"Could not save x.jpg because the file is already in use or was left open...

Win 7 pro 64, CS5.0 using InDesign 7.0.4 and Photoshop 12.0.4 x64.
Using InDesign to create a manuscript with images. Right click on image to "Edit Original"
Opens image in Photoshop. Make changes, go to save.
Error message "Could not save x.jpg because the file is already in use or was left open by another application"
Using a free utility called Unlocker Assistant, it shows that the file has been locked by InDesign
The workaround is to then use Unlocker Assistant to unlock the image in in the Links folder, but this is a pain and it is happening too frequently.
Putting in that error message I get no google matches.
Anyone know why Indesign is locking the image, when it is the InDesign program that is supposed to be sending it to Photoshop for editing so it can be changed and then overwrite the original image?
Note that it is not consistent but I cannot find any pattern to determine why it sometimes fails and other times allows the altered image to be saved.

You will get a quicker response to post this in the InDesign Fourm http://forums.adobe.com/community/indesign/indesign_general

Similar Messages

Could not save my_file.psd because the file is already in use or was left open by another app"

Since some time ago I often get this message when trying to save my PSD file: "could not save my_file.psd because the file is already in use or was left open by another application", whereas there's no application that uses the file in reality. What could cause this problem?

What could cause this problem?
If I remember correctly posibilities include the OS, anti-virus software, … and if you work across a network you are basically on your own anyway as Adobe specifically discourages this.
What are your OS, program version, …?

Could not complete your request because the file is already in use or was left open by another application

the message :could not complete your request because the file is already in use or was left open by another application, comes up when i try to open a specific file in PS cs5. nothing is open and i have restarted my imac already and still no solution

Well, then you do want your layered file back and the nice thing about Macs, Time Machine does keep hourly backups on your Mac. You should be able to enter Time Machine and restore that file.
I had hoped opening your file in another app might relase it so you could open it in PS.
Gene

"Could not save a copy because the file is already in use..."

I have read previous discussions of this issue, but nobody suggested a solution. Sometimes when I use the Save As command to save an open file with the same name as an existing Photoshop file that is not currently open, I get the dreaded message: "Could not save a copy because the file is already in use or was left open."
When this happens, I have to save my open file using a different filename, then change the name in the Finder after manually deleting the original file with that name. This happened occasionally in Photoshop CS3, and is now happening more frequently in CS4. If no one can offer a solution, can someone please tell me if there is a way to officially submit a bug report? The simple truth is that Photoshop costs way too much for a well-known problem like this one to be hanging around version after version. Adobe really needs to fix this and I'd like to tell them so. Thanks!

alansky1 wrote:
Adobe really needs to fix this and I'd like to tell them so.
I've run into this and I'm convinced it's not Adobe. Whenever I've gotten around the problem it's often something from Apple that got in the way.
I use a simple workaround when Finder/QuickLook isn't letting go of the file. First use a free utility like TinkerTool or Onyx to turn on the Quit command in the Finder. Whenever the Finder gives you trouble, if closing the Finder window in question doesn't solve it, just do the ol' Command-Q. It's a little faster (and maybe safer?) than force-relaunching the Finder. This usually releases files for me when all else fails; it also often cures the annoying "can't eject the volume because it's in use" messages when you've already quit every program you can find.
There's the question of why Photoshop and not others; I'm not an engineer but I think the sheer size of Photoshop files is a factor. In one instance I noticed that quicklookd was using a lot of RAM, and QuickLook has been implicated by an earlier post in this thread. It isn't unusual for a Photoshop file to be very large compared to other types of documents. It's possible that when QuickLook hits a large Photoshop file, and it does its normal thing of generating a big preview for it, it could get tied up reading that huge image long enough to block another program. Sometimes it seems like QuickLook just hangs on them. When it happens, you can try looking at Activity Monitor to see if something like QuickLook, Spotlight, or some other program is using an unusual amount of CPU or RAM.
Apple Mail (at least in 10.5) is another major offender by the way. If you attach a file to Apple Mail it will hang on to it as "open" even after you remove the attachment. Other programs will not be able to write to the file that was attached or formerly attached. Nothing short of quitting Apple Mail will make it let go of the file. You'll notice it when you delete a JPEG, PDF, Word doc (definitely not just Photoshop) attachment because you realize you need to make a change and attach it again. Attempting to export an updated one over the old one is blocked until Apple Mail is quit.
In my experience I think what Chris says is true.

