Plug-ins are not available by default

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Issue 1: Topaz Adjust 5 plug-in not available in Photoshop Elements Editor

Applies to Photoshop Elements 12 and 13 (desktop versions) | Photoshop Elements 14 and 15 (Mac Application Store)

The Topaz Adjust 5 plug-in is not available in Photoshop Elements Editor by default. At install time, Topaz Adjust 5 does not provide its plug-in location shortcut by default to Photoshop Elements 12 and Photoshop Elements 13, as well as Photoshop Elements 14 and Photoshop Elements 15 purchased from Mac App Store.

Solution 1: Choose the correct location of the Topaz plug-in

Launch Editor Preferences (Ctrl+K on Windows or Cmd+K on Mac OS) and click open the Plug-ins tab.
Select Additional Plug-ins Folder and choose the location containing the Topaz plug-in.
Windows
C:\Program Files (x86)\Topaz Labs
Mac OS
/Library/Application Support/Topaz Labs
Click OK, and restart Photoshop Elements.

Solution 2: Copy the Topaz plug-in into the plug-ins folder

Copy the Topaz Adjust plug-in available at the installed location:
Windows
C:\Program Files (x86)\Topaz Labs
Mac OS
/Library/Application Support/Topaz Labs
Paste the plug-in under:
Photoshop Elements 13 on 64-bit Windows
   C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 13\Plug-Ins
All other Windows installations
   C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements <version>\Plug-Ins
Mac OS
   /Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements <version>/Support Files/ Plug-Ins
Relaunch Photoshop Elements Editor.

Note:

Instead of copying the plug-in, you can create a shortcut to its folder and then paste the shortcut at the mentioned locations.

Issue 2: Photoshop Elements 15 missing in the compatible host application list

Applies to Windows Application store version of Photoshop Elements

Photoshop Elements is not listed as a compatible host application when you install third-party plug-ins, such as Topaz plug-in.

Solution: Copy the plug-ins into a new folder

Follow the steps below to install and use thitd-party plug-ins:

Download and run the installer for the plug-in, for example, Topaz plug-in.
Create a folder on your system and name it as ThirdPartyPlugIns.
After the installation is complete, copy the files from the installed location (C:\Program Files\..) to the above created folder.
Now, launch Photoshop Elements.
Go to Edit > Preferences > Plug-Ins.
Check the additional folder check box.
Click Choose and browse to the folder that you created in step 2.
Close Photoshop Elements.
Relaunch Photoshop Elements.

Issue 3: Plug-ins are not recognized

Applies to Photoshop Elements 13

On upgrading to Photoshop Elements 13, none of the additional plugins are recognized by Photoshop Elements. This problem occurs if the plug-in installed is 32-bit, while the installation of Photoshop Elements is 64-bit.

Note:

Photoshop Elements 12 is a 32-bit application. Even though you had a 64-bit operating system, any Photoshop Elements plug-in you may have installed would have been a 32-bit plug-in. However, Photoshop Elements 13 is a 64-bit application, that requires 64-bit plug-ins. No 32-bit plug-in will work with Photoshop Elements 13.

Solution: Download the right version of the plug-in

Get the right version of the plug-in for your installation of Photoshop Elements.

Issue 4: Only one plugin is loaded at a time

Applies to Photoshop Elements 13

Choosing a plug-in the Preferences dialog adds it to the filter list. However, when you attempt to add one more plug-in to the list from the Preferences dialog, the older one is replaced by the added plug-in.

Solution: Copy the plug-ins to the right folder

Copy the plug-ins to the right folder:

Windows 64-bit
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 13\Plug-Ins

All other Windows installations
C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements <version>\Plug-Ins

Mac OS
/Applications/Adobe Photoshop Elements <version>/Support Files/ Plug-Ins