What Is a PSP File?

Open a PSP file with PaintShop Pro, Photoshop, a text editor, or Pixel Studio, depending on the format it's in

What to Know

  • Some PSP files are images. Open one with PaintShop Pro or Chasys Draw IES. Convert to JPG, etc., with IrfanView.
  • Other PSP files could be preferences files that are used by Photoshop.
  • The PSP file extension could also be used for PL/SQL server page files or Pixel Studio projects.

This article explains the various formats that use the PSP file extension, plus how to open and convert the file.

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.

PSP files

PL/SQL server page files that access database information through SQL commands are text files that also use this file extension. Another use for the PSP file extension is as a Pixel Studio project file.

PSP is also short for other technology terms that have nothing to do with file formats, like payment service provider, PlayStation Portable, and personal security professional.

How to Open a PSP File

PaintShop Pro files can be opened with PaintShop Pro or Canvas X Pro, or for free with Chasys Draw IES, IrfanView (with a plugin), or GIMP. Other photo and graphics tools probably work as well.

Versions of PaintShop Pro newer than PSP 8 have files that end in .PSPIMAGE instead.

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.

Here's an example of the Photoshop folder that stores PSP in Windows:

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2022\Adobe Photoshop 2022 Settings\

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.

Use Pixel Studio to open PSP project files.

If you find that an application on your PC does try to open the file but it's the wrong application or you'd rather have another installed program open it, see our guide on changing file associations in Windows for directions.

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 I'm 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.

Similarly, if a Pixel Studio project is even capable of being saved to a different format, that's the program that'll do it.

Some programs let you rip or copy a PSP (PlayStation Portable) game to an ISO file. If you need to convert that ISO file to a CSO file, use Format Factory.

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 from 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.

P2P is another lookalike. You might see "P2P files" talked about in relation to peer-to-peer file sharing.

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 [year]\Adobe Photoshop [year] Settings\
  • macOS: /[username]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop Settings/

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).

FAQ
  • How do I open a PSP file on Android or iPhone?

    Use the Adobe Photoshop app for iOS or Android. If you don't have a Photoshop subscription, convert the file to an image format like JPG.

  • What file format does the PSP use?

    The files supported by the Sony PSP include video formats like AVI and MP4, audio formats like MP3 and WAV, and game files from UMD discs. If you want to play a PSP game on an emulator, you need an ISO file.

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