Could not save....because the file is already in use or was left open

I have been using PS since V5 and have never experienced this problem which continues to crop up in PSCS3. I get this stupid error message "Could not save....because the file is already in use or was left open." Even if I save as a new file which does not exist anywhere in the galaxy, I will get the same &^%$!! message. I have gone to the folders and made sure read only was unchecked in properties. I have lots of disk space and four gigs of high-end RAM. This is particularly frustrating when you are using this software to make a living and a fifteen minute project becomes a 45 minute project. I like everything about CS3 but want to pull my hair out by the roots when I pay for the best photo editing software available and it continues to screw me out of money. Adobe, are you out there? Can anyone help???
Thanks
Win XP SP2 / P4 3.2 running at 3.36 / four gig ram / buncha HDD space (more than 2TB total.
Thanks and please excuse my prosaic explosions.
Joe

Same error intermittently on different files. Windows7 64bit CS4. Saving a file in Photoshop - working from local hard drive - and got the file in use can not save error. We tried changing the name, saving as a different file type with no success. I closed absolutely every application that was running and then stopped all non windows processes from Task Manager and still file in use.
I was finally able to save by choosing "NONE" for the preview instead of Tiff 8-bit in the save options.
The bug is in Photoshop and it is putting a file lock on the preview file that it creates and then not alowing any save with the preview option checked.
After saving without a preview we could close PS and reopen then open the saved file and resave with the preview selected. Closing PS unlocked the preview file.

Photoshop CS4 "Could not save as...because file is already in use or was left open"

I have been using Photoshop for years, and CS4 for about a year now. I have never had this error message pop up until this week. It started happening right after I did the Adobe update to 11.0.2. Everytime I try to save a PSD or JPG file now (which are the only two types of files I work with), I get this message preventing me from being able to save;
"Could not save as... because file is already in use or was left open."
I have to attempt to Save as about a dozen times before it will finally save the file. Any suggestions on what could be wrong and how to remedy it? Is it the update that caused this problem?

Turn off Caching of Thumbnails in Hidden thumbs.db Files
People sometimes report that they cannot manipulate their folders as they want to because Explorer has a thumbs.db file open. Windows 7 apparently generates these files for compatibility with older software that may expect such files to exist in folders with, for example, photos in them.
The good news is that (with Windows 7 Professional and above) you can disable this through the Group Policy editor:
Click the Start orb
Enter gpedit.msc in the search box and hit Enter.
Expand User Configuration - Administrative Templates - Windows Components.
Click on Windows Explorer.
Right-click the entry "Turn off the caching of thumbnails in hidden thumbs.db files" and choose Edit.
Enable the setting.
-Noel

Photoshop cs6 could not save as .psd because the file is locked, you do not have necessary access permissions, or another program is using the file. Use the 'Properties' command in the Windows Explorer to unlock the file

Have three users with CS6 Design Standard having problem saving files to a network share. All three are running Windows 7 SP1. CS 6 has all current updates applied. Have searched google for solution but all suggestions so far have not solved problem.
Have confirmed that windows explorer preview pane is not enabled/turned off. Other users on the network have no problems saving file to shared folder. Users can save to desktop and then copy and paste or drag and drop to the share!

Further Google searching found this bit of information....and it fixed our problem!
Rather than deleting the files I renamed them as follows Adobe Photoshop CS6 Prefs_old & Adobe Photoshop X64 CS6 Prefs_old
To fix and prevent this error from happening, the user will navigate to:
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS6\Adobe Photoshop CS6 Settings
Depending on what version of photoshop is causing the error to appear you will delete the following file:
Adobe Photoshop CS6 Prefs.psp (for 32bit version)
Adobe Photoshop X64 CS6 Prefs.psp (for 64bit version)

