How to Recover and Open PSB File

Eleanor Reed

Dec 16, 2024 • Filed to: Photo/Video/Audio Solutions • Proven solutions

Sometimes dealing with large PSB files on Photoshop can get quite tricky due to software crashes or human errors. So it is essential to know some effective recovery methods when such situations occur.

In this post, we will discuss in detail how to open a PSB file, save, and recover it using different methods.

Part 1. What Is A PSB Document?

A PSB (Photoshop Big) document is a file format created by Adobe to address the demands of professional graphic designers who usually work with high-resolutions. This large document file format is most similar to the more commonly used PSD format, other than the fact that PSB considerably supports larger images than PSD limits.

The primary file format used by Adobe Photoshop, which is the PSD file format can support files that are 30,000 by 30,000 pixels in size. Whereas, the PSB extension can support much larger files up to 300,000 by 300,000 pixels in size. More precisely, PSB files can be 4 Exabytes (EB), which is over 4.2 billion Gigabytes (GB). Apart from this, a PSB file format allows us to easily save HDR images that are 32 bits long (32-bits-per-channel). Not only that, but PSB supports all effects, layers, filters, and all the other Adobe Photoshop features.

To work with ultra-high resolutions comfortably, you will require ample storage space and a powerful computer. It is suggested that you have a compatible GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) for hardware acceleration and have at least 16 GB of RAM. Additionally, using SSD (solid-state drive) can prevent Photoshop from stuttering, especially during auto-saving, and it can also help to reduce loading times significantly.

Part 2. How to Recover Deleted PSB Files

If Adobe crashes or due to some other human error, you may end up losing unsaved PSB files. Photoshop CS6 and CS5 or later versions may immediately open the previous PSB file you were working on. However, if the cache files have been replaced or corrupted, you might not be able to access it. In this scenario, you can use a few methods to recover lost or deleted PSB files.

Before jumping into the methods, let us first look at the potential causes of PSB file damage.

• Hard Disk Failure: Whenever a hard disk crashes due to some physical or logical failure, it may cause PSB file damage. Every PSB file in the hard disk may become unavailable or corrupted.
• Virus Attack: It is crucial to note that the PSB files created by Adobe Photoshop are not immune to virus attacks. A computer virus can easily corrupt and infect the files by inserting its code.
• Power Failure: A sudden power failure may leave your computer in an inoperative state, which may further cause serious damage to unsaved PSB files.
• Saving PSB File Improperly: If you do not save your PSB file properly or any error takes place during the file saving process, you might face corruption.
• Software Malfunction: Most software programs, including Photoshop, have internal bugs due to which the software may not function properly and thus cause corruption in the PSB files.

Now that you know the causes that may result in PSB file damage, let us learn in detail about the methods that can be used to recover deleted PSB files.

Method 1. Recover Deleted PSB File from AutoSave

You will find the AutoSave feature on Adobe CS6 and Photoshop CC versions 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019. When editing, this feature allows you to automatically backup PSB files at regular intervals. So if your Photoshop crashes and you have not saved your file, you can easily recover it using the AutoSave option.

To set up an AutoSave feature on Adobe Photoshop, you can follow the steps below:

1. Launch Adobe Photoshop CC and then click on "Edit" and select "Preference."
2. After that, choose "File Handling" and then click on "Automatic Save Recovery Information Every _ Minute or Hour," which enables you to save PSB files after set intervals automatically.

3. Now that you have set up the AutoSave feature, you are ready to find the unsaved file, open it, and save it in a safe location on your computer.

Method 2. Recover Deleted PSB File from Temp Folder

When editing a file, Photoshop makes use of the Temp folder to save your ongoing work. So if Photoshop crashes or stops working, these files serve as a backup. To successfully recover PSB files from the Temp folder, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the "C: drive" and then double click on the "Users."
2. The next step is to click on the appropriate "Username."
3. After that, open the "AppData" folder and then select the "Local" folder to locate the "Temp" file.
4. Once you find the temp folder, open it, and look for the unsaved or deleted PSB file.

5. To complete Photoshop file recovery, you can now rename the .temp file extension to .psb

Method 3. Recover Deleted PSB File Using Reliable Software

Unknowingly deleting or losing PSB files is a situation that can happen to anyone. But with the help of reliable and effective recovery software, you can easily recover any deleted or lost files instantly.

Recoverit data recovery software can help you to locate and recover different types of file formats in different storage devices, including external devices, Windows or Mac computers, and more. The steps below will show you how to recover deleted files through Recoverit:

Step 1: Choose a Location

First, launch Recoverit and then choose the file retrieval location on your computer where you lost your PSB files.

Step 2: Scan Deleted Files

After you have selected the location, Recoverit will automatically begin an overall scan to locate deleted PSB files. It might take a few minutes for the scanning process to complete.

