How to Delete Files From Photoshop (And What You're Actually Deleting)

Photoshop is a file-heavy environment. Between scratch disks, cache data, preset libraries, and the documents themselves, confusion about what to delete — and where those files actually live — is extremely common. This guide breaks down every deletion scenario you're likely to encounter.

What "Deleting Files" in Photoshop Can Mean

The phrase "delete files from Photoshop" covers several different actions that work in completely different ways:

• Deleting layers or content within an open document
• Deleting recently opened files from Photoshop's Home Screen
• Clearing the Photoshop cache (scratch disk and temp files)
• Deleting presets, brushes, or patterns from Photoshop's library
• Deleting the actual PSD or image file from your computer

Each of these has its own process. Mixing them up — especially confusing the Home Screen list with actual file deletion — is one of the most common sources of frustration.

Deleting Layers and Content Inside a Document

This is the most straightforward scenario. Inside an open Photoshop file:

1. Select the layer or element you want to remove in the Layers panel
2. Press the Delete key (Mac) or Backspace key (Windows), or drag the layer to the trash icon at the bottom of the Layers panel
3. To delete multiple layers at once, hold Shift or Cmd/Ctrl to select them, then delete

Important distinction: Deleting a layer removes its content from the canvas but does not reduce the file size on disk until you save the document. Photoshop holds undo history in memory, so the file size may remain inflated until you flatten layers or save a fresh copy.

Removing Files From the Photoshop Home Screen 🗂️

When you open Photoshop without a document, you see the Home Screen — a list of recently accessed files. Many users assume removing a file from this list deletes it from their computer. It does not.

To remove a file from the recent files list:

• Right-click on the file thumbnail and select Remove from Recent
• Or go to File > Open Recent > Clear Recent File List to wipe the entire history

The actual file remains exactly where it was saved on your hard drive or cloud storage. You're only clearing the shortcut from Photoshop's memory.

Clearing Photoshop's Cache and Scratch Disk Files

Photoshop creates temporary files and cache data while you work — especially when handling large documents or multiple open files. Over time, these can consume significant disk space.

To purge cache from within Photoshop:

1. Go to Edit > Purge
2. You'll see options: Clipboard, Histories, All, Video Cache
3. Select All to clear everything, or target specific categories

⚠️ Warning: Purging history is permanent within that session. You cannot undo actions after purging the history cache.

Scratch disk temp files are a separate issue. These are stored in a location you define under Edit > Preferences > Scratch Disks (Windows) or Photoshop > Preferences > Scratch Disks (Mac). If Photoshop crashes or closes unexpectedly, temporary files can be left behind. You can locate and delete these manually — they're typically named something like PST####.tmp on Windows or stored in your system's temp folder.

Deleting Presets, Brushes, and Other Library Files

Photoshop stores brushes, swatches, gradients, patterns, and other presets as files on your system. Deleting them is a two-step process:

1. Remove from Photoshop's interface: In the relevant panel (e.g., Brushes), right-click the preset and choose Delete
2. Remove from disk: Navigate to the preset folder (found under your Photoshop application data directory) and delete the .abr, .pat, .grd, or other relevant file type

If you only delete from the panel, reimporting or resetting presets may bring them back. If you only delete the file from disk, Photoshop may continue showing the preset until you restart or reset the panel.

Actually Deleting a PSD or Image File From Your Computer

Photoshop itself does not have a built-in "delete this file from disk" button for closed documents. To permanently delete a PSD, JPEG, PNG, or other file:

• Windows: Locate the file in File Explorer, right-click, select Delete (moves to Recycle Bin) or Shift + Delete to skip the bin
• Mac: Locate the file in Finder, right-click, select Move to Trash, then empty the Trash to free the space

Adobe Bridge, which integrates with Photoshop, does allow you to delete files directly from within the Adobe ecosystem — useful if you're managing large batches of assets.

The Variables That Change Your Approach

Which deletion method applies to your situation depends on several factors:

Skill level matters here too. Casual users editing photos occasionally may never need to touch scratch disk settings. Designers working with large layered files daily will likely encounter scratch disk warnings and need to manage temp files regularly. Users on systems with limited SSD storage face tighter constraints than those with ample free space.

The version of Photoshop you're running also plays a role — the Creative Cloud versions (post-CC 2019) have a more active Home Screen and cloud document system, meaning some "files" may actually be stored in Adobe's cloud rather than locally, which changes where and how deletion works entirely.

How much of this applies to your workflow depends on what you're actually trying to clean up — and where your files are living in the first place.