Could not save as 'x' because the file could not be found

Hi,
After downloading the new version of Photoshop two days ago, I have this other problem.
I'm trying to save a file 'as' something else after editing it in Camera Raw, and when I do that, I have this error message as in subject.
Can anyone help me out?
Thanks,
Anja

Further Google searching found this bit of information....and it fixed our problem!
Rather than deleting the files I renamed them as follows Adobe Photoshop CS6 Prefs_old & Adobe Photoshop X64 CS6 Prefs_old
To fix and prevent this error from happening, the user will navigate to:
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS6\Adobe Photoshop CS6 Settings
Depending on what version of photoshop is causing the error to appear you will delete the following file:
Adobe Photoshop CS6 Prefs.psp (for 32bit version)
Adobe Photoshop X64 CS6 Prefs.psp (for 64bit version)

Photoshop CS3 error saving files - Could not save ... because the fileis already in use or was left

I have a problem with Adobe Photoshop CS3 that only started happening last night. Heres a description of the problem.
When I try and save a Photoshop file, I get the following error message:-
Could not save (filename). because the file is already in use or was left open
I have rebooted my computer, rebooted our server, un-installed & reinstalled Photoshop and also done a system restore, and I still have the problem. (The system restore actually caused huge problems I got the error message The licensing subsystem has failed catastrophically. You must reinstall or call customer support, except I wasnt able to reinstall or uninstall the product. The computer just would not run the installer. I had to undo the system restore.)
I can do Save For Web with no trouble and I can save files to the same location with every other Adobe product installed in the Web bundle, just not Photoshop.
We have 2 machines here with an identical set up (hardware and software) and the problem is only on one machine.
Even though Photoshop says it cant save the file, its actually saving the file in the following format:-
~psX.tmp where X is a random variable, either characters or numbers.
I have to manually open My Documents and rename the file to filename.psd so I can access it again.
Short of reformatting my computer (which Im not keen on doing because it will mean several wasted work hours and I will have to pay our IT people to come in and hook me back up to our network), how can this problem be fixed?
I have also Googled the problem and the only help I found was a suggestion to search for a psicon.dll file and rename it. This file does not appear anywhere on my system, so I'm at a loss.
I have contacted support about this issue, but thought it was also worth while to ask here at the same time.

I'm having similar problems with not being able to save files after editing them (and giving them a new file-name, obviously) in Photoshop Elements 4.0. I get an error message saying (for instance): "Could not save as (whatever I'm trying to name the file) because the file is already in use or was left open". Then I see a .tmp file (that I can't open)
I did a search and found that the file was being saved twice, once within Photoshop (where I'm working with it) and also in..
"C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents\My Pictures\Temporary"
I'm assuming this is the problem, but if you have any clue as to why is this happening and what I can do about it, I'd welcome any input. I've been using PSE-4.0 for years, and this problem just started cropping up. The only (cumbersome) way around this problem has been to just make my edits (in PSE-4.0) and do a "save" under the original file name, then go into explorer and rename the file. So, in short, I cannot do what I've been doing for years, editing a picture and saving it (renamed) in the sane folder (or a different one).
I can "see" the .tmp files in PSE-4.0, but they won't open.. but they will in JASC.. odd..
Thanks-
Bob

Cannot save as PDF - "Could not save a copy as (filename) because the file is already in use..."

I have a number of PSD files I've created and I'm trying to save them as PDFs.
I can Save for Web and Devices, I can save as a .gif, .eps., and every other format I've tested, but I cannot save as a PDF. I get the error:
"Could not save a copy as (filename) because the file is already in use or was left open by another application."
I'm running Adobe Master Collection CS5 with Photoshop CS 5.5 (12.0.4 x64) on a Windows 7 64-bit machine.
I have a 928 GB HD with 697 GB free.
I have rebooted and tried saving the files immediately after I reboot. I have killed my virus scanner. I have killed a number of other possible culprits including Acrotray.exe and CS5ServiceManager.ext
I have run Process Explorer as recommended by Microsoft and found no applications using the file. I've also tried saving the file to my external hard drive and/or renaming the file with only rare luck.
Nothing seems to fix it.
The boards seem to suggest Adobe isn't taking responsibility for this and pointing it back to the OS or other software. I'm willing to believe them if someone can show me how/where to kill whatever process it is - but at this point, all my indicators point back to Photoshop.

