{"slug": "topaz-ai-confirmed-bug-that-can-wipe-host-computer", "title": "Topaz AI confirmed bug that can wipe host computer", "summary": "Topaz Labs confirmed a bug in Topaz Video AI that can delete all files on a user's C: drive when a project folder is moved from its default location and then deleted through the app's interface. The company acknowledged receiving multiple reports of the issue, which has caused complete data loss for some Windows users, and said it is actively investigating the cause. Topaz recommends users avoid deleting projects through the app's UI if the folder has been relocated and instead delete them manually from the file system.", "body_md": "We’ve seen a number of support tickets related to file path errors, missing models, and project issues that trace back to folders being moved from their default locations. To help avoid these problems, here’s what we recommend keeping in place:\n\n**Project Files**\n\n**Windows:** `C:\\Users\\[Username]\\Documents\\Topaz Video Projects`\n\n**Mac:** `Documents > Topaz Video Projects`\n\nMoving your project folder or saving `.tvai`\n\nproject files outside of their default location can cause the app to lose track of file references, leading to errors on launch or during processing.\n\n**We also strongly recommend not deleting projects through the app’s UI if you have moved it outside of the default location.** If you need to delete a project, navigate to the project folder on your system and delete it directly from there instead.\n\n**Models Folder**\n\n**Windows:** `C:\\ProgramData\\Topaz Labs LLC\\Topaz Video\\models\\models\\`\n\n**Mac:** `/Applications/Topaz Video.app/Contents/Resources/models`\n\nMoving the models folder can cause the app to fail to locate or load AI models, resulting in errors during export.\n\nIf you have already moved any of these folders and are experiencing issues, we recommend reinstalling the app and allowing it to recreate the default folder structure from scratch.\n\nI experienced such behaviour. I tend to save Topaz projects inside corresponding folders for convenience, such as moving the whole project folder to another drive/machine or deleting project after completion. Remember, Topaz generates tons of PNG previews and sometimes creates video previews which are not deleted after removing inputs from peoject - polluting default project folder with unfinished work.\n\nVersion 1.6 though created ‘previews’ and ‘thumbnails’ folders at the root of the C drive, while project was at D.\n\nI knew about this behaviour and safely deleted them afterwards.\n\nAs an additional precaution, Topaz should have also advised Mac users to ensure that Topaz Video and other Topaz apps do not have Full Disk Access enabled in System Settings | Privacy & Security.\n\nAfter all, who knows what other dangerous file deleting bugs still remain?\n\n>**Mac:** `/Applications/Topaz Video.app/Contents/Resources/models`\n\nIt remains a point of insanity that TVAI and Topaz Video do not store models in the canonical location of `/Library/Application Support/com.topaz/models`\n\nor `$HOME/Library/Application Support/com.topaz/models`\n\nModels may change, models may remain the same between versions…\n\n- Dynamically downloading the models, but saving them to the app bundle is utter insanity. config files, models, temp files should never write to the executable app bundle. Once installed, the app bundle should never change unless it is an app version update.\n- using the app folder as storage is horrible\n- and by storing models in\n`Application Support`\n\n… end users would not have to redownload all the models again for each update, saving users pain and misery… and saving Topaz CDN $$$. Think of how many TB of model data that a user re-downloads across a couple of years.\n\nHi, I tried Topaz Video 1.6.0 for the first time, and the results are absolutely stunning. However, I ran into a very nasty bug.\n\nI created a new profile and set the location to my Desktop. Then I decided to delete it via the program’s context menu. As a result, the program froze, and I discovered that all my files on the C: drive had been deleted. Everything was wiped — the drive was 200 GB full, but only 18 GB remained, consisting only of files in the Windows folder. Everything else was gone.\n\nAfter a reboot, the system wouldn’t load. Oh man, now I have to spend a week setting everything up again((\n\nI didn’t have any critical files on that drive, but someone else might. Please be careful and use backups.\n\nWindows 10 22H2, RTX 5070 12GB\n\nThank you for taking the time to report this. We’ve seen a small number of reports describing similar behavior and are actively investigating to understand the common factors involved. We want to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible.\n\nIn the meantime, we’d strongly recommend that all users ensure their project files remain inside the dedicated folder that Topaz Video creates for them, and avoid moving `.tvai`\n\nproject files outside of their project folder.\n\nWe’ll share an update as soon as we have more information.\n\nIn light of this most serious incident, will all Topaz support staff now finally refrain from recommending or suggesting to Mac users that Full Disk Access is given to Topaz Video (to try and solve some related problem)? I’ve previously stated this is not required and I would never trust a Topaz app with such access, knowing how constantly bug-ridden your software is.