The first program I installed was the (now legacy) Topaz Photo AI 4 back in May 2025. Now I just upgraded to Topaz Photo (studio) . Can both programs remain on the (desktop PC) computer without interfering with each other? Assuming I have enough disk space for the models, will there be any conflict?
Hi.
Yes and the ubiquitous BUT and I’ll get to the BUT, in a minute.
YES:
Yes, absolutely the can have both Applications on your Computer at the same time also, open at the same time meaning, you can have both Applications open working on two separate projects at the same time without interfering with one another.
Simply because, although their essentially the same Application when Downloaded they Install to different Folders on your Computer and have two different names Topaz Photo AI and Topaz Photo plus this is the same for both Topaz Gigapixel and Topaz Video will work happily together with their counterparts.
so basically YES, they can coexist as two separate entities or versions if you like on your Computer.
Another question is do you really need both as they are virtually the same Application and as you mentioned they take up a lot space on your Drive.
BUT:
Yes, they work happily together even with other Software Lightroom Classic for instance; both Applications will appear within both the Plug-in Extras and Edit in Menus one as Topaz Photo AI and the other as Topaz Photo (Studio)
However, when it comes to Photoshop I’m afraid it’s a different story because, although we’re established they are essentially different versions for some reason Photoshop will only Default to one of them and that depends on which one was Installed as a Plugin in Photoshop first.
So, if had Topaz Photo AI Installed as a Plugin first then that’s the Application Photoshop will treat as it’s Default Application every time.
If on the other hand, you would like Photoshop to Default to the new Topaz Photo instead of Photo AI then you will have to Uninstall Topaz Photo AI then, Reinstall it again so, that it basically, appears after Topaz Photo within Photoshop’s Plugin List and that way Photoshop will now treat the new Topaz Photo as it’s Default Application every time.
Why doesn’t Topaz correct this behaviour and make life a lot easier I hear you ask.
The answer is they can’t because, this is a problem with Adobe and not Topaz and only Adobe can fix this issue within Photoshop
But, (yes I know another BUT) the real question is why would they
Because, I suppose it’s not common practice to make discontinued Applications compatible with their Software and I’m afraid Topaz Photo AI is essentially now unsupported
Hope this helps
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Known conflicts if you keep both at the moment will be in PS, for Windows, you have to either use the standalone or uninstall one of them.
All Photo AI models are within the new Topaz Photo, so there is no reason really to keep that older app if you have access to the new one. It takes up disk space, creates plugin conflicts, and cloud processing requires credits in the old app, its unlimited in the new app.
If you stop renewing Topaz Photo and only want to access the Legacy app in future, you can uninstall the new app and find back your Legacy installer for Topaz Photo in your Account page.
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