Here is a clip from a past post where user could not drag and drop files to hard drive.
To my great relief I have now sorted this issue and offer the following as the Correct Answer. My sincere and grateful thanks go to Curt and Yammer, above, who have helped me so much in sorting this Windows 7 issue which is clearly very relevant to Bridge users also. Any slowness to grasp what they have been saying is down to me!
The key to solving this issue lies is understanding that in terms of Windows 7 Security, every internal or external hard drive, plus folders, sub-folders and files thereon has an OWNER. Also each OWNER has a certain level of PERMISSION to do things such as moving files to a different folder, deleting or re-naming them etc. If you try to do things that you don't currently have Permission to do, that is when you get an ‘Access Denied’ error message. Also your system has an Admistrator or Administrators and at the outset you need to ensure through the Control Panel that you are listed as one of them. .
If, like me, you didn't realise these things, (and why would you if Microsoft or your computer or hard drive suppliers couldn't be bothered to really make sure you knew about them), then trying to fathom the ‘Access Denied’ problem becomes a stressful and frustrating nightmare as I can testify having spent a week at it!
The steps that I took to resolve the issue and which I believe now constitute the 'Correct Answer' are as follows:
First make sure that you have Administrator rights on your system via the Control Panel
Next ‘right click’ on the Drive whose files you want to gain full access to, for example the drive that your pictures are stored on, and click on 'Properties'.
Under the Security tab you will see a list of Groups and Users on this drive and the Permissions that they have to do things.
Before doing anything to edit these Permissions, first click on the Advanced button. This opens another window with a tab showing the Owner of this drive.
Click on the Owner tab and if you are not already listed as the owner, make yourself the owner by selecting your name from the list. I believe it should appear there if you are an admistrator or user. (In my case at this stage the owner was initially shown as an obscure string of numbers and letters which I believe identified the drive when it was connected to the lap top I was using before I upgraded my machine)
Now be sure to check the box that says "Replace Owner on Subcontainers and Objects" and the click Apply. On completion of this step, the drive in question and all the folders, subfolders and files thereon should now be 'owned' by you. You could check this out by right clicking on a particular folder then clicking Properties > Security > Advanced > Owner. Your name should appear. So far so simples!
Now go back to the Security Tab for your drive (Step 2 / 3 above) and look at the Permissions you currently have. Your aim now is to allow yourself 'Full Control.' If you don’t currently have this level of permission click Edit, select your name on the list, check ‘Full Control’ and 'Apply' the change.
I think I'm right in saying that at this point whilst still working in the Drive directory you are now given the option of ticking boxes which allow you to, in effect, cascade the permission you have just granted yourself to all the files and folders on that drive. Tick the box to allow this and Windows should then take care of the rest.If I'm not quite correct here then in my particular case, for example, all my images were stored on my external drive. The top level, or 'parent' folder in which all my pictures could be found was the 'My Pictures' folder and I had created a number of folders and subfolders ('child ' folders) within that folder. The permissions I gave to the Parent folder – My Pictures – were cascaded down through the Child folders.
On completion of the above step I tested the result in Windows Explorer by dragging a few files back and forth between folders and it now worked perfectly - I was now able to move / delete / rename etc all files without now getting the dreaded access denied message. What a sense of relief! This meant that I could now open Bridge normally rather than having to right click it and 'Run As Admistrator' - albeit that is a very useful thing to do until you get the problem sorted as described.

InD blocking Ps to save a file / Could not save * because the file is already in use error

Many users have reported a Photoshop Could not save * because the file is already in use error in many different circumstances.
I place raw jpgs in InDesign document, then open them in Photoshop via Edit original order to adjust them. On random occasions Ps gives me that annoying error. So i found a little trick to avoid saving that image under a different name and relinking it plus reloading Ps since the error repeats on other pictures to.
All you have to do is: when Ps gives error, (Cmd-Tab) switch to InD, directly select the worked jpg in image frame (one that you try to save in Ps) and simply move it left-right (or move it and Undo). Now you can save it without problem.