\n\nAnyone know what precautions a Windows user can take against this happening?\n\nThanks\n\nAndy\n\nAfter this incident, I started using AOMEI Backupper. However, you need to have enough space on some other drive to store the system disk image.\n\nGemini also advises not to use an administrator account, but I think this will only protect against deletion of Windows system files. Other data of yours that is stored on the C: drive can still be deleted.\n\n[cole13](https://community.topazlabs.com/u/cole13)\n11\nYeah, yesterday topaz crashed and removed 200gb of data from my drive, amazing experience never using this garbage again\n\n[cole13](https://community.topazlabs.com/u/cole13)\n12\nI got “critical error -2146885629” then program crashed and half of the data is gona just like that… All the games , all the mods everything\n\nLiterally paid 60$ (sub + credits) to get half of my data gone, I hate you and will never buy anything from your company ever again\n\n[mgawrisch](https://community.topazlabs.com/u/mgawrisch)\n(mgawrisch)\n13\nThis happened to me as well. When uninstalling and selecting to also remove data it wipes C Drive directory, data was in standard folders. Also happened one time when changing working folder und clicking on update to also move current project. I tested uninstalling without data removal and it was ok.\n\n[Mayday](https://community.topazlabs.com/u/Mayday)\n(Mayday)\n14\nOh man it’s worser than I tought, so a Volume fullbackup is recommended.\n\nUse a backup tool that you already have, or this latest free edition of [Macrium Reflect](https://www.computerbase.de/downloads/sicherheit/backup/macrium-reflect-free-edition/)\n\nUsing Macrium Reflect: In the installer setup choose “personal use” and none profit, then skip register. After installation do not Upgrade the program because in newer versions Macrium is not free anymore.\n\nMake sure Bitlocker is not enabled. Start the program choose “other tasks” and “Create rescue media”, you can use a small USB stick; 2 GB is sufficient.\n\nThen you must create the backup of your volume, before check bitlocker is off, you must place the backupfile on a different volume, or place it on a external USB HD/SSD.\n\nRESTORE CASE: Boot on created USB-Stick, this starts Macrium Reflect, then choose your backuped image and restore.\n\nFortunately, I have not experienced this kind of Armageddon on my system, but this issue is obviously very scary.\n\nFor those who were affected:\n\n- Are you using AMD or NVIDIA GPUs?\n- Did this happen only on 1.6.0, or has anyone seen it on 1.5.x as well?\n- Since 1.6.0 was a major update with AMD GPU support, do you think the GPU type or the GPU-related changes in 1.6.0 could be related somehow?\n\nWhen will there be an update that solves this critical problem? I’m on the old version and in my case the default folder for projects (when i press reset the defaults) for some reason chooses the D: drive documents, and there is a lot of information, and I’m afraid to update!\n\n**Bug fix for Windows:**\n\n- Open\n**Regedit**, navigate to the “** HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Topaz Labs LLC\\Topaz Video**” branch.\n- Find the\n**defaultProjectDir** and **defaultProjectDirDefault** parameters. Default value: “**C:\\Users\\userNAME\\Documents/Topaz Video Projects**”\n- Replace “\n**/Topaz Video Projects**” with “**\\Topaz Video Projects**” in both parameters.\n\nThe bug is that Topaz parses the path incorrectly because of the “**/**” instead of “**\\**”. If Topaz has write access to the root of the drive, it uses it as its workspaces folder. As a result, when changing the folder in the settings or deleting a project, Topaz clears this directory. This deletes everything from the drive where Topaz is installed.\n\nIf Topaz does not have write access to the root of the drive where it is installed, it uses the standard path “C:\\Users\\userNAME\\Documents\\Topaz Video Projects” and the bug does not manifest itself.\n\nAha! That’s why different users had different outcomes of this bug.\n\nOpened up Regedit, found this parameter and indeed it has forward slash.\n\nBut why is the default folder different from the one selected in the program settings itself? I still have version 1.2.0 And by default in the regedit there is a completely different disk and by changing the default directory in the program settings, this folder does not change in the regedit.\n\n`appDataLocalFolder, appDataRoamingFolder, appDownloadFolder, mostRecentlyUsedProjectDir, previewFolder`\n\n- also have wrong slashes. Same with `allProjects`\n\n- there is like double and different slashes", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/topaz-ai-confirmed-bug-that-can-wipe-host-computer", "canonical_source": "https://community.topazlabs.com/t/heads-up-avoid-moving-default-app-folders-to-prevent-file-path-issues/103164", "published_at": "2026-06-03 07:15:44+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-06-03 07:46:49.390938+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-products", "ai-tools"], "entities": ["Topaz AI", "Topaz Video"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/topaz-ai-confirmed-bug-that-can-wipe-host-computer", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/topaz-ai-confirmed-bug-that-can-wipe-host-computer.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/topaz-ai-confirmed-bug-that-can-wipe-host-computer.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/topaz-ai-confirmed-bug-that-can-wipe-host-computer.jsonld"}}