How to get palettes to lock into place??

I just had similar problem after upgrade (palettes won't dock). Using a 2024 workspace worked for me.

Suggestion for a workaround: Try downloading v 2024. If you can dock palettes -- save the workspace. Use that workspace in 2025 version.

Are you making sure to pay attention to exactly where the blue line previews where the panel will go when dropped? Because it should be very predictable…what the blue line covers is where it’s going to go. For example, if you want the Character panel to stack under the Layers panel, then as you drag the panel, position the pointer at the bottom of the Layers panel to make sure the blue line appears below the Layers panel, and do not release that mouse button until the blue line confirms that is where the drop will go.

The blue line can indicate, as shown below, respectively: Dock to left edge, dock to top edge, dock to right edge, dock to bottom edge, and when you see all four edges light up it means the panel you’re dragging will become a tab within the highlighted panel.

In the demo below, you can see how I position the dragged pointer over each side of a panel, and how the blue line lights up different sides to indicate where the panel will go if I release the mouse button there. 

I keep trying to change name of screenshots + other things... but won't let me change them.