Step 3: Preview and Recover Deleted Files

Once the scanning process is complete, Recoverit will allow you to preview the deleted files you want back. After you have seen the files, you can click on the "Recover" button to retrieve files.

Video tutorial: How To Recover Permanently Deleted Files?

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Part 3. How to Open PSB File

A PSB file supports all the image sources for your web design template, and it is layered so that you can easily modify the image file. Therefore, to handle this type of file, you need to install Adobe Photoshop on your computer. Adobe Photoshop is a powerful tool that allows you to do any kind of customization, including changing image colors, texts, adding more images, and saving the optimized image.

The first step towards managing your PSB file is to use Adobe Photoshop to open it. Photoshop offers users various ways on how to open a PSB file. All you need to do is associate your PSB file with Adobe Photoshop and let your operating system handle the rest.

Now, let us see how you can view PSB files in Adobe Photoshop.

Steps to View Your PSB Files

• Launch Photoshop, select the "File" option and then click on "Open" from the top of the menu to open the PSB file. After that, browse to the location of the PSB file.
• The second and more simple way to open the PSB file is to simply drag and drop it from the file location to the Adobe Photoshop window.
• If your PSB file is already associated with Photoshop software on your computer, all you need to do is double click on the PSB file location, it will open up instantly and will be ready to use.

Note: It is important to keep in mind that the older versions of Adobe Photoshop may not support PSB files.

Steps to Fix "Can't Open PSB Files" Error

Many users online have complained of the error "Can't Open PSB File" in Photoshop. Although Photoshop is a powerful tool, you may still face some issues when it comes to opening PSB files. Here are some ways to eliminate the error and open your files once again.

• Close and Reboot the Program:

Sometimes, your computer may develop electronic issues that might prevent the operating system or the Photoshop program from not working properly. So, by first closing the program and then rebooting, it can help to reset startup settings and the RAM, further helping to open the .psb file extension again.

• Reset Photoshop Preferences:

When you are working on Photoshop, it creates a preference file with all the options and settings required to run the program properly. If by any chance, this preference file gets corrupted or damaged, it may stop Photoshop from opening your PSB file. So to avoid this issue, you need to reset your preferences, which you can do by first locating the preference file and then moving it to another location or deleting it.

• Stay Up To Date:

Check for updates regularly and make sure you are using the most recent version of the program. This can help to fix bugs and address issues related to opening PSB files. Also, keep other programs and your operating system updated as they may cause hindrance with the proper functioning of Photoshop.

Part 4. How to Save PSB Files

Adobe Photoshop supports files that are up 300,000 by 300,000 pixels in size. To save documents that are more than 30,000 pixels, Photoshop offers three file formats, including PSB, Photoshop Raw, and TIFF. Out of the three, one of the most effective and efficient formats to save large documents exceeding 30,000 pixels is the PSB file format. Bear in mind that most of the other applications and previous versions of Photoshop cannot manage files that exceed 30,000 by 30,000 pixels or are larger than 2GB in size.

PSB (Large Document Format) supports not only documents of all sizes but also other features of Adobe Photoshop like filters, layers, effects, and more. Currently, only Photoshop CS and later versions support PSB files.

Here are the steps that you can follow to save PSB files in Photoshop:

1. Go to the "File" option and click on "Save As."

2. The next step is to choose the PSB (Large Document Format).
3. That's it! Now click on "Save" to save your PSB file. You can open the saved file whenever you want without any hassles.

Part 5. Tips for Opening & Protecting PSB Files

If you are having trouble opening your PSB file and feel like it needs to be protected, you can take the following to open and protect your PSB files without a fuss.

• Sometimes due to missing or damaged installation files, Photoshop may prevent your PSB files from opening. So to avoid any kind of interference, uninstall the current version of Photoshop you are using and then reinstall it again. This can help you to open your PSB file.
• If you want to protect your PSB file and prevent other users from using it, you can assign a password to the file and only share it with the desired users who want to access the file.
• If you are working on a network, you can ask the administrator to restrict access to your PSB file only to specific computers.
• You can also save your image PSB file as a PDF file. This way, you can prevent someone from changing or editing the file. All you need to do is click on "Security" in the Save PDF dialog box, and then under the "Permissions" option, enter a password to protect your PSB file.

If despite all your troubleshooting efforts, you still experience issues with your PSB files, you can seek help from Adobe by visiting their website.

Closing Words

The crashing of your computer or Photoshop program is an issue that is beyond your control sometimes. However, if you use the effective measures mentioned above, you can recover and open your unsaved or accidentally deleted PSB files after a crash occurs. You can also use reliable and professional file recovery software like Recoverit to restore your lost data.