How to Permanently Delete Photoshop Files?

Quick Navigation:

• Why Permanently Delete Photoshop Files?
• Steps to Permanently Delete Photoshop Files
• Conclusion

If you use Photoshop, you know how quickly project files can take up space on your hard drive, especially if you work on big or complicated graphics. While you may think these files have been deleted, they can still be recovered, taking up valuable space and possibly risking your privacy.

It's important to know how to delete Photoshop files permanently to make room, keep sensitive data safe, or keep your system running easily. Here is a step-by-step guide that will help you delete your files fully and permanently from your computer, from standard deletion to special tools.

Why Permanently Delete Photoshop Files?

It's important to know why you might want to delete Photoshop files permanently before you start the process. Because of these things:

• Privacy Concerns: If you're working on something important, delete the files from your computer. That is especially important for files with private or protected information.
• Freeing Up Space: Some Photoshop files, like those with many layers, can take up a lot of room on your hard drive. Getting rid of these files for good can help you make more space, which is especially important if you don't have a lot of storage.
• System Performance: If your hard drive is full of junk, it can slow down your computer. You can speed up your system by completely deleting files that you don't need.
• Preventing Accidental Recovery: You can't get rid of a file completely by just deleting it. It stays on the hard drive until new data overwrites it, which means data recovery tools can get it back. When you delete things permanently, they can't be recovered.

Steps to Permanently Delete Photoshop Files

1. Identify and Back Up Necessary Files

Take time to figure out which files you need to keep before deleting them. It's important to back up any files you might need later because losing important files by accident can be very bad. You can protect your files with extra storage, cloud storage, or backup software.

2. Delete Files Using the Standard Method

The first thing you need to do to delete Photoshop files for good is to delete them the old-fashioned way. How to do it:

• Navigate to the File Location: Find the Photoshop file on your hard drive. It's usually called a.psd file.

• Select the File: To make the picture stand out, click on it.
• Delete the File: Press the Delete key on your computer or right-click the file and pick Delete from the menu. In Windows, this sends the file to the Recycle Bin. In Mac, it sends it to the Trash.

3. Empty the Recycle Bin or Trash

If you delete a file, it's not deleted; it's moved to the Recycle Bin or Trash (Mac). To get rid of the file permanently, empty the Trash or Recycle Bin:

On Windows:

• On your screen, right-click the icon that looks like a trash can.
• And then click "Empty Recycle Bin."

• When asked, confirm the move.

On Mac:

• Right-click on the Trash icon.
• Click on "Empty Trash."
• When asked, confirm the move.

Please note that the deleted or formatted Photoshop files are not lost for good and can be recovered by data recovery software.

If you want to permanently erase your Photoshop files, just try data erasure program.

4. Shred Photoshop using DoYourData Super Eraser

It's simple to delete Photoshop files safely and forever. All you have to do is download and install DoYourData Super Eraser on your computer. It won't hurt your HDD, SSD, or portable device.

This data erasure program offers certified data erasure standards to help you permanently erase data and overwrite the disk space. Once the data is erased by DoYourData Super Eraser, the data is lost for good, cannot be recovered by any method.

It can help you securely shred Photoshop files, wipe entire hard drive, erase deleted/lost Photoshop files, etc.

DoYourData Super Eraser has three flexible data-erasing tools that can help you remove Photoshop files permanently.

Mode 1. Shred Photoshop files.

This mode can help you delete Photoshop files safely and for good. Add the Photoshop files to the list of things to delete, then delete them permanently by clicking on Erase Now button.

Mode 2: Delete all Photoshop files from a hard drive.

If you wipe a hard drive, all its information, including Photoshop files, will permanently disappear.

Mode 3.Erase deleted Photoshop files.

This mode only removes data on your hard drive that you have already removed. It will remove all the lost Photoshop files on your hard drive without changing any other data.

5. Using Full Disk Encryption:

You should use full disk encryption for an extra layer of security. It ensures that no one can access the files without the encrypted key, even if they are not completely deleted. That can be done with tools that come with both Windows and Mac:

BitLocker (Windows):

• It works with both Windows Pro and Enterprise.
• Encrypts the whole drive so data can't be accessed without a password.

FileVault (Mac):

• It works on macOS.
• Protects your info by encrypting your whole drive.

6. Delete Temporary Photoshop Files:

In Photoshop, temporary files are like saves for the projects you're working on. Often, these temporary files stay around longer than they need to, so it's good to get rid of the ones you don't need every once in a while.

That means we have to save all of our work and close Adobe's apps before we can delete those temporary files that aren't needed in Photoshop.

• Next, look for the /tmp folder in the Finder window, app, or Mac.

• Open the TMP folder and look for Photoshop Temp once you've found it.
• After that, look for any files with that name plus a string of numbers. We can then open those files and eliminate any that end in "tmp."

Regular maintenance:

To avoid having to clean up again, you might want to think about doing monthly maintenance:

• Organize Your Files: Organize and go over your Photoshop files often. Get rid of the things you don't need and save the ones you might need later.
• Use External Storage: To free your main drive, save big Photoshop work on external drives or in the cloud.
• Set Up Automatic Backups: To automatically back up your important files, use a cloud tool like Dropbox, Google Drive, or iCloud.
• Automate Cleanup: Use tools like CCleaner to set up automatic cleanups that regularly delete temporary and useless files.

Conclusion:

It is important to delete Photoshop files permanently to keep your privacy safe, free up room on your hard drive, and keep your system running properly. You can be sure your files are deleted permanently by following the steps listed: standard deletion, emptying the Recycle Bin or Trash, using file shredding software, safely removing temporary files, and overwriting free space.

Regular maintenance will help keep things from getting cluttered in the future. You can effectively handle your digital workspace by following these tips. They will help keep your computer clean, safe, and running while protecting important data.