P: Recent Files panel will not open after CC desktop app update (4.1.1.202)

I was the initiator of this discussion/question late last week. To refresh everyone this is what I said then:

I have the latest version of Photoshop CC installed on the Win 7 Pro, 64 bit OS. I have the proper check boxes ticked in Preferences to enable the new Start Screen and the Recent Files Panel. The Start Screen comes up and functions as expected. When I select File>>Open, however, the normal OS file explorer opens instead of the expected Recent Files panel. Today was the first time I've seen this behavior, it did work initially when first activated it a week or so ago. I deleted and recreated my PS profile but that made no difference.

 I discussed this with an Adobe technician ... and after some research he claimed it is an issue for some people with the latest PS release. I did some internet research but could not find any reports of such behavior which seemed odd given what he told me. Is anyone else seeing similar behavior?

Other than this anomaly, PS seems to be working as expected in all other respects.

Based on the comments since my original post I have some additional information to share:

The last update I made was the CC application to version 4.1.1.202 . It was after that update that I noticed the "Recent Files" panel had gone missing. This could be a clue. Christine mentioned that "When Show Recent Files is enabled, you can grab the panel from the Window> Extensions menu and keep it in your workspace." The only extension I have listed there is 'Adobe Color Themes.' This may be another clue. I don't know where those extensions come from. In any event there is no "Recent Files" extension to be found.

 the "recents panel" is also missing from windows menu.>

If it's missing from the menu after setting the preferences and restarting, it's missing altogether. If you've already deleted all your Preferences and it doesn't reappear (press and hold Cmd/Ctrl-Opt/Alt-Shift-click to launch), then next step would be to uninstall/reinstall using the Creative Cloud app. That's easy enough to do, but doesn't guarantee a fix.  In which case going down a version or waiting becomes the only options.

I wish the Creative Cloud app made it easier to let you uninstall and return to the last update that worked on the user's computer. So if the update interfered with using Nik filters (as we know happened) you wouldn't have to dig to find out that you can go back. But you do have the option to back to earlier versions found in the Find Addition Apps> Previous Versions section. So if something truly is missing or doesn't work that you rely upon, you can choose to go backwards. 

I'd first wait to see what an Adobe rep says, unless you need the feature right now.

I am having the same issue. both options in the general preferences have been selected and photoshop restarted, i restarted the computer. command-o opens finder and not the recents menu. the "recents panel" is also missing from windows menu.

I should have added, you did delete your Preferences on launch (or manually in the User Library) to start fresh the one time, didn't you?

Hmmm, that's sounding more like a bug and/or the OS. Did you try to open the panel from the Extensions in the Window menu? Is it even there?

just tried it after setting it on in preferences. Mine still open explorer in windows. Ever restarted PS after setting it on.

> Do you get a "Recent Files" panel on the right hand side where your work panels were located or does the Windows File Explorer come up?>

Although I'm on a Mac, if this isn't an OS Update issue, it could be you have corrupt Preferences that would benefit from starting over fresh. Especially with updates, Preferences can get a bit goofy. A good time to keep a backup of your preferences is when you know you've got a good, fresh set, but you can always copy the Prefs.psp file out of the User Library Adobe Photoshop CCxxxx Settings folder and put it back if deleting Prefs doesn't fix the issue.

So long as Show Recent Files Workspace is enabled, I can get to it with Cmd/Ctrl-O.  But I prefer to put the panel into my icon strip. When Show Recent Files is enabled, you can grab the panel from the Window> Extensions menu and keep it in your workspace. Then you can turn off the preference for it and treat it like any ordinary panel, plus have the Cmd/Ctrl-O shortcut open the Finder/Explorer when you want that instead. It takes a restart each time you change that preference.

Let us know if this works for you, or if it still appears to be a bug.

My PS installation goes to Explorer even with the Show "Recent Files" Workplace checked. That's what I'm troubleshooting. If you check that box you should see the "Recent Files" workspace open if you have images active in PS and you want to open additional files using the Ctrl+O or File>>Open commands. In my case I don't see that behavior, I get the Windows Explorer no matter what. I'd be curious as what you see if you check that option.

No I have that disabled under General-options. Mine goes to explorer. Here's the menu showing where to enable/disable.

What happens after you've loaded an image and are now in the normal PS application where you'd make edit and so on when you try to open another image without closing the first one by using the File>>Open or Ctrl+O commands? Do you get a "Recent Files" panel on the right hand side where your work panels were located or does the Windows File Explorer come up?