folder) | Zero (strict rules & hashes) |
| Safety Undo Rollback | None (Shift+Del is permanent) | 7-Day Automatic Rollback |
| Time Required | 10–20 minutes per app | < 60 seconds across 40+ areas |
Related Windows Cleanup Guides & Hidden Space Hogs
Clean Adobe Photoshop Orphaned Scratch Temp Files Automatically
SWEEPR Cleaner safely clears Adobe Photoshop Orphaned Scratch Temp Files along with 40+ other hidden app folders and leftover files in one click—covering up to 5 devices (Windows, Mac, Android & iOS) with a 7-day undo safety net.