How Can I Change the Behavior of the Photoshop Window?

Question

I've just moved over to a new Mac, and I'm finding the behavior of the Photoshop window is not acting like it used to. I'd like to go back to the way it was. I've tried different choices in the settings, but to no avail.

I like to use an independent window when I'm working on a file, not tabs (see screenshot). But I'm used to the entire image not scrolling to display the artboard within that window unless I manually resize the window. When the entire image is shown in the window, I don't want to be able to scroll into the artboard. Does that make sense.

The screenshot I'm posting shows what I don't want.

I'm using Photoshop 2025 on a Mac.

Conrad_C · Accepted Answer

Hopefully these settings are what you’re looking for…

To have documents open as independent windows instead of tabs, in Photoshop Preferences / Workspace, disable the setting Open Documents as Tabs. If what you meant is not having the big application window behind everything, then disable the command Window > Application Frame. If the Application Frame command is unavailable, disable the option Enable Native Full Screen.*

To prevent scrolling past the canvas edge, in Photoshop Preferences / Tools, disable the setting Overscroll.

*Note that for maximum UI consistency with the current way macOS windows and apps work (such as Apple Pages, Keynote, etc.), you want Application Frame, Native Full Screen Mode, and Open Documents as Tabs enabled. When those options are disabled, it works like Mac OS did at the beginning of Photoshop history in the 1990s. Of course, if you like it that way that’s fine.

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