JPEG is a "lossy" compression format. Every time you save as jpeg you recompress and throw away a little more information. In addition, jpeg does not support transparency or layers, both very useful features for woring with images. For example, you can add an adjustment layer in Photoshop to do your adjustments non-destructively for may of the things that you can do using Image > Adjustments... which will change your pixel data permanently. Throw away an adjustment layer and you image data is untouched. Also, ID allows you to place a layered image and control layer visibility from within ID, making it possible to multi-purpose a single file by showing or hiding various layers.

"Could not save (file name) because the file is already in use or left open."

Hello,
When I tried save as a file, I get an error msg:
"Could not save (file name) because the file is already in use or left open."
The file is not open anywhere accept Photoshop.
Mac Pro, OSX 10.5.6
Photoshop CS4.
I searched the forum but could not find anything even though i'm sure someone already asked it.
would love to get a solution for that.
thank you,
shlomit

There is a problem with both Photoshop and InDesign, then we can blame wich ever it is.
1. I open a .psd file in Photoshop CS4 by double clicking it in Bridge
2. This image is placed on a page in a open InDesign document.
3. Doing some changes in Photoshop on the image.
4. Trying to save and get this error message (this topics subject)
5. Deleting the image from the page in ID doc, it is the only one in the document.
6. Can't still save file.
7. Closing ID completely and now I am able to save the file.
I tried turning of Live preflight in Indegisn but that didn't help.
So probably the fault is InDesign or the MacOS. I didn't have this problem with CS3. It is a stupid problem because this type of workflow is pretty common and one would expect it to be solved by now.
Jan Suhr
Stockholm, Sweden

Could not complete your request because the file is not compatible with this version of photoshop

Hello,
I'm a beginner in PS. I was edit TIFF file in PS. Size of file is 21x89.1(22.6 MB). Then suddenly power - cuted. But after 5 min turn on PC and PS can't open my TIFF file.
Error is (could not complete your request because the file is not compatible with this version of photoshop)
What should I do, how I open this TIFF file? I realy need to open this file?
Please help me...
Regards, Suvd.S

Out of curiosity, were you actually saving the file at the moment the power cut off, or had you just saved it?
If not, I don't understand the reason the file should have become corrupted. If it was successfully saved on disk from the prior save operation, just shutting off the power on Photoshop would lose your current edits, but the file should still be intact.
-Noel

Could not complete your request because the file was not found.

I use mac,when i update photoshop cs6 10.0.0 to 10.0.1
i try to open the photo(jpg),but the photoshop said
"Could not complete your request because the file was not found."
after that i have try other type file (png graphic,psd drawing) ,is work.
also i have try to uninstall the photoshop and install again,
it still have (...the file was not found.)problem.
does anyone know what happen to my photoshop?
thankyou!!!!

8-7-2014 updated
in these few days i have found kind of issue in this forums or other forums
i try to reset these 3 ways :
1- Library/Preferences
2- re-locate the plug ins
3- delete the (com.adobe.plist )<---some kind of this things
it's still not work...
but i have another issue,
in the photoshop file-->plug-ins file
inside is nothings ,it's a empty,is that good for this? or this is why i can't open jpg?
thanks!!

Hi,when ı work on photoshop suddenly my computer restart but i have saved my project before restart.and when ı want to open my psd , photoshop alert me with this messagge ;Could not complete your request because the file is not compatible this version of

hi,when ı work on photoshop suddenly my computer restart but i have saved my project before restart.and when ı want to open my psd , photoshop alert me with this messagge ;Could not complete your request because the file is not compatible this version of photoshop ..ı tried all versions but cold not open again.there was a very ımportant work for two days.can you help me please?

tworules wrote:
…photoshop need a recovery or auto save system.
tworules,
You haven't mentioned the exact version of Photoshop you are running. As the always helpful and knowledgeable JJMack told you, new versions of Photoshop do have auto save and recovery when enabled in your Photoshop Preferences.
However, no auto recovery and/or autosave is a match for a defective machine. As suggested by Mr. Cox, you should do a thorough inspection of all your hardware ASAP.

"Could not save x.jpg because the file is already in use or was left open...

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for