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Matt24386790zhgl
Participant
August 28, 2023
Question

contextual task bar missing

  • August 28, 2023
  • 9 replies
  • 37050 views

i can't find it. I turn it on and off view the "window" menu but it's no where to be found. I've opened and closed PS several times. 

    9 replies

    D
    Danu10
    Participant
    October 5, 2025

    After a few days, the contextual taskbar disappears… it’s becoming really annoying. I switch to the beta version, and normally I don’t have this issue there, but now it has disappeared from both versions

    Trevor.Dennis
    Community Expert
    Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 19, 2025

    I think what we need is a way to reset the CTB.  If you Pin the CTB and move it out of the way, it can sometimes take a wee while finding it.  I have an Action triggered by F3 that opens and closes it, so I can quickly toggle it on and off with the tap of a key.  If do this while looking at the entire screen, I find it is always easy to see the flashing pixels.

     

    I have not tried it, but maybe resetting Preferences would unpin the CTB so that it would park itself near to the cursor.

     

    J
    janet_8718
    Participant
    December 12, 2024

    I hope someone sees this.  I am trying to get my Contextual Task Bar.  I have turned it off an on under the Windows menu. When checking it, the toolbar does not appear. Anyone know how to fix this? 

    5463dd
    5463dd
    Participant
    January 1, 2025

    Agus' reply above is what I found to be the case as well.

    I had the Window setting correct, but didn't realize that a layer in the layer window needs to be selected in order for the Contextual Task Bar to appear.  

    A
    Agus Terrazas
    Participant
    December 2, 2024

    - Activate it under Window > Contextual task bar.
    - Select a layer that will use the Contextual task bar, such as an image, text, smart object, etc.

     

    If nothing is selected the task bar will remain hidden.

      Trevor.Dennis
      Community Expert
      Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 4, 2024

      It sounds like whoever had the issue had the CTB pinned, so that it would not appear next to a relevant panel following the steps you described.  I don't know anyway to return the CTB to its defaults other than resetting Preferences, and that is always a last resort.

      D
      DenolisP
      Participant
      June 13, 2024

      I am having the same problem with the contextual toolbar.  It is checked under the window tab but it does not show up.  

        D
        Deepak Devdas
        Participant
        June 26, 2024

        just type cntrl+f on photoshop you will find a search bar then type contextual task bar 

        Trevor.Dennis
        Community Expert
        Trevor.DennisCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        February 19, 2025

        That just toggles it on and off, the sames as selecting it from the Window menu.

        T
        Timo Lammi
        Participant
        August 29, 2023

        Minun Photoshop Beta-sovelluksessa ei ole "generatiivinen täyttö" -palkkia. Olen täysi-ikäinen. Mistä sen saa käyttöön. En löytänyt asetuksista valintaa.

        Myra Ferguson
        Community Expert
        Myra FergusonCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 29, 2023

        Make sure that you're using the Photoshop beta version 25.0 or 25.1. The beta version is available via the Creative Cloud Desktop App. Click on Beta apps on the left to access it.

          Caity.psd
          Community Manager
          Caity.psdCommunity Manager
          Community Manager
          August 28, 2023

          @Oksi31938407vilr Go to window > contextual task bar (make sure it is selected and has a check mark)

            P
            Philemon36053336yvcu
            Participant
            March 13, 2024

            You literally made my day, god bless you Caiity!

            O
            Oksi31938407vilr
            Participant
            August 28, 2023

            I also have the same problem, I accidentally clicked to hide the window, and now I can use generative fill only with the ctrl key, how to make it again have a quick text input window and generative fill

              Caity.psd
              Community Manager
              Caity.psdCommunity Manager
              Community Manager
              August 28, 2023

              Hi - are you using an external monitor? Could it be floating on a different window? 

               

              You might try on a laptop or a reinstall of beta. There was a new release today, fyi!

               

              Thank you,

              Caity

                M
                Matt24386790zhglAuthor
                Participant
                August 29, 2023
                The update got it back, thanks so much!
                O
                Oksi31938407vilr
                Participant
                August 28, 2023

                I also have the same problem, I accidentally clicked to hide the window, and now I can use generative fill only with the ctrl key, how to make it again have a quick text input window and generative fill

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