Open Terminal
Last updated on
21 July 2022
Error
When you open a file, you get an error: "Could not complete your request because it is not a valid Photoshop document."
This can occur when you save a different file type, for example a JPEG, with a .psd extension in the file name (mydocument.psd).
Solution
Rename the file so that the file name extension matches the correct file type. (mydocument.jpg)
Determine the file type of a document
You may have saved a file with the wrong extension, for example a JPEG file with a .psd extension. You cannot open the file in Photoshop due to an error
- Could not complete your request because an unknown or invalid JPEG marker type is found
- Could not complete your request because it is not a valid Photoshop document
If you cannot remember the actual file type the file should be you can use the following method to determine the true file type of a document
macOS
Selecting File > Get Info... from the macOS Finder will not accurately tell you the true file type of a document as it only looks a the file name to make the determination. The method outlined below using the Terminal reads into the file header to get the true file type.
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In Terminal type "file " (the word 'file' with a space after it)
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Drag the file you want to determine the file type of onto the Terminal window
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The path to the file and its name will appear in the Terminal window
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Hit the Return key to see the file type
