The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →To move Photoshop to another computer, export each portable preset from its Photoshop panel on the old computer, transfer the exported files, then import them through the matching panels on the new computer. Back up preferences separately by copying the version-specific settings folder while Photoshop is closed. Copy your Photoshop documents and linked assets as project files; they are not included in a preset or preferences transfer.
What you can move—and what is different
Presets are saved collections such as brushes, gradients, swatches, patterns, styles, tool presets, actions, and workspace layouts. Preferences are active settings that control Photoshop’s tools and interface. Actions are recorded sequences of operations. Treat these as separate transfer jobs: exporting a brush does not back up your preferences or artwork.
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- Presets: Export and import them through the relevant Photoshop panel when that option is available.
- Preferences: Copy the complete settings folder while Photoshop is closed, or copy specific settings files where appropriate.
- Project files: Copy the original documents and any linked assets from wherever they are stored. Adobe’s migration guidance does not describe a complete project-file migration procedure. Check vendor or account instructions separately for purchased assets, fonts, plug-ins, and license activation.
How to transfer presets between computers
- On the old computer, inventory what you need. Make a list of preset types to move, such as brushes, actions, gradients, swatches, patterns, styles, tool presets, workspaces, and keyboard shortcuts.
- Export or save each preset from its panel. Adobe’s examples include Export Selected Brushes, Export Gradients, and Save Actions. Use the command for the particular preset type rather than assuming one export covers everything. See Adobe’s guidance on migrating presets, actions, and settings.
- Transfer the exported files. Use a USB drive, a network location, or cloud storage. A USB drive is optional; no particular capacity or speed is specified by Adobe. Its guide to transferring presets between devices lists all three options.
- On the new computer, import each file in the matching panel. For example, import the brush file in the brushes panel and load the saved action file in the actions panel. Repeat for every preset type, then check each panel to confirm the items appear.
How to back up Photoshop preferences
Preference backups are separate from exported presets. Adobe says settings are saved when Photoshop closes and may be lost if the app is force-quit or crashes. Close Photoshop normally before copying the settings folder; see Adobe’s preferences guidance.
- Close Photoshop on the old computer.
- Copy the entire version-specific settings folder to a safe location. Label the copy with the Photoshop version and backup date, and keep an untouched copy until you have verified the new setup.
- Transfer the folder to the new computer. If you want to restore it, close Photoshop and move or rename the new installation’s current settings folder as a temporary backup.
- Copy the old settings-folder backup into the corresponding location on the new computer, launch Photoshop, and check the preferences you rely on. Keep the renamed new folder temporarily in case you need to revert.
Adobe lists manually copyable files that include Actions Palette.psp, Brushes.psp, Contours.psp, CustomShapes.psp, Default Type Styles.psp, Gradients.psp, Patterns.psp, Styles.psp, Swatches.psp, and ToolPresets.psp. Prefer a panel’s export/import command for an individual preset when available; a settings-folder copy is useful for a broader backup. Adobe’s preference file names and locations reference describes the files and paths.
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Where Photoshop settings are stored
The folder name includes the Photoshop version, so use the folder corresponding to the installation you are backing up or restoring. The user Library folder on macOS and AppData folder on Windows are hidden by default.
- macOS:
~/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop <version> Settings. To open the hidden user Library folder in Finder, hold Option while opening the Go menu, then choose Library. - Windows:
C:Users<user name>AppDataRoamingAdobeAdobe Photoshop <version>Adobe Photoshop <version> Settings.
These are Adobe’s documented locations; consult its current location reference if you are working with a different Photoshop version.
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Move Photoshop documents and linked assets separately
Copy the original PSD or other project documents from their actual storage locations, along with any linked assets the work depends on. A preferences folder or preset export is not a substitute for the project files. Adobe’s cited migration pages do not establish how to transfer every kind of linked asset or third-party content, so follow the relevant vendor’s instructions for purchased brushes, fonts, plug-ins, and license activation.
Do not use Preset Sync or same-computer migration as a cross-device shortcut
Adobe says Preset Sync was discontinued in Photoshop 25.0 in September 2023. Its current transfer instructions for moving presets between devices use manual export and import instead. The Edit > Presets > Migrate Presets command is intended to migrate presets from prior Photoshop versions installed on the same computer, not to transfer them between computers. If migrating several older versions on one computer, Adobe says to proceed sequentially, starting with the oldest; see Adobe’s migration instructions.
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If a preset or setting is missing
- Check that you exported the item from the correct panel and imported it into the matching panel on the new computer.
- If the issue is migration from an older Photoshop installation on the same computer, use Edit > Presets > Migrate Presets; for multiple versions, migrate from oldest to newest.
- For Camera Raw presets supplied as XMP files, Adobe lists macOS
/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Camera Raw/Settingsand WindowsC:/Users/<user name>/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/CameraRaw/Settings. This is a distinct preset case; check Adobe’s plugin and preset troubleshooting page for current guidance before relying on a path. - If a third-party plug-in is missing, Adobe advises reinstalling the latest version from its vendor; the installer may require administrator privileges. Purchased assets and account entitlements may have separate vendor rules.
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