In Finder, select Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
Last updated on
4 August 2026
Learn how to fix cloud documents that won’t open due to file access errors in Adobe Photoshop on desktop.
If a cloud document in Photoshop fails to open and displays the file access error: Could not open "filename". The account you signed in with doesn't have access. Check with account owner or sign into another account, it’s usually caused by the Creative Cloud sync service or your sign-in session. The fix depends on the Photoshop version.
To check the Photoshop version, select Help > About Photoshop (Windows) or Photoshop > About Photoshop (macOS), then follow the steps for that version.
macOS
Type “Creative Cloud Libraries Synchronizer” in the search bar.
If the process isn't running, turn on App Background Activity.
In the Apple menu, select System Settings.
Select General > Login Items & Extensions.
In the background items section, Allow in the Background, select Adobe Creative Cloud. Toggle to turn it on.
Note
CCLibrary appears as a separate item.
From the Apple menu, select Creative Cloud > Quit Creative Cloud.
Reopen the Creative Cloud desktop app so it restarts the synchronizer automatically.
Open Activity Monitor and confirm the synchronizer is running.
If it's running but documents still won't open, follow the steps in Creative Cloud Libraries Synchronizer is not responding (macOS) to resolve the issue.
Windows
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Select the Processes tab (Windows 11) or the Details tab (earlier versions).
Check whether Creative Cloud Libraries Synchronizer is running.
If it's running but documents still won't open, follow the steps in Creative Cloud Libraries Synchronizer is not responding (Windows) to resolve the issue.
In Activity Monitor, select Creative Cloud Libraries Synchronizer, then Force Quit from the Apple menu.
From the Activity Monitor, select Photoshop, then Force Quit.
Wait 10 seconds, then relaunch Photoshop to restart the synchronizer.
Open Activity Monitor and confirm the synchronizer is running. If it doesn’t appear, restart your computer and check again.
When the synchronizer is running, try to open the cloud document.
In Task Manager, right-click Creative Cloud Libraries Synchronizer.exe, then select End task.
Right-click Photoshop.exe, then select End task.
Wait 10 seconds, then relaunch Photoshop to restart the synchronizer.
Open Task Manager and confirm the synchronizer is running. If it doesn’t appear, restart your computer and check again.
When the synchronizer is running, try to open the cloud document.
Creative Cloud sync needs an update or isn’t running correctly (Photoshop version 27.8 and earlier)
Note
These steps apply to Photoshop 27.8 and earlier. For Photoshop 27.9 and later, see Creative Cloud Libraries Synchronizer isn't running for the latest steps.
Quit Photoshop, then check and install pending Creative Cloud updates. If the issue continues and you have administrator access to your machine, try the advanced steps:
Sign out of Creative Cloud in the app preferences.
Quit the Creative Cloud desktop app.
In Activity Monitor (macOS) or Task Manager (Windows), confirm that Adobe Content Synchronizer and Adobe Desktop Service are closed.
Go to the Adobe Sync folder.
- On Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Sync.
- On macOS: /Applications/Utilities/Adobe Sync.
Rename the Adobe Content Synchronizer folder to Adobe Content Synchronizer-OLD.
Restart your machine, then update the Creative Cloud desktop app.
Photoshop isn’t available in mainland China
Adobe Creative Cloud services, including cloud documents, are available only in countries where Creative Cloud is offered. Because Creative Cloud services aren't available in mainland China, cloud documents cannot be used there. See the list of countries where Creative Cloud is available. If you're in China, you can cancel your Creative Cloud membership or request a refund.
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