What Is a PSP File?
A file with the PSP file extension is most likely a PaintShop Pro image file. Similar to Adobe Photoshop’s PSD format, PSP files can store guides, layered images, and other things common with advanced image editing software. Some PSP files may instead be preference files that store settings for Photoshop. For example, there’s a Brushes.psp, Patterns.psp, and Styles.psp file to store settings specific to those functions. PL/SQL server page files that access database information through SQL commands are text files that also use this file extension.
How to Open a PSP File
PaintShop Pro files can be opened with Corel PaintShop Pro or ACD Systems Canvas, or for free with Chasys Draw IES, IrfanView (with a plugin), or GIMP. Other photo and graphics tools probably work as well. PSP files used by Photoshop and Photoshop Elements for storing preferences probably don’t ever need to be opened manually. This is because they’re stored in the program’s installation directory and are used automatically when the software is being used. PL/SQL server page files can be viewed in a browser and edited with a text editor like Notepad in Windows. If Notepad is too basic, or you’re not using Windows, see our Best Free Text Editors list for some better options.
How to Convert a PSP File
If your PSP file is an image, you can convert it to another image format like JPG or TIF with the free IrfanView program linked above. This free online PSP to JPG converter is another option. It’s different from IrfanView because you have to upload the file to that website to convert it, but it’s also probably much quicker than downloading and installing a program just to convert the file. PSP files might contain layers like PSD files, but we’re not aware of a file converter that can preserve those layers and convert the PSP directly to PSD. However, you can of course just convert the PSP to JPG and then open it with Photoshop to save it to PSD—again, this won’t keep the layers, though. There’s no reason to convert a Photoshop preference file into a new format because files of this type are made specifically for Photoshop, so they won’t work in any other application even under a different format. PL/SQL server page files can be saved to any other text-based format using a text editor.
Still Can’t Open It?
If your file doesn’t open at this point, after trying the above programs and attempting a file conversion, double-check the file extension at the end of your file. It might just look like it says PSP, when in reality, it’s something else entirely, meaning the format is completely different than what we’ve discussed above. For example, PPS files look similar at first, but those are slideshows that open with presentation software like Microsoft PowerPoint. Another example is a PPP document file created by Serif PagePlus.
Using PSP Files to Reset Photoshop
If you’re experiencing odd problems with Photoshop’s panels and tools, you can remove these PSP files so that the default settings are reinstated. Here’s the default location in Windows and macOS:
Windows: C:\Users[username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop
Another way to reset preferences in Photoshop that doesn’t involve deleting the PSP files manually is to press and hold the Alt+Ctrl+Shift (Windows) or Option+Command+Shift (Mac) keyboard shortcut as you’re opening Photoshop—you’ll be prompted to delete the settings (the PSP files).
