Every new document opens extremely zoomed out, how to fix

This can sometimes happen if the application is remembering the previous document view or workspace settings. Try resetting the workspace first, then open a new document and set it to Fit on Screen. If every new document still opens at the same tiny zoom level, resetting the app preferences would be the next thing I’d try. It may also help to mention which Adobe app and version you’re using.

How are you opening the files?

Using File>Open from within Photoshop or….?

I would start by trashing the Preferences folder for both Photoshop 2025 and 2026 by going to

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2026

and

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop 2025

then deleting the Adobe Photoshop 2026 Settings and Adobe Photoshop 2025 Settings 

folders

If you have any custom Workspaces first move those from the WorkSpaces folder in each of the Settings folders.

​@jonathann44149 

I’ll admit to being baffled, but I did a web search and found a few threads that may or may not help.

• This very old thread from 8 years ago suggests that resetting preferences for Bridge fixed the issue back then: 
  https://community.adobe.com/questions-712/opening-tiny-photos-since-update-1062783
• This thread says it only happens with large images, and offers other ideas 
  https://community.adobe.com/questions-712/photoshop-opens-a-file-with-a-smaller-version-of-the-image-atop-the-normal-sized-image-1164188
• This is also 8 years old: 
  https://community.adobe.com/questions-712/placing-image-shows-up-as-tiny-square-not-the-actual-size-of-the-image-help-1063034
• Here’s another: 
  https://community.adobe.com/questions-712/photoshop-displays-images-smaller-than-they-actually-are-at-100-1160978

Hopefully Staff or another volunteer will see this and may have ideas. For the time being, use Ctrl+1 or Ctrl+0. Let us know if any of these other threads help you.

Jane

To add to my query. I basically just want photoshop to show an image at it’s actual size when I open it. Does anybody know the setting for this? I just thought it did this automatically like it has done for me for the last 20+ years. 

  ​@jonathann44149 

Are all images opening at 8.33%?

When did this start?

What is your version number of Photoshop?

Jane

That's just the zoom level — nothing is broken. New documents can open at 100% in a large window, which makes a smaller canvas look tiny, like in your screenshot.

Press Ctrl+0 (Windows) or Cmd+0 (Mac) — that's View > Fit on Screen — to fill the window with your canvas. Press Ctrl+1 / Cmd+1 for 100% (actual pixels).

More on zooming here: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/viewing-images.html